Plan to simplify visas for Chinese
Simplified visa applications for Chinese tourists and students will be set out by Theresa May in a bid to encourage more visits to the UK.
The Home Secretary said she wants to make the system "as smooth as possible" and has held discussions with Chinese tour groups. She told the Financial Times she is looking at expanding online applications and allowing some visa forms to be available in Mandarin, rather than English, as well as introducing an express service for premium travellers.
In an interview with the newspaper on Wednesday she said: "There are a number of things we've been doing in China, (including) talking to tour groups to find ways in which we can make the system as smooth as possible, commensurate with us being able to do the necessary checks."
She has been under mounting pressure to act on warnings Britain was losing out to other European capitals for Chinese spending. But concerns over the potential risks to security of easing restrictions have led to a battle within the Cabinet over how to address the issue.
Mrs May will outline the changes in a speech aimed at defending the Government's immigration policies against criticism from universities and business leaders. Options are also believed to include ending the need to get a separate visa for the UK on top of another allowing access to other EU countries including France and Germany.
Urgent action was urged this summer by Willie Walsh, chief executive of British Airways' parent company IAG, who said cost and complexity was putting off Chinese visitors.
Mrs May is expected to use the speech, at the Policy Exchange think-tank, to argue that tougher immigration controls have not prevented the best overseas students coming to Britain.
Critics have complained that a crackdown on bogus arrivals has made the UK less attractive and argue that students should not be included in immigration cut targets.
In the FT interview, Mrs May said it was also the job of universities, and not just the Government, to ensure that people know the UK is open to students.
She added that introducing face-to-face interviews with visa authorities for students applying outside the EU is an option she is "definitely looking at".
