UK must scrap its stand on tough visa norms for Indian students
The nation will lose out in the global race to attract foreign students if it persists with this hostile approach
INDIA HAS ALWAYS BEEN ONE OF BRITAIN’S CLOSEST ALLIES, AND I HAVE FAITH IN THE NEW HOME SECRETARY, SAJID JAVID, CHANGING OUR APPROACH TO IMMIGRATION TO BE MORE COMPLIANT, DESPITE HAVING INHERITED HOSTILE IMMIGRATION POLICIES FROM AMBER RUDD AND THERESA MAY
As a former international student in the United Kingdom, I welcome any move towards greater openness concerning bright students hoping to find opportunity through higher education in the United Kingdom. But last week, the United Kingdom government’s moved to make it easier for students from 11 countries — not including India — to study in the country.
As the Founding Chairman of the UK India Business Council, which creates jobs and growth in both countries, I was shocked by the decision of Prime Minister Theresa May’s government.
By inviting students from other countries far more readily than those from India, the British government sends a clear message that they do not value Indian students. The timing of this announcement by the British government and the Home Office is unfortunate, given that it is United Kingdom-India Week.
The United Kingdom-India partnership is of enormous value, particularly if the United Kingdom is leaving the European Union — its closest trading partner accounting for over 50% of its trade, and around 20% of United Kingdom trade covered by Free Trade Agreements because of the United Kingdom’s membership of in the European Union. Supporters of Brexit should think carefully about these perceptions among countries like India.
Yet, Liam Fox, secretary of state for international trade, said that the decision behind the visa change needs to be considered in terms of the wider policies around immigration and trade, and the bigger picture. He said, “Not everything is about Brexit. Some Indian students overstayed their welcome.” This is astonishing and insulting.
Let’s take a look at the bigger picture. Currently, the United Kingdom does more trade with Sweden than India, the fifth largest economy in the world. By tightening restrictions around Tier 2 visas for business tourists and skilled workers, and now excluding India from the first positive steps towards increasing international students in years, a Free Trade Agreement with India is a pie in the sky.
This latest insult compounds the United Kingdom government’s mistakes, such as failing to offer two-year multiple entry visas at a reduced price of £85 to Indian business visitors and tourists, despite those being available to Chinese visitors. The price for India remains £388.
India is the fastest growing major economy in the world, overtaking the United Kingdom’s economy in terms of size, and also has one of the fastest growing international student markets, with half the population under the age of 25.
Furthermore, the demand for studying abroad from countries like India is increasing at 8% a year. But by including international students in net migration calculations in the United Kingdom, and classifying them as immigrants, it sends out a hostile message to those wishing to come here to study.
The government must undo this. It would send the world, particularly India, a positive message that the United Kingdom is open to talented foreign students.
This hostile approach leads to the United Kingdom losing out on the global race to attract international students to competitors such as the United States of America, Canada and Australia and other European countries.
While the number of Indian students has more than halved in the past six years to 16,000 in the United Kingdom, Canada has now reached the 100,000 mark, and France has a target to attract more international students from India.
In order to truly compete, it must re-introduce the two-year post-study work visa, enabling international students to work in the United Kingdom after graduating, earn money to pay for their education, make lifelong connections and contribute to the exchequer.
The government also needs to do much more to change the perception of the United Kingdom among prospective international students. Indian students in the United Kingdom make a significant contribution to life at British universities, with international students contributing over £25 billion to the country’s economy annually. It must extend these new Tier 4 Visa application rules to Indian students.
India has always been one of Britain’s closest allies, and I have faith in the new home secretary, Sajid Javid, changing our approach to immigration to be more compliant, despite having inherited hostile immigration policies from Amber Rudd and her predecessor, Theresa May. He has already made positive steps by seeking an independent review into the Shortage Occupation List, to allow more Indian information technology workers into the United Kingdom.
It is a shame that the inaugural United Kingdom -India Week has been marred by yet another economically-illiterate move by the British government that renders the picture of future United Kingdom -India relations even cloudier than before.