India | UK UK planning cheaper, easier Visa for free trade agreement with India: Report
New Delhi/London/IBNS: The UK is planning easier and cheaper Visa for Indian tourists, students, and professionals, in a bid to seal a free trade agreement with India, media reports said.
UK International Trade Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan is likely to travel to New Delhi in January to begin talks on formal negotiations on a proposed India-UK free trade agreement (FTA).
In this connection, Trevelyan is expected to open the prospect of relaxing immigration rules for Indian citizens, a demand New Delhi has been raising, The Times newspaper reported.
According to the report, she has the backing of Liz Truss, the Foreign Secretary, who has put securing closer ties with India on top, Home Secretary Priti Patel is opposed to this move.
In May last year, Patel had signed a 'bespoke' and reciprocal Migration and Mobility Partnership (MMP) with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to allow 3,000 professionals and students to have a year access work experience benefits in either country.
Both sides have agreed to work towards an April 2022 timeline to bring the new system in place.
At present, it can cost an Indian citizen up to GBP 1,400 for a work visa, while students pay GBP 348 and tourists GBP 95 respectively.
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