adl
November 7th, 2008, 08:12 PM
Biometric cards for Indian students in UK from November
British government on Thursday unveiled a controversial scheme under which Indian and other non-European Union students in the UK applying for extension to stay will be issued biometric identity cards from November.
The identity cards are intended to prevent illegal immigration, home secretary Jacqui Smith said adding that the cards will be issued to marriage visa holders also.
The scheme will allow people to "easily and securely prove their identity. We want to be able to prevent those here illegally benefiting from the privileges of Britain," she said.
Besides carrying name, photographs and nationality, the cards will have information about holders' immigration status and two fingerprints.
While it will help immigration and police officers to verify identity and detect abuse, the cards will also ensure that employers and colleges can ascertain the identity and status of the holders.
"We all want to see our borders more secure and human trafficking, organised immigration crime, illegal working and benefit fraud tackled. ID cards for foreign nationals, in locking people to one identity, will deliver in all these areas," Smith said.
From November, students and those staying on marriage or civil partnership visa will be told to get the new card issued to them when they ask to extend their stay in the country.
The scheme has been criticised by a group which described the step a "softening-up exercise" by the government.
Source: Economictimes
British government on Thursday unveiled a controversial scheme under which Indian and other non-European Union students in the UK applying for extension to stay will be issued biometric identity cards from November.
The identity cards are intended to prevent illegal immigration, home secretary Jacqui Smith said adding that the cards will be issued to marriage visa holders also.
The scheme will allow people to "easily and securely prove their identity. We want to be able to prevent those here illegally benefiting from the privileges of Britain," she said.
Besides carrying name, photographs and nationality, the cards will have information about holders' immigration status and two fingerprints.
While it will help immigration and police officers to verify identity and detect abuse, the cards will also ensure that employers and colleges can ascertain the identity and status of the holders.
"We all want to see our borders more secure and human trafficking, organised immigration crime, illegal working and benefit fraud tackled. ID cards for foreign nationals, in locking people to one identity, will deliver in all these areas," Smith said.
From November, students and those staying on marriage or civil partnership visa will be told to get the new card issued to them when they ask to extend their stay in the country.
The scheme has been criticised by a group which described the step a "softening-up exercise" by the government.
Source: Economictimes