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The Disaster of the 'Golden Visa' Saga: UK


If UK policy making was a highway- it would be riddled with traffic- as the government makes u-turn after u-turn.
The latest shock reversal has fallen upon the UK ‘Golden Visa’ scheme- which was due to be suspended in a drive of anti-corruption measures.
Last Thursday, it was widely reported that the Tier 1 Investor Visa scheme would be closed to new applicants by midnight the same night- as concerns rose over the schemes facilitation of corruption.
The news was spread by the likes of the BBC, the Times, and the Guardian, who quoted the immigration minister saying that they would ‘not tolerate people who seek to abuse the system’.
But it appears that the announcement could have been heresy, misreported by the mass media: as no official confirmation followed the statement, and the next day, the platform was still open to applications.
Now, it has come out that the scheme will not be suspended after all, as the Home Office confirms that:
‘The Tier 1 (Investor) visa is not currently suspended. However, the Government remains committed to reforming the route.’
This particular case is a prime example of media confusion, as the UK’s main media hubs all race to publish a story that could not be confirmed by official publications nor Press Releases.
The Home Office was by no means innocent however, as they repeatedly ignored requests for clarification, leaving everybody fumbling in the dark.
Golden Visas, or the Tier 1 Investor Visa Scheme- is a fast track mode for international investors and their families to gain fast track entry to the UK.
It’s controversial, as the scheme allows foreign citizens to attain visas with little to no checks done on the origin of the money used in the transaction.
Critics became suspicious that the scheme was therefore vulnerable to corruption and money laundering.
Transparency International argued that the so-called Golden Visa scheme went through a ‘blind faith’ period, between the years 2008 and 2015- wherein 3000 people with a high net worth were permitted to enter the UK using funds of ‘questionable legitimacy’.
Their report instigated a wave of changes to the program, including the tightening up of the Tier 1 investor route, to investigate applications where there exists ‘reasonable doubt over investment funds’.
The changes led to a drop in the number of Golden Visas issued by the Home Office, but the scheme came under strict scrutiny yet again earlier this year, in the aftermath of the Salisbury spy poisonings.
As sanctions were laid upon Russia, the scheme was highlighted as a route for wealthy Russian citizens with links to Putin’s government to enter the UK.
It was the increased scrutiny over the case that affected the visa of Chelsea owner Roman Abramavich- who gained Israeli citizenship, allegedly to sidetrack his visa delays.
It is still largely unclear whether the Golden Visa scheme will undergo reforms, or whether it is still to be scrapped in the future- and whether a suspension was ever on the cards.
The Times has reported that the suspension was ‘delayed’- a result of ‘objections from other Whitehall departments’- but inner sources of the paper have allegedly said that the Visas will be suspended until reform has been undergone.
It is an unsightly mess, and given this years Home Office track record (which includes the controvers
ial Windrush scandal), a lack of clarification is the last thing they need.


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