Rashmee Roshan Lall for Times News Network
 
London, Mar 29: Britain has announced double-strength immigration controls, with focus on rules governing entry-bymarriage, in a move that will mean an estimated 3,000 mainly Indian women will be barred from coming to the UK.

The Home Office announced on Wednesday that it was raising the minimum age at which foreign nationals can receive marriage visas from 18 to 21. This is expected to plug the perceived gap in UK’s immigration regime, mainly with respect to the wives of British Indian men.

Observers said this is the only the most recent of a range of government measures to limit non-European immigration to the UK. The 1.3-million-strong Indian community is Britain’s largest immigrant minority.

The Home Office said raising the minimum age for foreign marriage visas would substantially reduce the number of immigrant spouses coming into the country as a result of forced marriages. The measures published as a document titled ‘Securing the UK Border’ , also sets out how a complete overhaul of the regime governing visitor visas.

Britain’s immigration minister, Liam Byrne, said on Wednesday that his government also planned to introduce confidential interviews for people applying for marriage visas, in an attempt to ascertain they were not entering the country after having been forced into marriage. Under the proposals, intended spouses will be expected to show some proficiency in English in a move to ensure they are able “socially and economically’ ’ to participate in British life.