LONDON (Kashmir English): The United Kingdom (UK) is weighing a proposal to eliminate highly skilled visa fees as part of its initiatives to stimulate economic growth, the Financial Times reported.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s “global talent task force” is considering proposals to attract world-leading scientists, academics, and digital experts to the UK.
The proposal is being discussed at Number 10 and the Treasury, sources close to the situation informed. The alternative being explored is to completely exempt visa fees for graduates of the globe’s top five institutions or winners of highly regarded international awards, an official stated.
The negotiations started before the United States declared a steep rise in fees for new H-1B visas, a program extensively utilized by America’s tech industry.
As of Sunday, the US now asks applicants to pay $100,000 for each visa, a development that has strengthened the clamor in Britain to improve its own system to entice top-level talent.
Backers of the UK reforms hope reducing expenses might make Britain more competitive and attract more able professionals to relocate there, particularly in advance of the November 26 Budget.
Presently, Britain’s Global Talent Visa is priced at £766 ($1,030) per person, with the same fee for partners and dependents.
