India hopeful of pact on short-term visas during May’s visit

India hopes to reach a deal with Britain for facilitating short-term visas for students, academicians and businessmen during Prime Minister Theresa May’s visit, Acting High Commissioner to the U.K., Dinesh Patnaik, has said.

“I am hopeful, certain things will happen,” he said.

“I hope we will have a deal on Britain facilitating short-term visas for students, academicians and businessmen from India and these categories should not be in the migration list,” Mr. Patnaik told reporters.

Noting that Ms. May’s visit is important for India, he said, “This is her first bilateral visit and India is her first trip outside the continent.”

“It is an official visit and she will be heading a high-level 160-strong delegation. The trade delegation also assumes importance because of the Brexit scenario.”

2,000 jobs in India

On the Indian side, he said “what we want is ease of doing business — access to the U.K., both for students, academicians and businessmen.”

He noted that a large number of tourists visit Europe but return home because of visa restrictions.

India wants Britain to extend visa concessions given to Chinese to be extended to Indians — 6 months to 2 years visa for 87 pound.

He said many companies are shifting their jobs to India. In the next 3 to 4 months, about 2,000 jobs are expected to go to India.