UK to rollout TB screening requirements for Indians from 16 August

Support migrant centric journalism today and donate

The UKBA has announced that there will be a gradual rollout of pre-entry tuberculosis (TB) screening requirements in India, beginning with UK settlement visa applications from 16 August 2012. The screening requirement will be extended to applications for work visas under Tiers 1, 2 and 5 of the points-based system from 10 September 2012 and for those applying for Tier 4 student visas from 1 November 2012.

This follows the UK government's announcement in May 2012 that India was part of 67 countries to which pre-entry TB screening would be extended on the basis of World Health Organisation figures of high TB incidence.

Any Indian nationals wishing to travel to the UK for longer than 6 months must be screened and obtain a certificate from an approved clinic to show that they are free of TB before they submit a UK visa application in any of the visa categories listed above. The UK Border Agency has also set up a network of approved clinicians in India.

TB testing will cost Rs 1500 (£17) for the diagnostic tests and the certificate will be valid for 6 months. However, if you test positive for TB you will be referred for treatment and you will not be permitted to travel to the UK until you have been tested as being free of TB.

It is important to note that TB screening is only required if you are travelling to the UK for more than 6 months. If you are travelling to the UK for 6 months or less, for example on business, family or tourism visitor visas, you are not required to undergo pre-entry TB screening.

If you would like to apply for a UK visa workpermit.com can help. workpermit.com is a specialist visa consultancy with nearly twenty-five years of experience dealing with visa applications. We can help with a wide range of visa applications to your country of choice. Please feel free to contact us for further details.