article_snippet: The influx caused the foreign population to swell by 3.6million between 1997 and 2010.
article_snippet: Discounting the number who left over the same 13-year period, net foreign immigration was 3.6million.
article_snippet: with official figures last week showing net migration was almost 300,000 in the year to September 2014.
article_snippet: In 1997, 62,975 visas were granted to non-EU migrants for work, plus 62,975 visas dependants.
article_snippet: Immediately, it led to a sharp jump in the number of marriage visas – 32,200 were given out in 1998 compared to 21,000 in 1996.
highlights_snippet: During 'open door' years of 1997 and 2001 the number of immigrants rose .
  