Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar hosted a ‘Soneri Sangat’ on 16 May. The chief guest of the event was Mr Kanti Nagda MBE, CEO of Sangat Advice Centre. He has been in the public service for over 50 years and offers legal advice at Sangat. During the event he provided perceptive information on the changes in immigration policy, issues affecting immigrants and the rules and challenges faced by those seeking to come to the UK.
The event, hosted by Pooja Rawal, commenced with a serene devotional song performed by singer Maya Deepak, setting the tone for the proceedings. Tanisha Gujarati, Sales and Marketing Executive of ABPL Group, provided an introduction to Kanti Nagda and facilitated a discussion on immigration laws, eVisas, student visas, and more.
New visa statistics indicate a drop by 80% due to recent restrictions, says Kanti Nagda
Kanti Nagda discussed the current state of immigration laws, noting a 24% drop in visa applications due to Home Secretary measures. Immigration Enforcement operations target removals to Rwanda. Food delivery companies will enhance security checks. New visa statistics show declines, with student dependents dropping by nearly 80%. The government aims to prevent 300,000 arrivals under new rules. Nagda highlighted challenges for students unable to bring parents/partners, citing difficulty in bringing dependent parents to the UK and the Home Office's recommendation of support in their country of origin.
He also spoke about changes for UK student visa holders transitioning to work visas. Previously, students could switch to certain work visas before completing their degree. Now, they must finish their studies before transitioning, with some exceptions for PhD students. Former Home Secretary Theresa May emphasised the study-focused purpose of student visas in response to foreign students staying in unskilled jobs. Stricter English language requirements and policies on educational institution sponsors were introduced in 2012 to reduce migration, but net migration figures didn't decrease significantly. In 2021, the Graduate route was introduced, allowing international students to work for 2 years post-studies.
Kantibhai highlighted challenges faced by UK work permit holders. Health and Care workers now require a lower salary of £29,000/year. Many are jobless and struggling financially. The National Council of Gujarati Organisations (NCGO) raised concerns with the Home Office, citing thousands of care workers at risk of deportation due to bogus care agencies acting as visa sponsors.
“Most care agencies were not properly vetted by the Home Office and were given quotas freely. The Home Office is now taking action against these bogus employers. Work permit holders can only switch to similar jobs, making it nearly impossible to find a new sponsor within 60 days. Many borrowed thousands to obtain visas and now face deportation. The NCGO has requested a meeting with the Home Secretary and Shadow Home Secretary to discuss the future of over 5,000 affected people,” he added.
Kanti Nagda emphasised that Biometric residence permits will be replaced by "eVisas" by December 2024. People will need to register online to share their immigration status. The Home Office will automatically share status with certain government departments. The Tier-4 student visa isn't a long-term solution for staying in the UK after studies. Kanti outlined alternative options including the Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa for starting a business, Tier 2 General Visa for job offers, and marriage to a British citizen for obtaining a visa. Access your e-visa status through your Gov.UK/e-visa account.
Visa changes and alternatives: Discussion with Kanti Nagda
Ashwin Soni raised concerns about Tier 5 visa hurdles for religious workers in Mandirs. Kanti Nagda acknowledged the challenges but highlighted instances where obtaining work permits wasn't difficult, citing examples like Sanatan Hindu Mandir and Jalaram Jyot. He emphasised the importance of temples adhering to government standards for salaries, accommodation, and certification to facilitate work permit approvals.
Chairman and Editor-in-Chief CB Patel questioned the UK's alleged shortage of skilled and unskilled workers, with the media blaming government policies. Major companies highlighted the positive impact of international students and workforce diversity. Both Labour and Conservative parties politicise immigration, but reducing it to 100,000 is unrealistic. Kanti Nagda criticised misleading perceptions of immigration, urging realistic policies to address workforce needs. He highlighted subtle discrimination in blaming immigrants for societal issues, regardless of the prime minister's ethnicity.
Carer Cynthia Macwan asked about sponsorship opportunities to extend visas and how to connect with them. Kanti Nagda emphasised that you can approach specialists in the field you want to work in who have a sponsorship licence. Companies need to have a licence and a quota to issue permits.
Jyotsna Shah, Consulting Editor of Gujarat Samachar, queried return laws for British passport holders returning to India. Kanti Nagda clarified that possessing a British passport doesn't exempt individuals from returning to India every two years to maintain indefinite leave on an Indian passport. Regarding visa rejections without valid reasons, Kanti explained that while visitor visa rejections lack appeal rights, spouse or family visa rejections do. He acknowledged the lack of remedy for rejected visitor visa applicants and suggested considering alternative destinations like the US or Canada. He also advised seeking assistance from Members of Parliament to pressure the Home Secretary for resolution.
Tanisha Gujarati asked about the ratio of immigrants to emigrants in the UK. Kanti Nagda noted a trend of more people leaving the UK, citing examples like a nurse who moved to Canada for a 50% salary increase. He highlighted deteriorating infrastructure and conditions, suggesting the UK may change significantly in the next 20 years.
Before concluding the program, CB Patel remembered Pankajbhai Vora for his invaluable contribution to Gujarat Samachar's 52-year journey. He then invited Pankajbhai's wife, Bharti Vora, to share her thoughts. Bharti Vora expressed her admiration for Kantibhai, noting his leadership qualities instilled since childhood. She recalled Kantibhai's early leadership roles, such as organising poetry conventions at just 16.
