Points system for UK visas now

Stating that the British government has launched a new points system to enable the United Kingdom effectively and speedily handle the demand for visas, the British Deputy High Commissioner for South India, Mike Connor on Thursday cautioned visa applicants against being exploited by some unscrupulous agents.

Stating that 15 per cent of visa applications were turned down last year for various reasons, including false documents like company certificates, qualification certificates and bank statements, he told a press conference in Chennai that visa seekers could go online and have a self appraisal of their standing, vis-a-vis the points system.

Last month, 300 applicants were rejected by the Chennai office for containing forged documents, he said.

The new system, based on objectivity and qualifications and to tackle abuse and identify most talented workers, would reflect aptitude, experience, age and also the level of need in any given sector, he said.

To be implemented in a phased manner, the scheme, launched by the British Home Secretary on March 8 last, would also be complemented with a tougher approach to weed out false applications and place increased obligations on UK business houses and educational institutions, who would be held responsible for those they sponsor.

He said the scheme consolidates over 80 existing work and study routes into five tiers-- highly skilled (scientists and entrepreneurs), skilled workers with job offers, low skilled workers, filling specific temporary shortages, student and youth mobility and temporary workers.

Replying to questions, Connor said that India had three of the top six visa issuing centres in the world, with Chennai placed at number six. Within three days, an applicant for a visa would know the status of the application, he said.

Last year, as many as 145,000 visas were processed at Mumbai, 130,000 at Delhi and 92,000 at Chennai, he said.

Stating that about 18,000 students were in various institutions in the United Kingdom, he said students accounted for 23 per cent of visa applications, skilled workers at 50 per cent and 17.8 per cent by those going on training.

The British government had earmarked £10 million for research and development, scholarships, education and linkages among other things he said and hoped that the country's private sector would provide a matching amount. The British council would administer the scheme, he said.

To another question, he said the July last London blasts had not affected the issue of visas to the UK. The British government, however, has the responsibility to ensure the safety of its citizens, he added.

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