HSMP holders not able to sponsor family visitors

[bsuresh]

Another issue which has come up against HSMP holders is as follows...
Home office has recently announced that
"Licenced sponsors can only sponsor family visitors to U.K".
People with only "Indefinate Leave to Remain" or "British citizens" can become licenced sponsors.
Then what about HSMP holders???
Will they not be able to sponsor family visitors to U.K??
Will we HSMPians not be able to bring family visitors??
This is very bad.
What are your opinions on this??

[jagacharaja]

link please?

Another issue which has come up against HSMP holders is as follows...
Home office has recently announced that
"Licenced sponsors can only sponsor family visitors to U.K".
People with only "Indefinate Leave to Remain" or "British citizens" can become licenced sponsors.
Then what about HSMP holders???
Will they not be able to sponsor family visitors to U.K??
Will we HSMPians not be able to bring family visitors??
This is very bad.
What are your opinions on this??

[bsuresh]

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitec ... iew=Binary

In the above link, under "sponsored family visitors" topic the following is mentioned.

"Fifth, only British citizens and those with
indefinite leave to remain in the UK will be
able to act as sponsor to a family visitor."

[jagacharaja]

Ok. Before panic bells start ringing - the link referred to by the OP is that of a "Consultation" - i.e. it's not a law yet. These are the proposals that the immigration minister wants implemented, but they haven't been approved by... the house of lords?

As an example of how what's listed in the above consultation isn't written in stone yet, check this out (last para)http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Worl ... 173665.cms. The three month tourist visa mentioned in the consultation has already been backtracked...

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitec ... iew=Binary

In the above link, under "sponsored family visitors" topic the following is mentioned.

"Fifth, only British citizens and those with
indefinite leave to remain in the UK will be
able to act as sponsor to a family visitor."

[geriatrix]

This is a new visa category called "sponsored family visitor" proposed by the govt. and is expected to be implemented only in end 2009 (subject to parliamentary approval). Your family will still be able to visit the UK as "general visitors" which the document clearly states - even today.

Moreover, the statement of intent for this category is only expected in July 2009 and details of this route will be clear only then (if there is any impact on family members visiting UK under general visitor category will also be known only when govt. comes up with definite guidelines).

regards

[bsuresh]

what will happen if the above mentioned rule is implemented by law?
can we do something to prevent this becoming a law.

[geriatrix]

How does this new provision under the law (as and when it becomes a law in 2009) affect you when your family members can still visit UK under the "general visitor" category??? Where does it say that UK govt. is going to stop family members from visiting UK under the "general visitor" category or that family members will not be allowed to enter/visit UK unless they apply under the "sponsored family visitor" category?

While family members will still be able to come to the UK as tourists, we believe that applying under the new Sponsored Family Visitor category, with a licensed sponsor vouching for their family visitor, will provide more assurance that a genuine application will be processed and approved quickly.

Before you arrive at an assumption of negative impact, read the document carefully and understand what it means. No point in creating unnecessary confusion on the forum just 'coz *you* failed to read or interpret given information accurately.


regards