The UK Border Agency announced today the new rule for family visitor visa, under which the sponsors of family visitors have to be licensed. If the family visitors they sponsor fail to leave the UK after six months period, the sponsors may face penalities and even jail sentence. The proposed cash deposit for family visitors is dropped after consultation. The period of visitor visa remains six month. To attract more tourists from the countries like China, a group visitor visa will be introduced.

A new type visa will be created for sports people and entertainers to come to the UK for one-off sports events or entertainment events such as Edinburgh Festival.

The UK Border Agency announcement.