UK is getting back on track to resume handling applications for visas from India to the UK in the allotted 15 days, stated Alex Ellis, the British High Commissioner to India on Tuesday. Following the epidemic, there has been an unprecedented increase in travel demand, and the UK, like many other nations, has been struggling with immigration backlogs, which has forced thousands of students, employees, and tourists to reschedule their trips.
According to British High Commissioner to India Alex Ellis’ tweet, “We are on track to get back to processing India to Great Britain #visa applications within our standard of 15 days.”
The British High Commissioner stated, “The good news is we are now getting back on track. We have dealt with an unprecedented surge in demand for student visas, 89 per cent up last year. We are turning right off skilled worker visas very fast. And now we are focussing on visitor visas to get them back within 15 days”.
According to Ellis, the number of students from India has increased by 89 per cent since the previous year, and skilled worker visas are being handled more quickly with an emphasis on reducing the wait periods for visiting visas.
According to the most recent UK Immigration Statistics, which were released in August, about 118,000 Indian students were granted a student visa in the year ending in June 2022, an increase of 89% from the year before. The largest nationality receiving sponsored study visas in the UK is currently India, surpassing China.
Ellis said, “We are doing that through a collective effort of our teams in Delhi, in the UK and all over the world. I am glad to say, I think we are now on track”.
Additionally, he advised candidates to apply for visas early and mentioned that the UK had good availability in visa application centres.
“Don’t forget, we have got good availability in our visa application centres as well. You can help by applying early. You can apply three months in advance. You can use the different services, including the priority visa service and the super priority visa service if you have a particular urgency,” remarked Ellis.
Additionally, he advised the candidates to offer the data as needed.
“Make sure you provide the information requested, not just the information which you want to give. And together, I think we can get right down to the 15-day work service standard by the end of this year. That’s my aim. So, good news, we are on track and I think we can get well on track over the next few weeks,” added the British High Commissioner.
Even now, Indian tourists continue to travel often to the UK. In terms of visitor visas issued, Indian nationals made up the largest percentage (28%). Compared to the prior year, more than 258,000 Indian nationals were granted visit visas in the fiscal year that ended in June 2022. (when travel restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic were still in place).
Additionally, Indian citizens were granted approximately 103,000 Work visas in the year ending in June 2022 (which covers both skilled and temporary employees), a 148% increase from the year before. With 46% of all skilled work visas issued worldwide going to Indian people, this country continues to be the leading nationality for obtaining these visas.
