Immigrants will earn or lose point- Is it fair?

Immigration Minister Phil Woolas revealed a new government proposal on Monday introducing a points-based test for all immigrants who are planning to become citizens of the UK. The points-based system is in place in the UK since 2003, but after immigrants worked for five years or more in the country legally, the process of acquiring citizenship was comparatively easier for them.

Now that is not going to be the case any more as the new proposal completely changes the qualifications for acquiring British citizenship. The good thing is that points will be awarded to immigrants for things like ability in English language, potential to earn in the country, special qualities in arts or science, volunteering, and residence in regions of the UK such as Scotland.

However, points will be deducted for showing un-British behavior, like taking part in antiwar march or things like that, irrespective of whether it resulted in conviction or not. Immigrants may also find themselves unwillingly attending ‘orientation days’ for learning British values, customs and social standard, and that too by paying for the same.

As per the new rules, even the period for which immigrants have to work in the country to become eligible for citizenship will be doubled, which will make it to ten years.

The new proposal has not gone down well with many as there is concern that it would limit ones’ freedom of expression, which many feel is an important part of being a British.

The new system will become active from 2011 and will be applicable to 159,000 legal immigrants applying for citizenship every year. The home secretary is also planning to disallow wives brought into the country from availing child benefits and other help unless they acquire the knowledge of English, be supportive to British values, and do charitable community work.