Britain considers plan to scrap visa fees for top global talent: FT report
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Britain’s global talent visa application costs £766 ($1,326), with partners and children paying the same fee.
PHOTO: EPA
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British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is exploring proposals to abolish some visa fees for top global talent at a time when the US has taken a tougher stance on immigration, the Financial Times reported on Sept 22.
Mr Starmer’s “global talent task force” is working on ideas to attract the world’s best scientists, academics and digital experts to Britain in a bid to drive economic growth, the report said, citing people briefed on the discussions inside the Prime Minister’s Office and the Treasury.
The idea of cutting visa costs to zero is for people who have attended the world’s top five universities or have won prestigious prizes, an official told the newspaper.
According to the report, the reforms were being discussed in the Prime Minister’s Office and the Treasury before the Trump administration announced its decision to impose a US$100,000 (S$128,000) fee for new H-1B visas, which are widely used by US tech companies, from Sept 21.
The US decision, however, has put “wind in the sails” to those pushing for changes to Britain’s high-end visa system, aiming to spur growth ahead of the Nov 26 budget, a person involved in the British discussions told FT.
Britain’s global talent visa application costs £766 ($1,326), with partners and children paying the same fee.
The Treasury Department and No. 10 Downing Street did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment. REUTERS
