UK woos Indian investors with new visa service but offers nothing for skilled workers

Britain will offer new services to improve business travel for Indian visitors, including faster clearance through UK border controls

British Prime Minister Theresa May offered India a possible improved visa deal for businessmen on Monday, as the two countries kicked off talks on boosting trading links ahead of Britain's departure from the European Union.

She attached a condition to a better deal, however: progress in sending home Indians who have outstayed their visas. That harked back to her tough line as interior minister and the mandate she says the Brexit vote gave on curbing immigration.

"The UK will consider further improvements to our visa offer if, at the same time, we can step up the speed and volume of returns of Indians with no right to remain," May told reporters in New Delhi after talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

A source in May's office said any improvements would be about the visa process, such as cost and speed, rather than criteria applicants must meet.

Bespoke visa: The British government will also offer a select group of high net worth Indians access to a bespoke visa and immigration service. The Indian Government will become the first government in the world to be invited to nominate top business executives to the Great Club, who will then be provided with a personal account manager to ensure that their journey through the visa and immigration service is swift and smooth and who can provide assistance for immediate family members.
 

These changes mean that India will have one of the best UK visa services of any country in the world, with more application points than anywhere else and the only place where you can get a same day visa, reflecting the Government's commitment to continuing to attract inward investment and business from India, already the UK's third largest inward investor with more Indian companies invested in the UK than the rest of the EU combined. In 2015-2016, Indian investment created 7,105 new jobs in the UK.

The new scheme reflects the British government's commitment to strengthen trading ties with all corners of the globe as the UK leaves the EU and the benefits of foreign investment for regions up and down the country.
 

The Registered Travellers Scheme will initially be offered to Indians travelling on a work visa, with the possibility of rolling it out to other routes in the future. It is estimated that up to 10,000 Indians could benefit from it within the first 2 years. All members of the scheme are required to undergo advance security checks as part of the application process.

The UK issues more work-related visas to Indian nationals than the number issued to China, Australia and the US combined. More than a third of all work visas to the UK are issued to Indian nationals. Nine out of 10 of Indians who applied for a UK visa in the year ending June 2016 were successful.