Bengaluru, DHNS: Industries Minister R V Deshpande has said that Karnataka will request British Prime Minister Theresa May to roll back the UK’s decision for tighter visa norms and higher visa application fee. May is scheduled to visit Bengaluru on Tuesday.

The new visa rules announced recently specify that anyone applying after November 24 under the Tier 2 intra-company transfer (ICT) category would be required to meet a higher annual salary threshold requirement of 30,000 pounds from the earlier 20,800 pounds.

Deshpande, addressing reporters here on Monday, said such restrictions would prevent good talent from entering the UK, which in turn would inhibit the competitiveness of the UK?industry.

“What the IT industry needs is a visa which enables their engineers to travel to the UK?work on projects from three to 12 months and come back. We are not looking for immigration visas, but for projects,” Deshpande said. He said engineers from Karnataka would like to travel to the UK just like London bankers and lawyers come to India on assignments.

He said students were also facing difficulties in getting study visas in the UK and were now looking for admissions in the US. Tourists too are facing difficulties in getting visa, he said. Desphande said the fact that May had chosen to visit Bengaluru over other cities was an indication that Bengaluru continued to remain the favourite destination for investments.

May, who will land at the Kempegowda International Airport at 10.30 am, will hold talks with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and ministers R V Deshpande and Priyank Kharge at the Taj Hotel near the airport.

Later, she will visit a government school adopted by the Stonehill International School, on the Airport Road. From there, she is scheduled to visit an industry at Peenya Industrial Estate. This will be followed by a lunch at the Taj West End with business executives. She will also take part in a meeting at the Barton Centre on MG Road and will visit Taj Vivanta, before going to the Someshwara temple. May is scheduled to leave for London at 5.45 pm.