Theresa May hints at increased visas for Indians in return for support on the issue of illegal visas
The Visiting UK Prime Minister Theresa May has given an
indication that the visas may be increased for the Indians if the Indian
Government assists the UK in addressing the issue of migrants to overstay
beyond the legal permits.
The Indian Government has raised concerns over the
constraints that the Indian student community is facing for processing their
visas to the UK. Even the expertise workforce is confronted with several issues
for their migration, Narendra Modi Indian PM has said. He has urged the British
PM to take immediate steps to facilitate the immigration of Indians to the UK.
In fact, the demands by Indians for smoother visas has
received backing from even the British business community, with UK industrialist Sir James Dyson favoring
liberal visa policies to Indians immigrating to the UK. He expressed his views at
the summit for the business leaders in New Delhi.
The issue of visa policy has been a major point of discussion
in the British Premier’s three-day visit to India. The visit will also focus on
easing constraints on bilateral trade between the two nations, especially in
the background of post-Brexit policy.
India and UK have already agreed for mutual collaborations on
diverse issues such as smoother business prospects for nationals of both the
countries, rights of intellectual property, facilitation on cyber safety and
addressing cyber terrorist activities.
Theresa May has said that Britain will go ahead further to
receive the best and talented students from India, as the latest statistics
reveal that out of ten, nine Indian applications are being approved.
India is demanding reforms to the existing visa policies in
terms of lessening the conditions for eligibility and the hike in an exact
number of approvals for visas. Brittan has meanwhile agreed to ease the cost
factor, hastening the processing of visas and enhancing the number of offices
for approvals of visas. This will definitely result in processing increased
number of visas.
India will, however, have to assist UK in facilitating the
return of Indians from the UK who do not have the legal permits.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that the current
changes to UK visa policies for students have resulted in decreasing the number
of Indian overseas students to the UK by 50% and this was a major concern. He
said that the education of Indian students was a decisive factor that will
shape the future of bilateral relations between both the nations. The Indian
Premier also expressed his view that enhanced involvement and movement of
students for education and research prospects must be encouraged.
Lord Bilimoria, of the Cobra beer, has also demanded that the
multiple entry visas for less than £100 that has been given to the Chinese must
be extended to the Indians too. He said that the decreasing visitors to the UK
from India meant that British economy would be at a disadvantage as they would
move to Paris.
BBC
has been informed by Sir James that UK must allow increased number of students
from India as there will be the shortage of around one million engineers for
the UK in the future as the UK has only one-third of the required engineers.
The UK administration will have to transform its visa policies making it
friendlier to the Indians if it has to cater to this need, he said.
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