January 13, 2018 TnH Global

India makes push for U.K. immigration reform

Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu and Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju, both on visits to the U.K., have pressed the need for Britain to review immigration policies relating to India, including on student visas and the extension of a visa system introduced for Chinese visitors to the U.K.

The visit comes amid the official confirmation that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM)in London in April. The meetings came as India and Britain agreed to the terms of a memorandum of understanding on the swift return of Indian illegal immigrants from the U.K. an issue that has been repeatedly raised by the British government and cited as an obstacle to immigration reform on the British side.

The progress on this issue — the MoU will likely be signed during Modi’s visit will be seen as a gesture of goodwill on the Indian side and will strengthen their calls for change on the U.K. Among the key asks raised by the Ministers is for the introduction of a two-year visa system for business travellers. Britain introduced the system for Chinese visitors in 2016. Mr. Prabhu said he raised issues both around the ease of getting visas and the costs which could prove prohibitive for the services sector. Costs have been rising amid a toughening of the U.K. policy regime in this area.

Rijiju raised issues relating to the two-year visa, as well as students and the treatment of women on spousal visas. The last is a growing issue of concern, amid fears that women who had accompanied partners on spousal visas would be deserted in India, had their visas cancelled.

Both Ministers expressed their satisfaction with the progress of talks on these issues. “Their response was very positive,” said Rijiju on Friday. He added that another issue raised was the need for visa-free travel for Indian diplomats in the U.K. Britain remained the only major European country not to bring in this policy, he said.

News Source: http://www.thehindu.com/