Tougher rules for immigrants
01 September 1993
A consultation paper issued by the Home Office in August proposes stricter new rules for students, family members and others seeking to come to or stay in Britain, under the guise of consolidation of the immigration rules. Proposed changes include withdrawal of the right to stay from students whose governments stop paying their fees; abolition of the concession allowing unmarried women under 21 to join parents in Britain; and refusal of entry to anyone convicted of a criminal offence carrying a maximum penalty of 12 months or more. Immigration officers would also be able to refuse entry to anyone in respect of whom they possess information suggesting that exclusion would be conducive to the public good . The wording of this rule is significantly wider than previously, and the amended provision would enable use of intelligence put on to the computerised European Information System by officials and police of other EC states.