Vijay Dutt
Hindustan Times
London, February 8

Britain will shut its door to non-western low-skilled workers settling permanently in the country under the new plans announced by Home Secretary Charles Clarke. He also announced restrictions on two other permanent routes into Britain, through the asylum system and the family reunion. Only immediate family like spouses and children or parents and grandparents over 65 would be allowed.

But India would be less affected, as in the recent past mostly highly-skilled persons like doctors, engineers, teachers and IT experts have been coming here, although for Indian students aspiring for education here will have to hunt for UK sponsor.

Only the highly skilled persons are to be allowed under the scheduled two-tier system to come to Britain without a job offer. Even nurses who have been placed under the category of medium-skilled would have an easier passage but will need a job before being allowed in the country.

But most are amazed at restrictions put on overseas students at a time when even Oxford and Cambridge Universities are clamouring for more foreign high- tuition paying students. Otherwise, most universities would find hard to balance their budget.

Under the new plan students coming from India or a non-EU country would need a UK sponsor. So will working tourists from Commonwealth countries. They will now be allowed to work for one year only instead of two.

So far overseas students could get visa after securing admission here and paying full-year's tuition fee. A University source told HT that this will drive Indian students to the US and European countries.

Apart from exorbitant tuition fee ranging from 8000 to 12000, overseas students will also have to pay 250 to extend their visas, compared with 155 now and 500 instead of 250 for a premium visa service.

The number of years for eligibility to apply for permanent residency has also been increased from four years to five years. The applicants will also have to pass Britishness and English language tests.

The proposed plan is aimed to wrest the initiative from Tories who have made the immigration an election issue. But many settled Indians seem worried that the proposals could make their lives difficult too.