Millions of pounds are spent on verifying visas but virtually nothing on checking whether the visa holder has left the country at the end of the valid period.

The memorandum effectively states that there must be a clear employee employer relationship between the petitioner (employer) and the beneficiary (prospective visa holder).

A resident visa holder may also be subject to other conditions depending on the residence category they applied under.

In a leaked memo he said quizzing visa holders was 'duplicating the work of visa officers'.

Visa holders will also pay an upfront 'insurance' surcharge if they are staying for longer than six months as part of measures to save 500million a year.