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A spike in the number of tier 2 visa applications for those sponsored by UK employers with Tier 2 Sponsorship Licences in Bengaluru, India has prompted the UK government to open a new Visa Application Centre (VAC) in the city. Earlier in November, UK immigration minister Brandon Lewis officially opened the new UK visa hub, located at the Brigade IRV Centre in Nallurhalli, Whitefield.
Sanwar Ali workpermit.com Comments:
UK Visa and Immigration are not very convincing if they are trying to give the impression that they are trying to make it easier for Indian nationals and perhaps others to obtain UK visas. Once in the UK Tier 2 Visa holders may find that their UK employers with Tier 2 sponsorship licences suddenly lose their sponsorship licence for what most people would consider to be for very minor reasons. The Tier 2 visa holder would then have to find another job with another Tier 2 sponsor or leave the Country.
Many would say that the Tier 2 sponsorship licence system and Tier 2 visa requirements are so confusing, misleading and contradictory that actually it is impossible for any employer to fully comply with the requirements. If the UK Visa department really wanted to help Indians and others they would make sure that the tier 2 visa system is just, fair, sensible and easy to understand. Not unjust, unfair, expensive, bureaucratic and very difficult to understand.
The UK government’s decision to base the VAC in the centre of the city has been viewed as a tactical attempt to attract highly skilled workers based in India’s IT capital. The government hopes that the VAC will benefit some of India’s largest IT firms, including Tata Corporate Services (TCS) and Infosys, by giving the country’s best talent easy access to UK tier 2 visas.
UK Visa Faster application process
UK immigration minister, Lewis, claims that recent rule changes will help to ‘simplify and speed up’ the visa application process. It’s understood that the eligibility criteria for same day, 3-5 day priority visa applications and super priority services, has been expanded.
As a result, first time visitors, students, tier 2 and other work visa applicants have access to these services. Following the opening of the VAC, Mr Lewis took the opportunity to reiterate the UK government’s desire to strengthen ties between the UK and India.
In a statement, Mr Lewis said: “The opening of this visa application centre is yet another example of how the government is making it easier for businesses across the world to work with the UK. India has always been an important partner for us and we are committed to building on this relationship and positioning ourselves as a truly global Britain.”
Britain is open for business for Indians on Tier 2 Visas
Despite evidence to the contrary, Mr Lewis was adamant that the UK is ‘open for business’, although the Home Office is continually taking steps to clampdown on UK immigration numbers.
Lewis claims: “The UK is open for business and the new VAC will make it easier than ever before for the brightest and best Indian workers in the important IT industry to come to the UK. We want to ensure that both countries are benefitting from the sharing of ideas, expertise and technology.”
The new VAC is the 18th to be opened in India, with others situated in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and one at Langford Town - near Bengaluru’s central business district. The latest VAC is a 4000 square foot facility that will help skilled workers applying for tier 2 visas because they will no longer have to travel across the city to make an application.
60,000 UK visas issued to Indian nationals in 2016
According to official Home Office figures, 60,000 Indian nationals were issued with a UK work visa. The highest volume of tier 2 visas in India are issued in Bengaluru. In fact, almost two-thirds of global UK visas are granted to Indians, according to records kept by the British Deputy High Commission in Bengaluru.
Meanwhile, Indian citizens also receive a high number of UK tourist visas and tier 4 student visas.
Workpermit.com can help with Tier 2 Visa Sponsorship Licences and Tier 2 Visas
If you need help with a Tier 2 visa, or a Tier 2 Sponsorship Licence, including help with complying with your Tier 2 Sponsorship Licence obligations workpermit.com can help. More and more employers are facing sudden unannounced onsite inspections. Contact us for a copy of our free Tier 2 Sponsorship Licence Compliance guide.
For more information and advice on UK immigration law and UK visa applications please contact us on 0344 991 9222 or at london@workpermit.com
