British-Irish visa plan will benefit Chinese, Indians

Britain and Ireland inked a memorandum of understanding on visa cooperation on Monday to allow Chinese and Indian visitors to travel to the two island nations on a single visa.

The landmark visa deal will help Britain and Ireland share data and exchange information to inform and determine immigration decisions, and it will allow visitors from India and China to travel more easily between the two countries, the British Home Office said in a statement.

"This agreement will make it easier and more attractive for travelers to visit both Ireland and the UK, while at the same time strengthening Common Travel Area borders," British Home Secretary Theresa May said.