THE ASIAN INDEPENDENT UK
A leading South Asian organisation has warned that the UK Government’s steep visa-fee rises are having a crippling impact on Indian and Asian families who make vital contributions to Britain’s universities, economy, and the NHS.
The Indian Workers Association (Great Britain) said the latest increases in application costs and the Immigration Health Surcharge – now 1,035 pounds per year, paid upfront – mean a typical five-year visa can cost more than 5,000 pounds for one person and over 20,000 pounds for a family of four.
“For many working-class people in India and South Asia, this is an impossible amount,” said Sital Singh Gill, General Secretary of the Association. “Families are selling land, taking loans, or paying private agents thousands of pounds just to reach the UK. It punishes the very people Britain depends on – nurses, carers, and students.”
According to official Home Office data, Indian nationals received over 110,000 study visas in 2024 – the highest of any nationality – and around 81,000 work visas, many in health and social care. Thousands more came from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and the Philippines.
A recent Royal Society study found that the cost of a UK visa for a researcher is 22 times the international average, making Britain one of the most expensive destinations for skilled migrants.
Gill said the rises come “at the very moment Britain needs skilled labour and goodwill from partner countries like India.”
“Instead of welcoming talent, the UK is turning migration into a profit machine,” he said. “Students and workers who dream of contributing here are being priced out before they even arrive.”
Community groups across the Midlands and London – home to some of Britain’s largest Indian and Pakistani communities – report growing numbers of migrants paying between 8,000 and 25,000 pounds to overseas agents to secure work or sponsorship.
The Association has urged the UK Government to review and reduce visa and health-surcharge costs, to crack down on rogue recruiters, and to work with the Indian Government to create fairer, more transparent routes for genuine applicants.
“Britain’s strength has always been its openness,” said Gill. “We want fairness, not favours. A system that values contribution over cash will strengthen both Britain and India.”
Founded in 1938, the Indian Workers Association (Great Britain) represents South Asian workers, students, and families and campaigns for equality, workers’ rights, and social justice across the UK.
