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Britain issued maximum number of visas to Indians in 2022

The British High Commissioner to India Alex Ellis praised the scheme calling it an “excellent opportunity for India’s brightest young people”…reports Asian Lite News

India topped the list of countries to which the United Kingdom issued the most number of visas in 2022. The UK issued 2,836,490 visas last year, with 25% of those going to Indian nationals. This included a record number of student visas from India, which saw a 73% increase in 2021. Additionally, work visas issued to Indian nationals increased by 130%. India also had the largest share of visit visas, with 30% of the world’s visit visas being issued to Indians.

Earlier, British High Commissioner to India Alex Ellis took to Twitter to announce the same.

Despite the talk around stricter immigration policies, the UK government has taken steps to invite more migrants to the country. The India-UK Young Professionals Scheme is an example of this, as it aims to attract young graduates from India to live, study, travel and work in the UK for up to two years. This is a positive move towards strengthening the relationship between India and the UK, as it allows for cultural exchange and injects expertise into both economies.

The eligibility criteria for the scheme seem reasonable, requiring applicants to have a bachelor’s degree or above and possess a minimum amount of savings. It is also important that applicants do not have any serious criminal convictions and meet the English language requirement, which ensures that they can integrate into UK society and contribute positively to the economy.

The British High Commissioner to India Alex Ellis praised the scheme calling it an “excellent opportunity for India’s brightest young people”.

India has a wealth of talented individuals, and it is important to provide them with opportunities to develop their skills and gain experience in other countries. The UK benefits from the contributions of Indian students and professionals to its economy, and it is important to continue to build on this relationship.

The announcement came even as India and Britain opened their visa application process for students to apply for the new Young Professionals Scheme (YPS) under the India-UK Migration and Mobility partnership.

Launched last month, the scheme allows Indian citizens between 18 and 30 years old to live and work in the UK for up to two years.

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Indians get top share of UK ‘worker’ visas

For student visas, there were 127,731 grants to main applicant Indian nationals in the year ending September 2022, an increase of 93,470 (+273 per cent) compared to 2019 (34,261).

The British High Commission to India on Friday said Indian nationals continued to be the top nationality to be granted ‘worker’ visas, accounting for 39 per cent of the total.

“Indian nationals also continue to be the top nationality granted ‘Worker’ visas, accounting for 39 per cent of the total with 56,042 visas issued. An increase of 26,490 (+90 per cent) as compared to 2019 (29,552),” British High Commission said. The Commission further said for student visas, there were 127,731 grants to main applicant Indian nationals in the year ending September 2022, an increase of 93,470 (+273 per cent) compared to 2019 (34,261).

Earlier, in October, British High Commissioner to India Alex Ellis said they were on track to get back to processing India-to-UK visa applications “within our standard of 15 days”.

“We are on track to get back to processing India to Great Britain #visa applications within our standard of 15 days,” tweeted Ellis.

India has now overtaken China as the largest nationality being issued sponsored study visas in the UK.

The latest UK Immigration Statistics, published on August 25, showed that nearly 118,000 Indian students received a student visa in the year ending June 2022 — an 89 per cent increase from the previous year. India has overtaken China as the largest nationality being issued sponsored study visas in the UK.

The UK continued to be a popular destination for Indian holidaymakers too, as India nationals accounted for the highest proportion (28per cent) of visitor visas granted. More than 258,000 Indian nationals received visit visas in the year ending June 2022 — a 630 per cent increase compared to the previous year (when travel restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic were still in place).

In the year ending June 2022, Indias also received nearly 103,000 work visas (which includes skilled and seasonal workers) — a 148 per cent increase over the previous year.

India nationals also continue to be the top nationality granted skilled worker visas, accounting for 46 per cent of all skilled work visas granted globally. (ANI)

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Stranded Indians in Ukraine take to bunkers

He also said that bombing is continuing on the outskirts of Kharkiv since Saturday morning…reports Amresh Srivastava

As Russian troops continue to move deeper into the Ukrainian territory, the small Indian community threatened by the crossfire finds itself virtually pushed to the wall.

Besides other uncertainties, Indian nationals in Ukraine face scarcity of food and other issues even as bombings in cities escalate.

Kharkiv is in the northeast of Ukraine, around 500 km east from capital Kiev. Among others, it is inhabited by about 100 Indian businessmen. They have been living in the city for the past two to three decades. Most of them are engaged in trading or have big grocery shops in the embattled city.

Dinesh Singh, a native of Shikohabad in Uttar Pradesh, is one of them. He has been living in Kharkiv for the last 25 years. He along with his wife and 12-year-old son has moved into a bunker near his house. Two other Indian families have also taken shelter into the bunker like him.

Singh said, “We woke up with the sound of bombing on February 24 and were forced to take shelter in the nearby bunker. It is just 8×7 feet in size. Two other Indian families are also with us.”

He also said that bombing is continuing on the outskirts of Kharkiv since Saturday morning.

“The bunker is small for nine people and we often have to go upstairs to get a whiff of fresh air. The tiny shelter has only one bulb connection to illuminate the makeshift facility. We can’t lie on the floor, so we are taking a nap only while sitting,” he added.

Singh said that all shopping malls and grocery shops are closed now and they are left with ration that will sustain for a week or so.

“We will see what happens after a week (about ration and other essential supplies). There was a big queue at ATMs and long traffic jams on highways because many people are fleeing to the Romanian border to get refuge in the neighbouring country, as the war seems to be unrelenting,” Singh said.

A motor spare parts trader, Singh stays in Street Geroev Pratsi in Kharkiv. The small residential enclave houses around 100 homes. Their inhabitants are now forced to take shelter in safer zones and spend the nights in bunkers.

Singh’s wife Anita said that the electricity supply has not been disrupted so far despite the bombings. She thinks this to be a big relief since the temperature hovers around two to three-degree Celsius in Kharkiv.

She does not seem to be scared and says that she would stay there only. Yet, she urged the Indian authorities to evacuate the stranded Indian students at earliest.

Singh further said that around five to six thousand medical students are studying in the Kharkiv National Medical College and as of now they are taking shelter in the basements of their hostels, bunkers near their private accommodations or at underground metro stations along with other Ukrainians.

According to him, about 100 Indian businessmen are living in Kharkiv who own shops in local malls, big grocery stores, pharmaceutical shops and other trading outlets.

The Indian community staying there feels that the situation will be eased by March 5 or 6 as the Ukrainian forces are still resisting amid heavy bombing by the Russian forces.

Singh and his wife, however, evaded questions about the political future that awaits Ukraine.

Sharing his experience, Singh said that at least two to four feet-long unexploded rockets can be seen stuck at little distances through the main streets of the city.

Yet, the Indian community in Ukraine seems to have adopted a wait and watch policy as its members hope that the result of this war may not affect their lives and businesses.

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MEA sets up control room to help Indians in Ukraine

The MEA said a control room has been set up in the ministry to provide information and assistance…reports Asian Lite News

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Wednesday set up a control room to provide information and assistance to Indian nationals in Ukraine in view of the prevailing situation in that country over its tensions with Russia.

In addition, the Indian embassy in Ukraine has also set up a 24-hour helpline for the Indians in the eastern European nation.

Separately, the Indian embassy in Kyiv said it has been receiving calls about the non-availability of flights from Ukraine to India and advised Indians not to panic, but book the earliest available and convenient flights to travel home.

“The embassy of India has been receiving several appeals about non-availability of flights from Ukraine to India. In this regard, students are advised not to resort to panic, but book the earliest available and convenient flights to travel to India,” it said in a statement.

It said the Ukrainian International Airlines, Air Arabia, Fly Dubai and Qatar Airways are operating flights at present from Ukraine.

“To meet the additional demand, more flights are being planned in the near future, including from Ukrainian International Airlines, Air India, etc. Details on the same would be shared by Embassy as and when confirmed,” the embassy said.

The embassy on Tuesday advised Indian citizens, especially the students, to temporarily leave that country in view of the uncertainties of the current situation.

It also asked Indian nationals to avoid all non-essential travel to and within Ukraine.

The MEA said a control room has been set up in the ministry to provide information and assistance.

The contact details of the control room in Delhi are: Phone +91 11 23012113, +91 11 23014104, +91 11 23017905 and 1800118797 (toll free). Email: situationroom@mea.gov.in.

The contact details of the helpline in the Indian embassy in Ukraine are: Phone, +380 997300428 +380 997300483, Email: cons1.kyiv@mea.gov.in.

Official sources said the government is exploring the possibility of increasing the number of flights between India and Ukraine to facilitate the return of Indians from that country.

Discussions are underway with civil aviation authorities and various airlines on how to increase the number of flights between India and Ukraine, the sources said.

According to an official document in 2020, Ukraine had a small but vibrant Indian community and there were about 18,000 Indian students studying in that country. The data is likely to vary in view of the pandemic.

The embassy issued the advisory amid escalating tension between Moscow and the NATO countries over Russia’s increasing military build-up close to the Ukrainian border.

The US has already sent extra troops to Europe to support its allies in the backdrop of fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine.

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