Migrant MoU linked to strict visa norms

Indian ‘overstayers’ issue seen as reason for country’s exclusion from newly expanded list

The UK government has directly linked the exclusion of Indian students from a list of countries offered easier visa norms to India’s refusal to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the return of illegal migrants.

Britain’s Secretary of State for International Trade, Liam Fox, said the reason India had been excluded from a newly expanded list of countries from where overseas students can benefit from a more streamlined UK university application process was because the issue of Indian “overstayers” remained unresolved.

“This is a constant conversation we need to have with India. There is always a demand for easier norms, but we cannot look at that without addressing the issue of overstayers,” Fox said on the sidelines of the launch of UK-India Week in London on Monday.

On being asked if India’s refusal to sign the MoU relating to illegal migrants had resulted in India’s exclusion from an expanded list of countries covering the likes of China, the Maldives, Mexico and Bahrain, the minister said it was important to ensure that all issues are looked at on balance.

“Our relationship with India is long-term and not just related to trade,” he said, dismissing the notion that the move could damage the prospect of a post-Brexit trade deal between the two countries.

India reportedly backed out of signing the pact at the last-minute due to reservations expressed by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) about Indian agencies being given only 15 days to verify the background of an undocumented migrant.