LONDON (TIP): The number of skilled work visa applications from Indian nationals to live and work in the UK has dropped by 4% this year, Home Office said today, amid the government’s tightening of the visa regime. The UK Home Office found that Indians accounted for 29,800 sponsored visa application in the year ending June 2017.

The trend is being attributed to the UK government’s tightening of visa regime in an attempt to meet its goal of cutting migrant figures in the country.

“Indian nationals account for 29,800 (54%) of skilled work sponsored visa applications in year ending June 2017, with US nationals the next largest group (5,686 or 10% of the total),” the Home Office said. “The number of sponsored visa applications for Indian nationals was 4% lower in year ending June 2017 and applications for US nationals were 9% lower,” it said.

However, the data based on the UK’s Office of National Statistics (ONS) analysis also disclosed that Indians continue to account for the largest number of skilled work visas granted by the UK government. Source: PTI