The UK Granted More than 1.5 Lakh Visas to Indians till September 2020 Despite the COVID Pandemic

Key Highlights:

• Impact of Covid-19 on the UK Immigration
• UK Visitor Visas till September 2020
• International Movement Restrictions
• Going by the Data
• Silver Lining for the Indians

Indians top the UK immigration list this year. These numbers are despite the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

The UK has granted 917,683 number of visitor visas till September 2020. The decline owing to the Covid-19 pandemic amounted to a fall of over 61% during the last decade. 

Indians, however, continue to top the number of visa-related categories in 2020. The numbers are more significant, considering the impact of the pandemic on the UK immigration system.

International Movement Restrictions

Migrant movements to and from the UK has mostly been restricted. The UK immigration system has borne the brunt. 

The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the operational capacity has been notable. 

The burden of curbs across the European Union and the changed position post-Brexit also affected travel to the UK.

Going by the Data

The general trend of people immigrating to the UK over the last ten years had been upwards.

However, the data released till September 2020 shows a 61% decrease in numbers over the last ten years. As per the figures, only 917,683 visitor visas were granted till September this year.

Silver Lining for the Indians

The good news for Indians is that they still dominate the list of visas granted for immigrating to the UK despite the pandemic. 

The UK government has set out a plan to safeguard livelihoods and return life to near normal as soon as possible. Rebuilding the economy is a priority, along with staying alert, controlling the virus and saving lives.