India talks with British High Commission on suspension of UK visa

The UK Border Agency had suspended issuance of student visas to North Indians with effect from 1st February, 2010 onwards. This had left many aspiring student visa seekers in a state of utter shock and despair since many had already spent a fortune on all this. 

Also, since UK had become a favored choice for a large number of students from North India after several incidents of attacks on Indians in Australia had resulted in a significant decline in the number of Australian student visa seekers. 

Meanwhile, the Indian External Affairs Ministry is trying to do utmost efforts so that the career of genuine students is not affected.

An official spokesperson for the external affairs ministry of India told the NetIndian News Network that the bilateral relations between the two countries, namely India and the UK, are based on educational cooperation and student exchange programs. Hence, the ministry will stay in constant contact with the British High Commission in New Delhi to sort out the issue at the earliest possible time. 

Apart from North India, the UK Border Agency (UK Border Agency) has also announced for freezing of student visas to applicants from Bangladesh and Nepal, much to the surprise of numerous genuine visa seekers from these countries. 

The UKBA has, however, justified its decision saying the authority will be able to exercise more care in scrutiny of various Tier 4 applications for student visa received before 1st February, 2010 to find any fraudulent applications.

Meanwhile, the UKBA also stated that the UK visa application centers in Kolkata and the three centers in North India, including Chandigarh, New Delhi and Jalandhar will remain closed from February 10 for three days. Director of Press and Communications (British High Commission), Dan Chugg, stated that the reason for this closure was the work of installation of IT system at New Delhi center of the British High Commission.