British ‘cash bond’ for Asians

E-Paper | May 02, 2026

ACCORDING to news reports, before entering England all citizens of India, Pakistan, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Ghana would have to provide a cash bond of 3,000 pounds to the United Kingdom government.

I wonder who will, from these countries, visit the United Kingdom if its government adopts such an unfair tactic to collect money to avert the financial crises being faced by them in view of their huge spending and mismanagement.

India has already raised objection. Will Pakistan also dare to raise objection? If not, then will Pakistan announce reciprocal arrangement that every British citizen who arrives in Pakistan, will have to provide cash bond equivalent of 3,000 pounds i.e., around Rs450,000 to the Pakistani government.

This is a new tactic of the British government for exploiting Asians of their resources.

First, they reduced interest rate on deposits, mostly placed by the Asians (almost to zero per cent).

However, that tactic did not help them fully to avert their financial crises due to their over spending. Now new tactics are being adopted to exploit the people of Asian countries.

ABBAS ALI MOHAMMED Karachi

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Salman Syed

Jul 03, 2013 08:15am

Can't you comprehend, that most of the Asians and Africans, that go to the west, normally suddenly disappear? And normally the westerners who go to Asia and Africa, prefer to go back. Please do some research on the statistics, beggars are not choosers. Just recall the murder of the mountaineers killed lately and the Sri-Lankan cricket team, and then try to recall the Pakistanis killed there, for being Pakistanis.

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Jul 03, 2013 08:14am

Modern day racism. It had never ended.

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BRR

Jul 03, 2013 09:08am

This is racist and discriminatory. However, the huge number of illegal immigrants, and those with expired Visa, who overstay in the UK, have brought this upon themselves. There must be a push back.

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Omer

Jul 03, 2013 11:07am

The cash bond is to deter Asians from staying on beyond their visa duration illegally. Also it is pretty arrogant to believe they reduced their rates keeping you in mind. Monetary easing is a standard economic response to stimulate economies during downturns. Its being done the world over not just by the UK. If you have a problem with visiting them or keeping deposits in their banks don't do that. You don't have to visit them. Its their country they are not obliged to accommodate or welcome any foreigner they don't want, although I would think being an open country is normally good for any country to encourage the economy. You think foreigners are not fleeced or robbed or killed or inconvenienced when they come here? We should look to our own before blaming others.

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Gerry D'Cunha

Jul 03, 2013 01:01pm

why will pakistan raise objection to the british govt. as most of the politicans;rich class society have multiple visa (5 years or 10 years) - it will be the middle class who will be affected - it is the british govt policy to discourage the ordinary asian people from entrying uk - so much so the appeal rights for refusal has also been withdrawn which gives an uper hand to the entry clearance officer to flatly refuse any application

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george

Jul 03, 2013 01:07pm

''This is a new tactic of the British government for exploiting Asians of their resources.'' If that is what you feel, please do not come to UK. Nobody wants you here. It is their country and they cannot let the country slip to a dustbin like environment. Three thousand pounds is nothing. Once you come here, you can save double the money just by sweeping the streets of UK.

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Edmond

Jul 03, 2013 01:41pm

This is to take care of all legal, living and repatriation costs for those absconders who turn themselves in as asylum seekers upon arrival in UK. Britain is up to its eyeballs dealing with hundreds of thousands such "visitors" arriving every year. Of course there are some genuine ones but such is the price one pays for the wrong doing of others. Still Britain remains of the most tolerant countries in the world.

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akram

Jul 03, 2013 02:35pm

there are millions of Pakistanis dreaming of settling in the UK, the UK does not have space for all the people from these countries, so its adopting measures to make sure the decision to illegally go to the UK is not as easy as it was. It is that simple. There are openings for doctors and IT Professionals and other needed skills, if you are determined to come to the UK.

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William Blakers

Jul 03, 2013 04:05pm

I don't think you will lose your bond unless you overstay your Visa. It is designed to stop illegal immigration. Once you leave the country at the end of your stay they give the money back.

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Anonymous

Jul 03, 2013 04:13pm

Ok, firstly they will not keep the money, It is a bond which means that they will return it to the person once he leaves the country. And if you are asking for a reason why they have done it, well because honestly many people have gone their and started living illegaly. Moreover our tourism industry isn't doing that great, in case you failed to notice, so putting a bond in pakistan over foreign applicants would abbolish the industry all together. The only people holding foreign passports that actually come to pakistan are the ones who are pakistani origin. I am not saying what they did is right, but the reasons you have stated in the above aritcle do not make sense.

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farid

Jul 03, 2013 05:55pm

Don't go to Britain.

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Md Imran

Jul 03, 2013 06:16pm

Don't like it ? Then don't go. Besides, Pakistan is no less when it comes to quality of life, i wonder why people leave Pakistan and go abroad.

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John

Jul 03, 2013 07:54pm

Interest rates are dependent on inflation and are not devised against asians. Please keep your conspiracy theories to Pakistan - that's where they work best. The rest of the world works on facts and real business interests.

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Pervez

Jul 03, 2013 09:16pm

What planet are you from? the 3000 bond is to make sure the visitors from these country return to their country.and yes I am a Asian am glad the British government is doing something regarding visitors not returning to there countries. The 3000 pounds bond will be returned once the visitors have returned to there countries.

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Syed

Jul 03, 2013 09:37pm

@Edmond: While the reasons for this cash bond may make sense but your comment on Britain being the most tolerant is certainly a joke:)

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Sonal

Jul 04, 2013 01:29am

It's a silly policy, and I don't think it will get passed. First of all, it will curb a lot of tourists from going to Britain from these countries. Secondly,

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farid

Jul 04, 2013 07:18am

Always think of your self respect. If Britain treat you differently go somewhere else. If no one wants you go to some nice place in Pakistan and if you have any talent use it for your own country. I have lived in Britain and Ireland for 13 years and was eligible for citizenship in both countries but I never applied. Pakistanis have to get rid off this "VISA" song.

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