But no, we are attracted to go to UK despite cold treatment from their immigration staff. They treat us with suspicions, no thanks to the tens of thousands of illegal immigrants from Malaysia who overstayed. They were attracted by the high exchange rate which is understandable.
Stricter measures that I have come across include closer scrutiny of applications for student visas. What used to be straitforward now appears to be like an obstacle course. One case that I knew of had her application rejected despite having to provide on separate occasions, a covering letter from the sponsor, deemed unsuitable bank confirmation, birth certificate and subsequent requirement for translated and certified copy and so on. Her successfu re-application (having to pay another processing fee) seems a re-arrangement of documents and nothing more!
Over in UK, those who over-stayed and had been driving around without proper motor insurance were found out by police who had their mobile computers with all the relevant databases to check on vehicle owners. Even 30 years ago, I knew their police had this facility of knowing the identity of vehicle owners and I wonder why they waited till now to make use of it.
Those who are on student visas were checked upon and if found to have worked more than the permitted 20 hours a week are deported.
Arrivals at Heathrow airport are selected at random and interviewed separately if in a group, sometimes by an officer who is a former Malaysian! If he said he is only a tourist who does not know anyone, an announcement is made over the PA system and if in fact, a friend or relative was around, he is deemed to have made a false declaration and deported.
I don't know about others, but I would rather go to a place more welcoming than one with suspicious immigration officers looking down on us.
Now read why they are unhappy with us, from The Sun:
UK unhappy over Malaysians
Terence Fernandez
http://www.sun2surf.com/article.cfm?id=39280
Link
No comments:
Post a Comment