UK says Rs 1.8-lakh visa cash bond yet to get govt nod

The proposed visa norm still not approved by British govt

A day after India registered its strong protest to the British government’s plan to introduce a £3,000 (Rs 1.8 lakh) cash bond for Indians to get the UK visa, the British High Commission here said the final decision on the scheme, to run as a pilot, was yet to be taken.

Reiterating the promise by British Prime Minister David Cameron during his India visit in February — of creating a relaxed visa regime between the two countries for businessmen and students — Marcus Winsley, director (press and communications), British High Commission, said: “The British prime minister’s message is loud and clear. The UK wants the brightest and the best to help create the jobs and growth that will enable Britain to compete in the global race.”

He said, however, the government was also determined to check the widespread misuse of its visa that led to problems of overstaying. He said the government was, thus, working on a range of options including, financial bonds.

“The government intends to run a pilot scheme for such bonds, tightly targeted at a small number of visa applicants assessed to pose a high risk of overstaying. But no decisions have been taken on the detail of how such a pilot scheme would work in practice. Any such scheme will be designed in a way that does not cut across the UK’s wish to be open for business, students and tourists,” Winsley added.

The matter is going to be discussed during the India-UK comprehensive dialogue on visa-related issues, which is expected to be held later next month.

On Tuesday, the Indian government had expressed serious concerns over the UK’s decision to run such a pilot scheme, saying it would adversely impact businesses, tourism, and flow of students.

Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma had strongly raised the issue during his stay in London, where he met Vince Cable (secretary of state for business, innovation and skills), Oliver Letwin (minister for government policy in Cabinet office), and Gregory Barker (minister in-charge for business engagement with India).

“The ministry has asked our mission in London to find out official details on reports about a possible new scheme that the UK is trying to introduce that may have implications on Indians visiting that country,” Syed Akbaruddin, spokesperson in the external affairs ministry had said on Tuesday.

India Inc. also slammed the UK’s move, terming the pilot scheme “discriminatory and unfortunate”.

According to the UK, the pilot project is aimed at addressing concerns on misuse of visa, thereby reducing the risk of overstaying. For this, it has categorised a few “high-risk” countries such as India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nigeria and Ghana.