British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is exploring proposals to abolish some visa charges for prime world expertise at a time when the USA has taken a more durable stance on immigration, the Monetary Occasions reported on Monday (Sep 22).
Starmer’s “world expertise activity drive” is engaged on concepts to draw the world’s greatest scientists, teachers and digital consultants to the UK in a bid to drive financial development, the report mentioned, citing folks briefed on the discussions inside Quantity 10 and the Treasury.
The thought of slicing visa prices to zero is for individuals who have attended the world’s prime 5 universities or have received prestigious prizes, an official informed the newspaper.
Based on the report, the reforms had been being mentioned in Quantity 10 and the Treasury earlier than the Trump administration introduced its determination to impose a US$100,000 fee for new H-1B visas, that are broadly utilized by US tech firms, from Sunday.
The US determination, nonetheless, has put “wind within the sails” to these pushing for adjustments to Britain’s high-end visa system, aiming to spur development forward of the Nov 26 Funds, an individual concerned within the UK discussions informed FT.
Britain’s world expertise visa utility prices 766 kilos (US$1,030), with companions and youngsters paying the identical price.
The Treasury division and Downing Road didn’t instantly reply to Reuters’ request for remark.