 "India expresses 'concerns' on proposed UK visa rules")
India has expressed “serious concerns” over the new visa norms proposed by the UK earlier this week, which require applicants to pay a hefty cash bond of £3,000 (Rs 2.8 lakh).
Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma raised the issue in London today during his meeting with Vince Cable, secretary of state for business, innovation and skills, Oliver Letwin, minister for government policy in the Cabinet office, and Gregory Barker, minister in-charge for business engagement with India.
An official statement by the commerce ministry said Sharma was assured by the British government that the proposal for the pilot project had not been sanctioned by the government.
The UK is planning to pilot a scheme with effect from November for a year, targeted at visitors from at least six countries including Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Ghana, because these are considered “high-risk”. Under it, visitors will be forced to pay a cash bond of £3,000 before entering the UK. This will not be applicable for children under 18.
“This would be a deterrent factor. But I hope that it is only temporary deterrent. We will make all diplomatic efforts to ensure that there is no hindrance to student mobility," said Human Resource Development Minister M M Pallam Raju.
Ameet Nivsarkar, vice-president of IT industry body Nasscom, said it would only be applicable to visitors. “Besides, it is a pilot programme; so it is not going to be applicable for all.”
According to the UK, the pilot project is aimed at addressing concerns on misuse of visa and reduce the risk of overstaying.
“In the long run, we are interested in a system of bonds that deters overstaying and recovers costs if a foreign national has used our public services. We're planning a pilot that focuses on overstayers and examines a couple of different ways of applying bonds. The pilot will apply to visitor visas, but if the scheme is successful, we would like to be able to apply it on an intelligence-led basis on any visa route and any country,” said UK’s Home Secretary Theresa May in a statement issued by the British High Commission here. The Indian industry has already expressed its sharp resentment over the proposed norm and warned that the move will act as significant deterrent in India-EU bilateral relations.
According to CII, such a step is “highly discriminatory and very unfortunate” and that it will adversely impact businesses, flow of students and tourism.
Vindi Banga, chairman of FICCI's UK Advisory Group, said: “A high-risk status for visas for Indian visitors to the UK is 180 degrees opposite to Prime Minister David Cameron's emphasis on a special relationship with India. If true, this move will adversely impact students, tourists and business alike."
India and the European Union are currently engaged in talks for having a wide-ranging free trade agreement, which also includes a relaxed visa regime. If such a move by the UK government goes through, this will be contrary to what was promised under the proposed deal.
Ironically, during his visit to India in February, Cameron had promised a relaxed visa regime between both countries for businessmen.
Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma raised the issue in London today during his meeting with Vince Cable, secretary of state for business, innovation and skills, Oliver Letwin, minister for government policy in the Cabinet office, and Gregory Barker, minister in-charge for business engagement with India.
An official statement by the commerce ministry said Sharma was assured by the British government that the proposal for the pilot project had not been sanctioned by the government.
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The external affairs ministry has sought further clarity on the issue from the Indian high commission in London. The ministry said it might raise the issue during the India-UK consular discussions, expected next month.
The UK is planning to pilot a scheme with effect from November for a year, targeted at visitors from at least six countries including Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Ghana, because these are considered “high-risk”. Under it, visitors will be forced to pay a cash bond of £3,000 before entering the UK. This will not be applicable for children under 18.
“This would be a deterrent factor. But I hope that it is only temporary deterrent. We will make all diplomatic efforts to ensure that there is no hindrance to student mobility," said Human Resource Development Minister M M Pallam Raju.
Ameet Nivsarkar, vice-president of IT industry body Nasscom, said it would only be applicable to visitors. “Besides, it is a pilot programme; so it is not going to be applicable for all.”
According to the UK, the pilot project is aimed at addressing concerns on misuse of visa and reduce the risk of overstaying.
“In the long run, we are interested in a system of bonds that deters overstaying and recovers costs if a foreign national has used our public services. We're planning a pilot that focuses on overstayers and examines a couple of different ways of applying bonds. The pilot will apply to visitor visas, but if the scheme is successful, we would like to be able to apply it on an intelligence-led basis on any visa route and any country,” said UK’s Home Secretary Theresa May in a statement issued by the British High Commission here. The Indian industry has already expressed its sharp resentment over the proposed norm and warned that the move will act as significant deterrent in India-EU bilateral relations.
According to CII, such a step is “highly discriminatory and very unfortunate” and that it will adversely impact businesses, flow of students and tourism.
Vindi Banga, chairman of FICCI's UK Advisory Group, said: “A high-risk status for visas for Indian visitors to the UK is 180 degrees opposite to Prime Minister David Cameron's emphasis on a special relationship with India. If true, this move will adversely impact students, tourists and business alike."
India and the European Union are currently engaged in talks for having a wide-ranging free trade agreement, which also includes a relaxed visa regime. If such a move by the UK government goes through, this will be contrary to what was promised under the proposed deal.
Ironically, during his visit to India in February, Cameron had promised a relaxed visa regime between both countries for businessmen.