Have your say about proposed changes to visitor visas

The Home Office is seeking views on a proposed tightening of the rules on visitors' visas that could fundamentally alter the way people visit Britain from overseas.

• reducing the length of time a tourist can stay in the UK from six to three months
• creating a specific business and specialist visa
• creating a specific visa for one-off events such as the Olympics.

The changes are designed to reflect the increase in travel noted in recent years and the way in which people travel.

Immigration Minister Liam Byrne said: 'Our aim is to make the system both more secure, but also to ensure that we maintain the UK's position as a destination of choice for tourists. In 2006, people from overseas spent £15.4 billion in the UK with the tourism industry employing 1.4 million people.'

If you would like to take part, you can download the visitor consultation paper and respond online at www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk. The deadline for responses is 10 March 2008.