3,680 Bermudians have applied for British passports since the rules changed in May, 2002 giving them the right to do so.

By last month, all but 100 had been approved, after they were processed by Immigration in Bermuda and sent to the British Embassy in Washington said Junior Labour and Home Affairs Minister Reginald Burrows.

And Government has granted Bermuda status to 156 people and permanent residents certificates (PRCs) to a further 869 since residency rules were changed, the Senate heard yesterday.

Of 175 applications for status since February last year, 156 have been approved and 19 are pending,

And of the 946 applications for PRCs, 869 have been granted, four refused, and 72 have yet to be decided.

Sen. Burrows gave the figures during the Senate debate on Immigration when he said Government had struck the right balance between the needs of businesses and Bermudians when it opened up the category of ?key? employees who will be exempt from the six to nine-year work permits.

Following consultation between Bermuda Industrial Union and Bermuda Hotel Association, a new eight-month seasonal work permit had been approved.

A zero tolerance approach is being taken guest workers who commit immigration offences, and employers who continue to take on foreign staff without work permits will not be granted any other work permits.

Immigration has also been investigating the case of a foreign woman who has had a child and given it the surname of the work permit holder she is living with.

However, her Bermudian man has claimed on the birth certificate that the child is his, so the woman could say she was the mother of a Bermudian child.

?In this case, the Minister can ask for evidence of a biological and familial relationship with the Bermudian father,? said Sen Burrows, referring to new Protection Act 2003.

Sen Burrows outlined the spending priorities of Immigration, which had already been discussed fully in the House of Assembly.