<div>The controversial 3,000-pound "security bond" for some "high-risk" foreign visitors to the UK, including those from India, is to be scrapped, the Home Office has confirmed.</div><div> </div><div>The scheme, announced by Home Secretary Theresa May in June, was to come into force this month.</div><div> </div><div>A Home Office spokesman confirmed a Sunday Times report that the policy would be scrapped.</div><div> </div><div>Hugo Swire, Britain's Minister of state for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs told PTI recently that "no decision was taken on the visa bond scheme".</div><div> </div><div>The decision is thought to have been taken after Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg threatened to block it.</div><div> </div><div>India had also expressed its concern to the UK government both at the ministerial and official levels.</div><div> </div><div>The aim of the scheme was to reduce the number of people from some "high-risk" countries -- including India, Pakistan, and Nigeria -- staying in the UK once their short-term visas expired.</div><div> </div><div>Visitors would have paid a 3,000-pound cash bond before arrival in the UK that would have been forfeited if they failed make the return trip.</div><div> </div><div> </div><div>(PTI)</div>
