PM tells India to take back its migrants in UK illegally
THERESA May last night insisted India must take back its immigrants who have illegally stayed too long in Britain if it wants a more relaxed UK visa regime.
The Prime Minister, who is on a threeday trade visit to the country, came under repeated pressure to grant more visas to Indian students.
In talks with Indian prime minister Narendra Modi, which lasted 90 minutes, Mrs May said she was prepared to consider improving the UK’s visa process for those from his country. But in return, India must make it easier for Britain to send back those who have come to the UK legally but overstayed their visa.
Currently, British border officials face a bureaucratic struggle to persuade India to take back its citizens, with a requirement for written documents to prove a person’s identity. This is despite the fact that, in many cases, the UK knows exactly who they are from when they applied for biometric visas – which feature applicants’ fingerprints and a photo of them.
Mrs May wants India to take back over-stayers based on the biometric data alone, rather than piles of paperwork, and in return the UK could make changes to the visa process, such as lowering fees. But Government officials stressed they would not alter the criteria needed to obtain a visa or commit to letting more people in.
Yesterday Mrs May – who wore a striking round-necked long jacket that was similar in style to Mr Modi’s outfit – said at a joint press conference in New Delhi: ‘We have agreed to establish a strategic dialogue on home affairs issues covering visas, returns, and organised crime.’
Mr Modi earlier urged her to open Britain’s doors to students from his country. Mrs May insisted: ‘The UK will continue to welcome the brightest and best Indian students, with the latest figures showing that nine out of ten applications are granted.’
Indian officials have blamed visa changes, introduced by Mrs May when she was home secretary to prevent foreign students working in Britain after graduation, for a decline in Indians enrolling at UK universities from 40,000 to 20,000. Yesterday Tory MP Jacob ReesMogg also called on Mrs May to relax the visa system for Indians.
He told Daily Politics it was ‘quite wrong that we should give preferential terms to China rather than one of our closest allies’. The MP agreed with Lord Bilimoria, chairman of Cobra Beer, who said on the BBC show the UK has given visa concessions to China but not to India.
Mrs May and Mr Modi also discussed a partnership for defence and international security, with the UK set to provide technological and military training to India.
‘Continue to welcome the brightest students’