No move to finalise visa bond for Indians in UK soon: Bhagwati

Britain has indicated to India that there is no move to finalise the controversial 3,000 pounds visa bond scheme for Indians soon, a senior Indian diplomat has said here.

Answering a question on the controversial bond at a farewell reception hosted in his honour at the India House, outgoing Indian High Commissioner to the UK Jaimini Bhagwati said, "The issue was taken up with the UK government both at the government level and senior ministerial level."

"They were told about our concerns. If the idea is to target someone who will violate the Visa rules, then it is not clear how the bond will prevent such violators. There is no move to finalise the proposal soon," he said.

Last week, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg opposed the Conservative-led coalition government's controversial 3,000 pounds visa bond scheme, which would affect visitors from certain countries including India.

Clegg is the latest senior figure from the Liberal Democrat party to speak out against plans to charge 3,000 pounds from foreigners belonging to certain "high risk" nations.

Earlier, British Home Secretary Theresa May had set the amount at 3,000 pounds, which will be refunded upon departure but forfeited if visitors overstay their visas.

A pilot version of the scheme is scheduled to go ahead in November and is expected to affect countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nigeria and Ghana.

Indian ministerial circles had raised strong objections and sought full details on the application of the scheme.

Immigration remains a sensitive political issue in Britain against the backdrop of unemployment and austerity measures brought on by the economic crisis.

Prime Minister David Cameron has pledged to cut net immigration from 252,000 a year in 2010 to below 100,000 a year by 2015.