UK visa: Govt to make efforts to negate impact on students

NEW DELHI: Terming as "deterrent factor" the UK government's plans to collect a hefty bond of Rs 2.75 lakh from Indian visitors, the government today said that it will make all diplomatic efforts to negate the impact on Indian students going there.

"... I agree that this would be a deterrent factor. But I hope that it is only temporary deterrent. We will make all diplomatic efforts to ensure that there is no hindrance to student mobility," HRD Minister M M Pallam Raju said reacting to a query on the UK government's decision.

The UK Home Office has announced a pilot scheme under which most visitors from six high-risk Afro-Asian countries, including India, Pakistan and Nigeria, will be required to furnish a 3,000 pounds bond for a six-month visit visa, which they will forfeit if they overstay in Britain.

UK's senior politicians across party lines and Indian industry have called "unfair and discriminatory" the UK government's plans to introduce the controversial visa bond scheme.