London: Britain on Wednesday further tightened immigration rules by announcing plans to make it mandatory for immigrants who want to become citizens and settle permanently in the UK to pass more tests to "prove their worth" to the country.

Setting out the plans in the House of Commons, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said migrants would need to demonstrate their contribution to society beyond simply working and paying taxes.

Some migrants may also have to pay into a fund to cover some of the extra burden on public services. Foreigners would also have to pass a period of "probationary citizenship".

She said that future migrants would need to "earn" citizenship. This scraps the current system which allows people to apply for naturalisation on the basis of how long they have lived in the UK.

The package of new measures includes: Raising visa fees for a special "transitional impact" fund; more English language testing ahead of nationality; requirements to prove integration into communities; and increasing the period to become a British citizen.

"Our new deal for citizenship is clear and fair. The rights and benefits of citizenship will be available to those who consider who can demonstrate a commitment to our shared values and a willingness to contribute to our community, Smith said.

The Home Secretary stressed that this is a country of liberty and tolerance, opportunity and diversity. "These values are reinforced by the expectation that all who live here should learn our language, play by the rules, obey the law and contribute to the economy," she said.

The opposition Conservatives party said the proposals were a "gimmick" and called for an annual limit on immigration instead.

Source : PTI