United Kingdom: Visa Applicants in India Will Soon Be Subject to Pre-Entry TB Screening for Long Stays
The UK Border Agency will require visa applicants residing in India to undergo mandatory pre-entry TB screening if they will stay in the UK for more than six months. The new requirement takes effect on August 16, 2012 for settlement applicants and on November 1, 2012 for temporary visa applicants.
Visa applicants residing in India will soon be required to undergo a pre-entry tuberculosis screening if they will stay in the UK for more than six months, the UK Border Agency has announced. The TB screening will be required for settlement applications submitted on or after August 16, 2012 and for temporary work visa applications beginning November 1, 2012. TB screening is not required for stays of less than six months.
The requirement is currently expected to apply to any person applying for a UK visa from within India other than temporary visitors. Fragomen is seeking clarification from the UKBA on how long a foreign national must reside in India before becoming subject to the TB screening requirement.
The TB screening must be conducted at an approved clinic. The fee will be Rs 1500. After successfully clearing the screening, applicants will receive a certificate valid for six months that must be included in their settlement or visa application.
The UKBA announced in May 2012 that it was expanding TB screening requirements to residents of 83 countries – including China and India. Previously, just 16 countries were subject to TB testing. Countries are being phased in to the new requirement over the next 16 months, but no firm implementation dates have been set for countries other than India.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to ukcaseinitiate@fragomen.com.
Source: Fragomen