UK's New Visa Policy Likely to be a Trouble for Indian Professionals

By siliconindia | Monday, 07 November 2016, 05:37 Hrs

BENGALURU: UK’s latest crackdown to curb the soaring immigration––a move that could largely affect Indian IT professionals, comes just a day before the arrival of UK’s Prime Minister Theresa May. The country announces to change its visa policy for non-EU nationals which will hit large number of Indians who are seeking for better opportunities in Britain.

Under this new visa rule introduced by UK Home Office, anyone applying for a visa after Nov. 24, 2016, through Tier-2 Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) would be required to meet a higher salary threshold of 30,000 pounds from the earlier 20,800 pounds. Though this new policy is set to affect Indians from other sectors also, the concern is for IT professionals who account for nearly 90 PCT of UK visas which is been granted under the ICT route.

Apart from the new visa policy based on the recommendations of the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), other changes include increment of Tier 2 (General) salary threshold for experienced workers to 25,000 pounds, with some exemptions. The new policy has reduced the Tier 2 (ICT) graduate trainee salary threshold to 23,000 pounds and has increased the number of places to 20 per company per year, and has closed the Tier 2 (ICT) skills transfer sub-category.

The announcement has been made for Tier 4 category as well which includes maintenance requirements for the Doctorate Extension Scheme, reports The Indian Express. Foreign nationals outside the European Union—including Indians, are likely to be affected by this new rule—English language requirements when applying for a five-year residency settlement. The new policy is focused on reducing the number of foreign workers whose current leave to remain in the UK under the family immigration rules is due to expire on or after May 1, 2017.