Exclusive The government plans to close down UK visa application outposts in more than 140 countries, increasing the risk of potential terrorists getting jobs in the UK, an insider has claimed. Liam Clifford, director of immigration consultancy Global*Visas, told Personnel Today that he was "extremely concerned" about the plans. Clifford, a former Home*Office immigration officer and a well-respected voice in the sector, said he was told in a closed meeting with government*agency UKVisas that the posts would be phased out over the next five to 10 years. This follows deals struck with two private companies - one based in India - to handle aspects of the visa application process. "I was told by directors at UKVisas in a meeting in Paddington, London, in May that they were going to close most of the 150 consular posts - leaving just five or 10," he said. "This is not in the public domain yet, but it is absolutely going to go through." But UKVisas has "categorically denied"...
More...