Theresa May has indicated that she will offer "improvements" to the visa system if India offers help to return what could be thousands of overstayers in the UK.
The Prime Minister has raised the prospect of a new 'one in, one out' policy as part of a bid to strengthen links with one of its oldest trading partners after Brexit.
Mrs May told a press conference in India: "We have invited the Indian Government to become the first government in the world to nominate top business executives for the Great Club – our bespoke visa and immigration service.
"We have also agreed to establish a strategic dialogue on home affairs issues covering visas, returns, and organised crime.
"As part of this, the UK will consider further improvements to our visa offer if at the same time we can step up the speed and volume of returns of Indians with no right to remain in the UK.
"And the UK will continue to welcome the brightest and best Indian students, with the latest figures showing that nine out of ten applications are granted."
The Indian Prime Minister has warned that education will "define" the future relationship with the UK in remarks that will increase pressure on Mrs May to grant more student visas as part of a bid to improve trade links with the country.
At a speech in New Delhi Narendra Modi said there must be "greater participation" between students in the UK and India, adding the education forms a "vital" part of the relationship.
India is pushing for more student visas as part of a deal with Mrs May to boost trade links, but the Prime Minister has signalled that she will not give in to the calls amid concerns about the number foreign nationals settling in the UK.
0 comments: