LONDON, March 28: The UK government on Tuesday announced a new visa policy which proposes to tighten the country’s borders against unwelcome visitors but at the same time attempts to make border crossing as simple as possible for legal travellers.

Announcing the new measures, Immigration Minister Liam Byrne said that by the end of 2008 people from half the countries in the world, covering three quarters of the world’s population, will all need biometric visas with their fingerprints checked against the UK government database, before coming into the country. Briefing the media at the foreign and commonwealth office, the minister said that more people would face checks before entering the UK “to further tighten the UK’s borders”.

Foreign Office Minister Lord Triesman, who accompanied the immigration minister, said that the strategy would set the standard for a modern border, protecting security and economic interests to make travel and migration work best for Britain.

Mr Byrne said, through the introduction of a US-style visa waiver programme, the government would create a strengthened border control to screen people it wanted to enter the UK and to deny entry to those it did not, even before they would arrive here.“From 2009, the majority of people will be counted in and out of the UK; and ID cards for foreign nationals will be used to help ensure only those entitled gain access to work and benefits,” Mr Byrne added.

Marriage visas have been tightened by increasing the minimum age of sponsors and the person sponsored to 21 which is expected to discourage forced marriages and the introduction of an English language test before entry for spouses will ensure that everyone who comes to Britain for a permanent reason has the skills to participate both socially and economically. People in the UK will now be required to vouch for their family member.