UK's new immigration rules to hit Indian professionals

Several Indian professionals will be adversely affected by Britain's new immigration rules that come into effect tomorrow as part of the David Cameron government's efforts to reduce migration from non-European Union countries.

The new immigration regime includes tighter rules for students, limits on skilled professionals and new restrictions on the settlement of migrants who are already in Britain.

The HSMP Forum, a campaign group espousing the cause of Indian and other non-EU migrants, today said the new restrictions on migrants already in Britain will cause considerable problems for Indian and other non-EU professionals.

Indian professionals already in Britain will face retrospective changes to their visa status from tomorrow, including a higher level of salary necessary for their continuing stay, and the stipulation that any application for settlement should be free of any convictions, including fines for driving offences imposed by a court.