Envoy: Visa-free entry to UK remains unlikely

CEBU, Philippines - It remains farfetched for the British government to declare a visa-free rule for foreign travelers, including Filipinos, as doing so would put the country’s security at risk.

Richard Graham, the UK prime minister’s trade envoy to the Philippines, said this after a false advisory went viral in social media announcing that Filipinos can now travel to UK without a visa.

Graham said it would be unlikely for the British government to grant visa-free rule for non-Brits to enter the country due to stringent security measures to protect Great Britain from terrorist-related incidents.

False reports have been circulating in social media that UK is now visa-free for Filipinos, quoting newly appointed British Prime Minister Theresa May as supposedly having made the announcement of the new visa policy for three countries around the globe. The countries mentioned included the Philippines, Republic of South Africa, and Rwanda.

Graham reiterated that the UK government maintains serious screening system for those who may want to enter the country, either for leisure, business or employment.

According to the reports, the announcement was made after a series of meetings held with the Rt. Hon Boris Johnson, who was appointed the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, last month and the Head of Foreign Missions of the three countries in the UK.

It further said that the decision took into consideration the Socio-Economic, Political, Foreign and Human Right Policies instituted over the past 60 months by the various countries, especially members of Commonwealth Countries.

The bogus report also stated that out of 15 countries that were under consideration, only three were approved for the visa free policy as outlined under the vision of the new Prime Minister who happens to be the immediate past Home Secretary.

 Graham said although it is indeed true that UK has jobs up for grabs for medical practitioners such as nurses and caregivers, he reiterated that a visa-free entry into the country remains a no-no. (FREEMAN)