Karnataka urges British PM to review new visa rules

Bengaluru, Nov 8: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah today requested visiting British Prime Minister Theresa May to review the new visa rules announced by the UK government, saying movement of skilled tech workers from India should be seen as a trade priority.

"Under the new visa rules announced by the UK Home Office, anyone applying after November 24 under the Tier-2 intra-company transfer (ICT) category would be required to meet a higher salary threshold of 30,000 pounds from the earlier 20,800 pounds. I request you to review the new policy so that the earlier threshold is continued," he said.

During an interaction with May on her arrival at a private hotel at the Kempegowda International Airport Limited here, he said the movement of skilled tech workers from India should be seen as a trade priority rather than an immigration.

"Madam Prime Minister, our fast growing and high value tech sectors rely upon an effective immigration policy that attracts high-skilled workers and minimises barriers to the flow of talented people," he said in his remarks, made available to the media by the Chief Minister's Office.

He said the temporary placement of highly-skilled individuals into the UK provided a significant economic boost while having a negligible impact on net migration.

Siddaramaiah also said the state government was looking forward to the early setting up of the UK Health City Project coming up on 400 acres of land earmarked for this initiative at Dharwad.

"We are also keen to collaborate with the UK in the fields of maternal and child nutrition and higher education in the public health and health care," he said.

He welcomed the UK Government and British industry to actively participate in this year's much-acclaimed Aero India show in February 2017 here, to chalk out a clear cut plan to build up on our mutual strengths of aerospace and defence.

Siddaramaiah said the government seeks investments from the UK-based firms in renewable energy and for creating smart cities.

The government also would be happy to work together to identify opportunities for the UK to work with Karnataka for creating next-generation logistics, infrastructure and connectivity across fast growing regions of southern and western India, Siddaramaiah said.

He also said 15 per cent of the UK-based companies in India were in Karnataka employing 23,000 people.