The UK has relaxed its immigration rules giving greater flexibility to students and businesses that employ and sponsor international migrants, a move likely to benefit Indians.
As per the new rules, visitors to the UK will be allowed a short period of study or training as part of their stay. Multinational firms will be able to bring their own auditors to the UK on business visitor visas. Business visitors will also be able to do a short course of study.
The changes, announced on Friday, will make the UK more attractive to international students by allowing them to take up corporate internships after completing their degree and making it easier for graduate entrepreneurs to take up skilled jobs, an official statement said. The British home office also made changes to the Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) visa system to enable employees to extend their stay without having to take a language test.
The ICT route is already well-regarded with business customers describing it is “the most user-friendly in the world”, the statement said. “The UK is open for business: we are building an immigration system that works in the national interest and supports growth,” Immigration Minister Mark Harper said.
“Today’s changes will ensure that the UK continues to attract global talent to work for British businesses and study at our world-class universities,” he said. “Immigration reform is working; we have tightened immigration routes where abuse was rife, still encouraging the brightest and the best to come to the UK.” Changes were made to the family rules to benefit UK citizens to bring their Non-European Economic Area spouses and kids to the country as they will be given greater flexibility.