The Hindu : U.K. introduces transit visa for Indian nationals

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Oct 16, 2003

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U.K. introduces transit visa for Indian nationals

By Our Diplomatic Correspondent

NEW DELHI OCT. 15. All Indian nationals travelling through the United Kingdom will require a transit visa from tomorrow, the British High Commission said in a statement here today.

Previously, Indian nationals had required visas to visit Britain, but had been able to travel without one if they were passing through, within 24 hours, on their way to a third country.

This requirement had also been introduced for nationals of Pakistan, Bangladesh, Angola, Cameroon and Lebanon, the statement said. The statement said the decision to introduce the transit visa was not taken "lightly" — but a "significant level" of abuse of the British immigration control being committed by Indians was a "fact".

"Between January to June 2003, there is evidence to indicate that Indian nationals accounted for 40 per cent of cases where passengers able to transit the U.K. without a visa and who then sought to stay...illegally by making an asylum claim involved Indian nationals," it said.

"During 2002, around 2,000 Indian nationals applied for asylum in the U.K. Indications are that the number this year will be even higher. In the same period, some 400 arrived without any documents and 270 plus using forged documents," the release said.

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