Emigrating is getting tougher

The more the world is connected and resembles a global village, more obstacles seem to come up to people’s movements. Immigration is the hottest topic of the developed world, which is waking up to a new form of insularity. It’s not just America that’s shutting its doors on its once-welcoming immigration policies. Britain has excluded Indian students from a new list of “low risk” countries, even while making it easier for doctors and nurses to enter to bolster its struggling National Health Service. The discrimination is clear. The UK is ready to forego economic benefits for its own university system, but welcomes professionals in the health and IT sectors. It may be driven by national priorities, but it’s a disservice to Indian students who not only flourished in UK academics over a century, but many also later served that country.

The fate of three lakh Indian immigrants and their dependents, about the same number, was rendered considerably worse from the depredations of Donald Trump’s new immigration controls. It could take many Indians 150 years to get the coveted green card, while those with the highest skills may get it within six years. Again, the policies are skewed in favour of skill sets the host country seeks. While we cannot be pushy on immigration issues, we will do well to read the warning signs of an insular world looming, and focus on improving our own ecosystem for not only highly-skilled workers but other professionals too, and make it more attractive for students to pursue higher studies in India. This may be a tall order, but a proud nation must make room for its own kind to flourish at home.