UK restricts DR Congo visas over migrant return policy
Britain will impose visa restrictions on people from the Democratic Republic of Congo after its government refused to accept measures allowing the return of illegal immigrants and foreign national criminals.
Ministers say the Democratic Republic of Congo has not made the necessary changes as part of the UK’s toughening of asylum rules announced in November.
Fast-track visa processes will no longer apply to people coming from this country, while the Home Office said VIPs and politicians will no longer receive preferential treatment when coming to the UK.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Internal Affairs said that Angola and Namibia, which are threatened with sanctions as well as the Democratic Republic of Congo, have agreed to step up efforts to take back their citizens.
Home Affairs Minister Shabana Mahmood will not hesitate to ban visas for other countries that refuse to take back their citizens, a government source said.
Angola and Namibia agreeing to improve their processes is the “first delivery success from last month’s asylum reforms”, the Home Office said.
The government had warned that it would stop issuing visas to people from Angola, Namibia and the Democratic Republic of Congo unless it quickly improved cooperation on repatriation.
A source from the Ministry of Internal Affairs said that thousands of people could be removed and deported as a result of the agreements.
Under The government’s changes to England’s asylum systemRefugee status will become temporary, guaranteed housing support for asylum seekers will end and new limited “safe and legal routes” to the UK will be created.
Announcing the changes last month, Mahmood warned that visa penalties would be imposed on countries that do not cooperate with return policies, including an “emergency brake” on visas for countries with high asylum claims until they illegally take back their citizens from the UK.
The Home Office had said returns from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola and Namibia were frustrated by paperwork not being processed or people being required to sign their own documents, giving them an effective veto.
The committee had warned that the three countries faced penalties for “unacceptably weak and obstructive return processes”.
He said the DRC had taken some initiatives but further action could be taken, including a visa ban on people coming from the country to the UK, “unless cooperation improves rapidly”.
Interior Minister Mahmood said: “We expect countries to play by the rules. If a citizen does not have the right to be here, they should take him back.”
“I thank Angola and Namibia and welcome their cooperation. Now is the time for the Democratic Republic of Congo to do the right thing. Take back your citizens or lose the privilege of entering our country.”
