Comments in response to a couple of inputs:

AV Raman is being disingenuous with the facts. Immigration in the 70s and before, whence most of the second generation like Mr Doug spring from arrived here legally on a quota system. What we have had in the past 10 years under the labour govt is a non-system that has allowed illegal immigration and an abuse of the hospitality of the host population. This is no way to build harmony in society.

Daljeet sounds like a Khalistani - they harp on and on about 1984. If as he says, Sikhs feel unsafe in India, then they might consider moving to the nearest safe country - the sponsor of Khalistan, also known as Pakistan! Alternatively, they might explain how come Manmohan Singh, a Sikh, is actually the head of a govt in a country that is unsafe for Sikhs? They might also explain what this Sikh PM and a leading member of the Congress party, who were complicit in the troubles of 1984, is doing to bring the guilty of 1984 to justice.

jay, Birmingham, England

We have then reached the tipping point. Can anything be done? No, not really. We are a small Island with to many people on it, we allow thousands to come in every year, migrants are eating away at the fabric of Britain, as are the Parentless youths on the streets. Never has England needed the guidance of Government so much, yet where is it?
Like many readers I left nearly three years ago for far away shores and it has been the best move I could have made. Australia has it right, of course conditions are different here but overall it manages its migration and migrants well.
I fear for my family in the UK, my Grandma in Anfield, my Mum and Dad in Surry my sister in the North West. Will they be okay? Will they suffer if they need an operation at a hospital, will the be broken into by someone. What I do know is what my friends tell me. To some this is hearsay but are they lying?Close the borders for 2 years, racist no, realist...yes. We are a soft touch, about time we hardened up.

Ben J, Manly , Au

I changed my entire life because my fiance could not even come to the UK for a visit - a landowning but 'poor' Dominican from the Caribbean. I now live and work on another Caribbean island with him. I have left my family and my 20 year old son behind. It has been the most heart-rendering decision of my life. There is only 'easy' access for Commonwealth citizens and European Union members. This essay is ignorant of the facts.

Julie Ann Hilton, Georgetown, CI

Comment regarding the ease at which a visa can be obtained on the sub-continent is most pertinent. Last year the visa section in Karachi employed around 20 UK immigration officials. The number is now zero. Applications and documents are now received by a courier company who do the initial checks before the paperwork goes to Islamabad, for further processing. I also understand that there are further rationalisations planned where all sub-continent (India, Pakistan & Bangladesh) will be issued from Abu Dhabi. Less risk to staff more risk to the UK

Expat, Karachi,

i live in china and speak fluent chinese. i am trying to get my girlfriend into england for a two week holiday and i am jumping through hoops for it. we both have nice well paid jobs and a better standard of living here in china.
all i want is two weeks so she can see my family and my grandparents who are too old to travel.

COME ON!!!! 2 weeks : (

David Wichester, Beijing, China

It's very simple. International agreements exist saying a refugee should apply for asylum in the first safe place.

Most are economic refugees waved thru' Europe to the UK.

Well, a true government puts its own people first, something sorely lacking for at least ten years.

Shut the door, now. No more immigration of any kind for, say, ten years until we at least have an idea of just who's here already.

Stan(expat), US, USA

"My eyes grow moist. I'll keep my dreams, that's all there is now.
Thomas Green , San Diego, CA, USA,"

You'll get over it in time, an aquaintance told me the other day that he thought I'd eventually (fairly soon) retire back to the UK.

I told him I could think of many places to retire but today's UK wasn't even on the list, and that there were so many areas to check out in the US!

I'm happily staying here.

Stan(expat), US, USA

If you think 2.2 million is a lot, how about 12-20 million in the US that our illegal. And those are the ones we don't know about. I agree, both the US and the UK should have stricter guidelines.
The whole state of California now has a population of where minorities are a majority.Whether Mccain or one of the Democratic nominees win the presidency, either of them will propose Amnesty when they become president, which will make these 12-20 million or so illegals permanent US residents. In fact, San Francisco is already planning to pass a law where any resident either legal or illegal can get an id card. This id card will allow anyone to apply for a job, no questions asked.
I have to say though, there is a shortage of jobs in the technical fields and medical fields in the US, so I understand the need of immigrants coming to the US. For example, the Silicon Valley in Northern California can be called Little India. But we need their expertise, and it helps everyone in the end.

Ann, Pasadena, CA, USA

The point with Bristish emigrating to the USA, Australia, etc is that they obey the immigration laws and contribute to the socities that specifically request then, not draining the resources of the target country for their own ends.

Mike, London, UK

How about an article on British immigrants in USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, ...? Or take just Spain, how many Brits are there?

Petar, Dublin,

Do not forget Mr.Roshan that you or your parents were once immigrants and this liberal and tolerant society allowed you to be where you are now! A propostion cannot be generalised that Indians dissapear or turn up to India after their sojourn here.

A.V.Raman, Coventry, west midlands

"Thus a Sikh who had nothing to complain about in his native land"

I'm sorry, but the way Mr Doug dismisses Sikh persecution in India as a non-subject, is disgraceful, mis-leading and potentially dangerous.

Sikhs have been persecuted in India, and those atrocities continue to this very day. You may not have heard about it, but that is not to say it doesn't happen. From the barbarous events of the 1984 Dehli riots and other atrocities across Punjab, to the current day, with thousands of innocents Sikhs locked up in jail, to deny that Sikhs are persecuted in India is simply wrong. I would urge you to research this subject further.

From your article, Mr Doug, one could be forgiven for thinking that any Sikh claiming asylum in this country was bogus. Your evidence? One Sikh person your cousin knew.

Please be more responsible in future with your words and you're writing - you're in a powerful position, and with the above words, you are doing a lot of people a great disservice.

Daljeet, London/UK,

Same with me, degrees, skills & English - but earnings not high enough to get the "points" needed for a visa.

Miche, New York, USA

From Jalandhar to Birmingham. Roshan, Roshan, how forgetful you are!

Rolf Dinslage, Aachen, Germany

I'd like to comment on Uma Shankar's comments. We happen to be an Australian family who wanted an extended period in Europe/UK last year. We returned to the UK from France on 3 separate occasions in a six month period. On each occasion immigration was suspicious, officious and downright rude. Let me tell you there was no six month extension of our tourist visa simply by leaving the country. We were warned that each arrival and departure would be view with increasing questions and suspicions (we were returning for friend's weddings, servicing of a motor vehicle we had purchased in England etc.). On the last occasion of re-entering Britain the official couldn't think of any further objections to our re-entrance so he felt fit to query (in a very hostile way) how were we educating our children. At no other border (French, Slovenian, even Swiss) was there anything like the interrogation we were subjected to.

Lisa Hughes, Brisbane, Australia

Nice anecdote.

Were the real journalists busy?

Don Waverley, Glasgow, UK

There is much truth in this article: it is too easy to get everything for free in England.

But the fact is that health care, social security, family benefits etc are better in many other countries of the Union. Take France or Germany as examples, and you will see that there, they check that you are an EU citizen before entitling the benefit. The same applies for jobs the employer in France and Germany know that it is illegal to employ a non EU national… Problem solved.

The fact is that immigration enforcement works well in the Schengen area: But the UK has opted out for some obscure reason, wanting to control its borders which it does badly, and thus we have the agro of queuing every time we leave our little island, and don’t benefit from the common immigration policy that Schengen offers. Even the Norwegians and Swiss who are not in the Union have joined Schengen!

The sooner that the UK joins the Schengen area the sooner we can clear up this mess!

Peter Goddard, Epsom, England, EU

\I have an Ivy league undergraduate degree, an MA from a UK university, speak native English and have great job skills... alas, I am not welcome in the UK as my past earnings in my home country have never been high enough to apply for the shoddy HSMP visa. The system is an umbrella system that is entirely dysfunctional, allowing the likes of maoist terrorists into the country, pleading political assylum, all whilst ejecting people like myself if we overstay our welcome by even hours. By policing the law-abiding who actually seek the legal channels of migration and don't happen to have the buget of a Russian billionaire, they're keeping out individuals who would willingly contribute to the tax and skill pools in the UK, have a keen grasp of the cultural and linguistic nuances of this country and who would actively participate in society. It's not a matter of keeping everyone out, it's a matter of letting the right ones in. Thus far Darling and his ilk have proved to be entirely useless.

Jessica, London,

Hi Nick Dixon,

We are in need of a leader...not like Blair, Brown or David Cameron. They are the same old story - Reprinted again and again. We need a leader who can lead in everything by example not by any stupid, clever and dump policies.

I am a migrant. Once I have my British passport. I will be in British Politics. I have a dream to provide:

Three bedroom house for £99,000
Two Bedroom House for £69,000
One Bedroom House for £49,000

A nation has to be build on and for people. A nation should not be build on robbing people's future by allowing them to have credit and credit and more credit.

Uma Shankar, UK,

I have to say I'm rather underwhelmed by this article. It contains a number of unsubstantiated claims, based on hearsay, which I wish the author had done more research on. For example, the Refugee Council gives excellent information on the facts, e.g.:

"The UK is home to just 3% of nearly 9.2 million refugees world-wide. Two thirds of the world’s refugees are living in developing countries, often in refugee camps. Africa and Asia between them host over 70% of the world’s refugees while Europe looks after just 22%. In 2005, the UK ranked 14th in the league table of EU countries for the number of asylum applications per head of population."

As to why some asylum seekers are crossing countries and even continents to get to the UK - well, have you ever considered that English is a world language and that most people will at least know a few words English? In comparison, it's rather unlikely they would speak German, or Danish, or Italian.

Paulina Smid, London, UK

Would somebody care to tell me what the governments long term plan for immigration is , what it proposes to do about forced and sham marriages ( not just an Indian sub continent problem ) .If they can tell us that , then I am sure we can all make our minds up wether we want to live here anymore .
It used to be called leadership , you know , the captain letting the team in on the big picture . Unfortunately the captain of UK first fifteen doesn't know what the big picture is .The truth is obviously that unpalatable he can't bring himself to tell us , either way the upshot is a distinct lack of leadership and for a "conviction" Prime minister that is unforgiveable.
I don't remember anyone from the political classes asking the nation if they wanted a multicultural diversified population , it just seem's to have happened.
The politicians are going to have to come up with something better than immigration as a long term prop for the economy.
We havn't got the room.

Nick Dixon, Sutton Coldfield, England

To continue , perhaps that is the big picture , sell the farmers down the drain with the common agricultural policy , give the supermarkets the green light to build where ever , whenever and as many as possible , fly in all the food from around the world leaving the farmers no choice but to sell the land to , you guessed it , developers and supermarkets to house and feed immigrants thus propping up the economy still further . Regrettably they don't seem to have realised they have destroyed a great nation in the process.
We don't need a Pol Pot but we are in need of a leader

Nick Dixon, Sutton Coldfield, England

Well the writer has the wrong end of the stick here. The obtaining of the visa is not the issue but the lack of control once people enter the UK is the issue, as well described by the example. I was amazed when my Russian fiancée visited me here in the UK that she did not need to register her visa anywhere, I even asked before hand at the British embassy in Moscow but no reply or guidance given. I am Dutch and in the Netherlands she needs to register her visa if she stays more then 10 days, which we did. The same when I go to Russia I have to register within 3 days. So it is not obtaining the visa that is the issue here it is the lack of systems in place once they are here.

Another element is that you should not thread a visa application and seeking asylum as one and the same. It is like comparing apples with oranges.

Erik, London,

Britain will be doing herself and developing countries a huge favour by strictly regulating its immigration process with some no nonsense policies.

Like many other countries, Britain too should allow only those who can contribute to the growth of that country to settle there. Instead, if any Tom, Dick or Harry is allowed to come in, manipulate the laws and settle, Britain will soon turn into another third world country.

When fake asylum seekers, etc, are allowed to remain in Britain, the honest immigrants suffer. If professionals from 3rd world countries are allowed to train and gain work experience in the UK, they can then return to their home countries and do a world of good.

I hope there will always be a British Britain!

Rajiv, Bombay, India

What planet is this guy on? He obviously has no knowledge of immigration other than hearsay from a friend. Umar Shankar has it right and knows that an EU national who is resident in Britain can have his non-EU family members join him free and with ease, whereas a British national has to go through a costly, bureaucratic, intimidating and very lengthy procedure to obtain entry clearance. The UK immigration rules deniy its own nationals the same human right to family reunion as an EU nresident. There is a lack of after-entry control but please don't imagine that it is easy to obtain a visa from a consular section abroad - and the fact that illegal means are often used proves it.

Colin Bedwell, Colombo, Sri Lanka

2.2 million. Those are the ones we know about. I used to work for a construction recruitment agency in South East London. Over the course of 3 years we had thousands of Eastern Europeans register with us for work. Only a fraction of these had actually registered with the Workers Registration Scheme and were therefore included in the official figures. Multiply those not registered by the number of similar recruitment agencies just in London and you start to get a better idea of the numbers. How can we have a coherent immigration policy when no government body has any idea of the true figures.

Chris Forte, Geoje Island, South Korea

So does this mean that nobody really know how many people enter Britain and how many emigrate? Figures bandied about are 1,500 arriving and 1,000 departing per day. Can we assume that one or both of these figures are under-estimates? When I flew the coop in December 2003, nobody noted I was leaving for good. I did mention I was emigrating to militate exceeding the luggage weight allowance. But the check-in clerk just assumed “emigrate” meant I was going to Japan over Christmas. Takes a real retard to assume anyone would go to Japan for Christmas; New Year, sure.
So there we all are; gross population turnover of 2,500 a day at least. Keep this up and in three decades there'll be more of them than there are of you. People sometimes say to me, "You dislike immigrants, but you are an immigrant in Japan". My response is that I had no problem with immigrants (well, you don't in an Oxfordshire village); it was the Brits I couldn't stand.

Andrew Milner, Karuizawa, Japan

Roshan
It is true that people are incensed with the shmbolic system of immigration in this country. But your are naive to blame those who would like to visit this country. In fact the deficiency of the system has led to this mess. The asylum system undermines genuine victims of persecution. But often encourages people traffickers and illegal entry. Second, the influx of east European also pushed the blame of pressure of services on existing communities who are settled here and majority of them have integrated. Third, our government is failing to deport failed asylum seekers immediately, but instead, they are kept in detention for months at tax payers expenses. I think you should perhaps focus on foreign prisoners fiasco next time.

H.Marph , London,

The immigrants from the EU countries do not require a job offer or employment contract or work permit or to obtain a visa to come to UK. They also are not subjected to provide accommodation proof, English language proficiency certificate, proof of funds to live in the UK without having to recourse to the UK public funds, biometric finger printing, digital photographing, detailed medical checkups including blood test and chest X-ray, criminal check clearance or passport verification check to come into the UK. I would say, a complete ‘Red Carpet’ welcome for EU immigrants compared the ‘Humiliation’ dished out to the Non-EU immigrants from Asia and Africa.

Uma Shankar, UK,

Even though, the Eastern Europeans are coming into the UK like waves of flood. It’s somehow still OK for the British public. Because, the Eastern Europeans are from the so-called enlarged European Union (21st century great political joke) and they are somewhat the same colour as British. Also, the British public and politicians do think that the non-Europeans are economically invading all corners of Britain with their hard work and entrepreneurial skills. That’s why now there are more tougher visa restrictions, delay in issuing visas, recent ‘motivated’ HSMP revision and the increase in number of years to apply for residency in Britain are all indirect means to keep the ‘Browns’ away from Britain. Let me explain it a bit more. Today’s great British politics, lifestyle, business, economy and national cuisine (Chicken Tikka Masala is the national dish of Britain since 2000!) are being greatly influenced by the Asians. A very remarkable feat that the Scottish, Irish and Welsh trio couldn’t able to do for several centuries and had totally failed. Also, majority of the Asians are educated, hard working and economically prospering than ever before. If the first wave of Asian migrants helped to revive the shops and stores on Britain's streets, the second and third generation of Asians are now making their mark on the financial and business world.

Uma Shankar, UK,

If a naturalised British citizen of Indian origin would like to invite his Indian parents from India to see their grandchildren, now he needs to pay a refundable security deposit of £1,000 for each person, obtain the deposit certificate from the UK Home Office and send it to them to apply for a 3-month valid visitor visa to UK. Even the 3-month visa soon will cost £240 per person. If his parents don’t return to India within 3 months, he will loose £1,000 and his parents may be banned for next 10 years to come to UK. If a naturalised British citizen of Australian origin would like to invite his parents from Australia to see their grandchildren, he needs to just give them a call. His parents can catch next flight to the UK. Because, Australians are exempted from obtaining a visitor visa for a 6 months stay in the UK. After 6 months, they can pop out to France and come back into UK for another 6 months. If this is not total racial discrimination of Asians in the name of ‘Immigration Rules’, can somebody explain me better of what it is??

Uma Shankar, UK,

Now, India is the third largest global investor in Britain next only to US and Japan. Indian companies are taking over many not-so-profitable British companies and turning them into profitable. Thus, creating jobs for the British. Remember richest citizen of the United Kingdom and Europe is not a native British but India born Steel billionaire Lakshmi Mittal. He has recently donated £3 million pounds to the cash-strapped ruling Labour party, certainly bailing it out of financial crisis. There is a list of endless contributions made by the Asians to today’s modern Britain. It is just impossible to blindly ignore the imposing stature of Asians and Asianism in Britain. Without the Asians, the British public services and healthcare will crumble in matter of days. Without the Asians, the British economy will not survive for more than a year. Don’t the Asians deserve to be treated as ‘Fairly’ for the benefit of ‘Britain’ than the putting them through ‘Humiliation’ mode? It’s time for the British to think deep.

Uma Shankar, UK,

Because of the 'Unstable’ UK immigration policies, by 2020, the UK work force will be fully filled in by the EU immigrants, who are un-skilled, semi skilled, not English speaking, having no professional qualification and not planning to work for long time in a particular industry. As the Asian economies are growing 4 times faster than EU, the professionally qualified, educated, experienced, skilled, English speaking Non-EU immigrants won’t be coming to UK as in the past. By 2030, the UK’s work force will be less hard working, uncompetitive and have loads of un-skilled. They will be in for a ‘fight of their life’ against a hard working, very competitive, educated and skilled Non-EU work force in Asia and Africa.

Uma Shankar, UK,

Re- "...and by the way: WHO on earth would want to emmigrate to india in a few years when they overtaken the UK economically and in quality of life" ~ henry, nottingham

Overtake the UK economically and in quality of life? Clearly you've never been to India. The high flyers you hear about are a drop in an ocean of very real poverty, and like China that wealth gap is widening and most success is not making its way down to the everyday citizen. Only those of the elite (or in the case of India, those of the higher caste who already begin their place in society in a much elevated chance of success in life) are getting ahead. For all other Indians, the prospects are very limited. So, don't fly off to India just yet fooling yourself that it has overtaken our economy and our way of life. If you want a time frame for such a thing, I'd say 200 year or so perhaps.

Alex, South West, UK

I'm an e-pat Brit living in the USA.
In my heart and mind I dream of returning one day to the England I grew up in the 1970s.
Then I read articles like this, the rise of Islam, yobs ruling the streets - front page of TIME magazine, and uncontrolled immigration. And I think, there is no England anymore. Just a mess caused by a decade of nanny state socialism, PC extremists and coddle the yobs mindset. My eyes grow moist. I'll keep my dreams, that's all there is now.

Thomas Green , San Diego, CA, USA,

Having just been through the process of bringing my foreign national wife to live legally in the UK with indefinite leave to remain, I can confirm that it is onerous and expensive enough, thanks. Anecdotal, I know, but that's all this "what I heard from my mate down the pub and my uncle" article offers anyway.

As for the rest, I long ago learnt to be doubtful of things "everyone knows", while I wonder whether the 2.2 million foreigners working here includes EU citizens who are not affected by immigration laws, tight or not.

Jamie, Bolton, UK

Roshan Doug's comments are full of half-truths and generalisations. As a doctor working with vulnerable children in West London, I have seen first hand how many asylum seeking families (and that includes children) are left destitute. In case Mr Doug does not know, asylum seekers do not get benefits and are not allowed to work legally either. As a result they are left to the mercies of gangmasters and unscrupulous employers who exploit them with below minimum wage payments and illegal deductions knowing that they cannot turn to the law.

As for overseas workers, the vast majority of those who arrived in the UK in the last 5-10 years are from the EU. The chances of getting into UK from South Asia for work reasons are very small. Giving anecdotes of overstaying visitors does not prove anything, except doing the work of the BNP and encouraging racial stereotyping.

The vast majority of refugees go to neighbouring countries. In Iraq, there are 2 million in Jordan and Syria.

Dr Najib Yusuf, Woking, United Kingdom

I suggest an open and fair information pack to any potential newcomers highlighting some of the UK's strongpoints:

1) City centres at night are a joyful place.

2) the street belongs to the good and honest people and is safe.

3) the police is your friend and helps when you need them.

4) schooling is extremely simple and fair.

5) the housing market is rational, logical and fair with very good value for money.

6) the NHS makes patients and employees happy.

7) there is a marvellous public transport system that brings
you to your true and free choice of doctor and clean hospital - on time.

who would want to go anywhere else. surely these immigrants will like it, feel their responsibility and work hard to maintain the status quo.

and by the way: WHO on earth would want to emmigrate to india in a few years when they overtaken the UK economically and in quality of life.

henry, nottingham,