Britain considers visas for Namibians

LONDON – Namibia is among 11 countries whose nationals will now need a visa to enter Britain in future.

Britain announced yesterday that it was considering expanding visa requirements to citizens from 11 additional countries including Namibia and South Africa. Following a ‘Visa Waiver Test’ of all non-European countries, the government said there was a “strong case” to add 11 more.The test looked at the level of risk nationals from countries posed in terms of illegal immigration, and crime and security.Visitors from the 11 countries will now need a six-month visa.That will become a permanent requirement unless the “risk” posed by nationals from these countries is significantly reduced by the end of the year.Other Southern African Development Countries (SADC) among the 11 are Botswana, Lesotho, Mauritius and Swaziland.Also on the latest list are Bolivia, Brazil, Malaysia, Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela.Nationals from more than 100 countries, equivalent to three-quarters of the world’s population, need a visa to visit the United Kingdom.Under a new system introduced in April, all visa applicants to Britain need to have their fingerprints checked before travelling.Border and Immigration Minister Liam Byrne said two million fingerprints of foreign nationals had already been examined.”Now we need to decide how to widen the visa net.We cannot and will not shy away from going wider and will wherever we think there’s a risk to the UK,” he said.Nampa-ReutersFollowing a ‘Visa Waiver Test’ of all non-European countries, the government said there was a “strong case” to add 11 more.The test looked at the level of risk nationals from countries posed in terms of illegal immigration, and crime and security. Visitors from the 11 countries will now need a six-month visa.That will become a permanent requirement unless the “risk” posed by nationals from these countries is significantly reduced by the end of the year.Other Southern African Development Countries (SADC) among the 11 are Botswana, Lesotho, Mauritius and Swaziland.Also on the latest list are Bolivia, Brazil, Malaysia, Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela. Nationals from more than 100 countries, equivalent to three-quarters of the world’s population, need a visa to visit the United Kingdom.Under a new system introduced in April, all visa applicants to Britain need to have their fingerprints checked before travelling.Border and Immigration Minister Liam Byrne said two million fingerprints of foreign nationals had already been examined.”Now we need to decide how to widen the visa net.We cannot and will not shy away from going wider and will wherever we think there’s a risk to the UK,” he said.Nampa-Reuters