New British visa figures show most Indians do not overstay

HIGH COMPLIANCE Stats confirm doubts about claims that Indian, nonEU students do not return to their countries

LONDON: New UK immigration figures released on Thursday show Indians – including students – have one of the highest compliance rates of non-EU citizens as they depart before the expiry of visas, casting doubt on claims that a large number of Indians abuse the visa system.

Of the 330,127 Indian citizens who entered Britain during 2016-17, 97% returned before the expiry of their visas, according to Home Office analysis of its exit checks programme.

Indian professionals– particularly in the IT sector–were given the most visas: 58% of the total granted during the year.

Figures for the year ending March 2017 released by the Office for National Statistics( ONS) confirm doubts long expressed by UK universities and higher education stakeholders about claims that large numbers of Indian and non-EU students do not return to their countries.

ONS said that “there is no evidence of a major issue of non-EU students overstaying their entitlement to stay ”, spreading cheer among stakeholders, who have been demanding that non-EU students be taken out of the overall migration statistics.

The figures are unlikely to lead to an immediate change in policy, but will add pressure on the Theresa May government to remove students from migration statistics. However, indications are that more curbs are likely in 2018.

The figures also show a 10% rise in Indian student numbers from the previous year, considered significant in the backdrop of a 50% drop in their numbers since 2010.

The visa figures related to Indians prompted call son the government to improve the overall UK visa offer. Prime Minister May had linked this to expediting the speed and volume of the return of illegal Indians in the UK during her November 2016 visit to India.

The ONS figures also revealed that tens of thousands of EU citizens left the country after the Brexit vote, confirming reports that uncertainty over their future had prompted many to leave.

Faced with new statistical doubts, home secretary Amber Rudd announced a study by the migration advisory committee on the financial and other impact of students coming to the UK.