Word: teste
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Becoming British just got trickier. Under a new government proposal announced on Aug. 3, would-be Brits may have to work a little bit harder to get their citizenship when a second test is added to the country's points-based immigration system. If the plan goes through, applicants would serve a term as "probationary citizens," winning or losing points on the path to the passport depending on how well they fit into British society...
...This new test would judge applicants on how they conduct themselves while living in the U.K. Choose to move to Scotland, where the population is declining? Win points. Exhibit antisocial behavior? Lose points. Return to your Third World native country to aid development? Win points. Display "active disregard" for U.K. values - which could include protesting the wars in Iraq or Afghanistan? Lose points. Prospective citizens may also be able to fast-track their candidacy by volunteering or canvassing for political parties. (See pictures of Iraq's revival...
...This test would challenge what has been perceived as an automatic right to move from temporary residence to permanent settlement, giving Government the flexibility to raise or lower the threshold for settlement based on the needs of the country," writes Immigration Minister Phil Woolas in the proposal, which is undergoing a public review...
...Home Office poll released in February, 64% of respondents said they were dissatisfied with the government's immigration policies. That same month, the government responded to the economic downturn by toughening the points system for getting a visa into the country. Now it argues that a second, more difficult test to decide who can stay would give it an additional mechanism to respond to the needs of the U.K.'s workforce. (Read "Immigration: Let's Get Over It Already...
...Even so, the new test would cover only a fraction of the people who go to work and live in the U.K. Last year about 129,000 immigrants were granted British citizenship. Yet the nation is also home to an estimated 725,000 illegal immigrants and attracts many workers from across the European Economic Area who have less incentive to seek citizenship since they can legally work in the country without visas. (Read "Britain's Clown Shortage: Visa Rules Hit the Circus...