Uk Visas

UK student visa applications drop by 16%: What's behind the decline?

The decline in student visa applications coincides with the introduction of new immigration rules in January 2024

UK urges immigrants to transition to eVisa: Here's a guide for Indians

Immigrants using biometric residence permits or visa vignette stickers on their passports as proof of their immigration status are required to switch to eVisas by next year

UK to start ETA for non-visa travellers in 2025: What this means for you

The UK Home Office has introduced the ETA scheme, which operates similarly to the US ESTA system

Rishi Sunak backtracks plan to restrict Graduate Route; tightens visa rules

The UK government decided to keep the Graduate Route intact for now after facing opposition from cabinet but introduced stricter measures for student visas to prevent abuse of the immigration system

Family Visa salary threshold hike to be in incremental stages: UK govt

The UK's proposed hike in the minimum annual salary threshold for British citizens and permanent residents to be eligible to sponsor a spouse or partner on a Family Visa will take place in incremental stages, the government has told Parliament. The update came on Thursday in reply to a written parliamentary question in the House of Lords, stating that the threshold will initially rise to GBP 29,000 in early 2024 from the current level of GBP 18,600 and then be followed by two further increases. The move has been branded a rowing back by the Opposition after Home Secretary James Cleverly had told the Commons earlier this month that the threshold will jump to GBP 38,700, in line with the minimum salary requirement for the Skilled Worker visa route. Latest Home Office documents now say that while the intention remains to align both thresholds, it will be done in stages over time. The MIR (Minimum Income Requirement) will be increased in incremental stages to give predictability, said .

Dubious agents running illicit UK visa trade in South Asia: Report

Dubious agents are operating an illicit visa appointments trade in South Asia, charging unsuspecting students and workers in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal exorbitant rates for a service that should be free, a UK media investigation has found. According to The Observer' newspaper on Sunday, brokers in some parts of South Asia are charging up to GBP 800 for biometric appointments being advertised on social media messaging services in these countries. The problem is believed to be the worst in Pakistan where the investigation found that the abuse of the visa appointment system by agents is feared to have increased significantly over the last year. "It is a massive issue. It all adds to the debt people pay to come to the UK," Rakesh Ranjan, South Asia coordinator for the migrant workers' programme at the UK-based Institute for Human Rights and Business, told the newspaper. When applying for a visa from New Delhi recently, Ranjan was quoted the equivalent of GBP 500 by an agent

Requirements for a UK work visa might get easier for Indians. Here is why

Net migration to the UK reached an unprecedented 606,000 individuals last year

Changes in visa rules won't impact undergrad students, says UK minister

His comment comes days after UK Home Secretary, Suella Braverman recently announced changes to the existing visa rules, which included disallowing students from bringing dependants into the country

UK to disallow some international students from bringing families

In an attempt to curb migration in the country, the United Kingdom has announced new rules for postgraduate students who wish to bring their families with them

UK providing visit visas within 15 days to travellers from India: Envoy

The UK is now providing visit visas to travellers from India within 15 days of receiving applications, British High Commissioner Alex Ellis said on Friday. At the same time, he said a small number of trickier cases take longer time. "Two months ago, I said that our aim was by the end of the year to be turning around visit visas from India to the UK within our standard time of 15 working days. The great news is that the team has now achieved it through fantastic work here in Delhi and across the whole visa network," Ellis said in a short video clip that he posted on Twitter. "There are still a few cases which take longer, the very complex ones and that's right that they do," he added. The high commissioner described quicker visa processing as "good news". "You can of course use the priority visa channel if you still want. We are turning that around within five days. And finally we have a big intake of student visas for the student session starting in January of next year," he said.

India remains top nationality granted worker visas: British High Commission

In October, British High Commissioner to India Alex Ellis had said that they were on track to get back to processing India-to-UK visa application within standard 15 of days

Centre assures to resolve UK visa issue soon, says Goa CM Sawant

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday said that the Union Home Ministry has given an assurance to resolve the issue of the United Kingdom visas as soon as possible

Goa to face loss of Rs 500 cr if visa restriction to UK not relaxed: GFP

Claiming that the coastal state will face loss of Rs 500 cr if tourists from UK don't visit, Goa Forward Party President and MLA Vijai Sardesai has appealed to the BJP govt to relax visa conditions

Travelling abroad? This is what embassies have to say about visa delays

Steep airfares, congested terminals among other challenges for travellers

India to seek UK trade pact, easier worker visas during Johnson's visit

The British prime minister's trip comes just weeks after Foreign Secretary Liz Truss visited New Delhi in a bid to convince the Modi government to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine

UK planning to offer easier visas to clinch trade deal with India: Report

UK is planning to relax immigration rules by offering cheaper and easier visas for Indian tourists, students and professionals, in an attempt to clinch a trade deal with India, a media report said

Britain plans to unveil new visa scheme for financial technology workers

London tops European rankings for such companies, according to an index compiled by real estate broker Savills

Indians get most UK visas as migration from EU countries drops sharply

Figures show that 261,000 more non-EU citizens from countries like India came to the UK, the highest since 2004

Minimum income requirements for UK visas face criticism

Some Indians are also among the nationalities affected by the 18,600-pound a year earning criteria

UK govt begins charging visa applicants for email enquiries

Changes will apply to all applicants making an email enquiry about visa application from outside UK