Accra, Jan. 30, GNA - The British High Commission said on Tuesday visa applicants for a stay longer than six months in Britain would undergo tuberculosis (TB) screening.

A statement from the Press and Public Affairs Section of the High Commission in Accra said with effect from February 5 2007, all such visa applicants should apply for the clearance at a designated clinic for a health certificate confirming that they were free from active TB.

"This must be done before making a visa/entry clearance application", the statement said, adding that applicants could only lodge their visa/entry application on receipt of the health certificate. The statement said, however, applicants who were found to be suffering from active TB would be asked to seek treatment before a visa would be issued and named some of the categories of applicants as students and dependants intending to stay for longer than six months. The rest are work permit holders and dependants intending to stay for longer than six months; working holiday makers and all dependants of persons settled in the UK applying for spouse; civil partner, unmarried and same sex partner entry clearance.

The statement further said all visit and transit visa applicants; short term students; children aged under than 11; returning residents; diplomatic passport holders and others who qualify for exempt status did not need the clearance. It said the TB screening programme was being operated by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in its office in Accra at the No. 49 Osu Badu Street.