Dionne Rose, Business Reporter

His Excellency Jeremy Cresswell, British High Commissioner to Jamaica. - Ian Allen Staff/Photographer

Fewer Jamaicans are applying, but a higher proportion of them are receiving visas to visit the United Kingdom, a development which the British High Commission in Kingston attributes, in part, to the introduction of biometrics screening technology that is helping to scare away bogus applicants.

"I think the application of the biometrics system, which we have had in place since May, provides more objectivity about individual identities and may act as a deterrent for people who don't wish to travel in good faith," said High Commissioner Jeremy Cresswell.

Britain's recent tougher economic environment may also have helped to dissuade some applicants, contributing to a decline in numbers, Cresswell suggested.

Restrictive visa system

Jamaicans wanting to visit Britain have since 2003, been required first to obtain a visa, placing this Caribbean island's former colonial ruler among a broad host of countries applying a restrictive visa system against Jamaicans, who often complained about the apparent arbitrariness in the application of the rules.

But Cresswell indicated to the Financial Gleaner that in the last fiscal year, up to the end of March, 2008, that the proportion of applicants who were granted visas, increased by seven percentage points, when compared with 2006/2007. The nominal figure for those receiving visas would also have risen, based on the High Commission's figures.

According to Cresswell, in 2006/2007 approximately 17,500 Jamaicans applied for non-immigrant visas for the UK and 60 per cent were successful. That means about 10,200 Jamaicans received visas to visit Britain.

In 2007/2008, there were 16,000 applications, a decline of 1,500 or a decline of around eight-and-half per cent. But the proportion of applicants receiving visas moved to 67 per cent, which would mean that more than 10,700 were successful.

More visitor's visas

Or, looked at another way, around 520 or five per cent more Jamaicans received visitor's visas in 2007/2008 than during the previous fiscal year.

"I think we are going up to 10 per cent (increase in the number of successful applicants)," said Cresswell.

Indeed, the numbers for the first quarter (April to June) of the current fiscal year suggests such a trend.

Of the 4,943 non-immigrant visas received by the High Commission, 77 per cent was successful - that is, over 3,800 got visas.

Meanwhile, Cresswell indicated that the High Commission would be moving to acquaint Jamaicans with the new points-based system for resident and work-related visas, which the British government began rolling out in July. It is replacing around 80 different work permit routes with just five tiers, Cresswell explained.

New system

The new system affects people wishing to apply to stay in the UK. This includes those looking for highly skilled employment in the UK, or are self-employed or setting up a business.

"[For] skilled migrants who got job offers, that (the points-based system) apparently is going to be rolled out in Autumn of this year. For students, it is going to roll out in the first quarter of next year," he said. "For temporary workers it is going to roll out in Autumn 2008," he continued.

Under the new system, applicants will need to amass points to satisfy the visa service that they can make a positive contribution to the UK.

Points will be awarded for objective criteria such as qualifications, previous earnings, age and UK experience. Only those with enough points will be able to get a visa.

Applicants will be able to calculate how many points they will be awarded and, therefore, determine if they are likely to be issued a visa before making an application.

dionne.rose@gleanerjm.com