India to take up UK migrants' case

India has decided to take up with the British government the issue of the uncertain future facing an estimated 30,000 highly skilled migrant Indians after recent changes in the immigration laws in the UK.

Deputy High Commissioner of India to the UK Asoke Mukerji, along with Minister (Coordination) Rajat Bagchi and Minister, Economics S Jagadeesan on Wednesday held a meeting with representatives of the Highly Skilled Migrants Forum.

Mukerji has assured the forum that the High Commission would "interact" with the British Home Office on the issue at the earliest, Amit Kapadia, Director and coordinator of the Forum told PTI.

Kapadia said they wanted some remedial action at the earliest as a number of HSMP visa holders whose visa was expiring would be forced to leave Britain unless the British government relented.

A total of 49,000 HSMP visa holders including 30,000 Indians were affected following the changes effected in the immigration rules.

When the HSMP visa holders originally opted for the scheme they were assured that they would get automatic visa extension after two years and they could settle down here after four years, Kapadia said.

Now under the new rules, after two years, they have to appear for an International English Language test and compete on points system to get further extension in visa.