StartupTalky

Tag: UK visa

  • UK to Slash Visa Fees for Top Global Talent as US Raises H-1B Visa Cost to $100,000

    According to Financial Times story, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is considering plans to do away with immigration costs for outstanding international talent. The Trump administration’s announcement of a $100,000 cost for new H-1B visas, which went into effect on21 September, was preceded by the talks that were already taking place inside Number 10 and the Treasury.

    According to those briefed on the discussions, Starmer’s “global talent taskforce” is formulating plans to attract the top academics, scientists, and digital specialists to Britain in order to spur economic growth.

    A zero-fee system for applicants who have attended one of the top five colleges in the world or received prestigious awards is one alternative being considered, according to FT.

    Peeyush Agarwal, Co-founder & CEO of Invest4Edu stated, “Talent acquisition has become a global war, and immigration policies are becoming decisive factors. The US announced just six weeks ago that it would be raising the prices of coveted H-1B visas to nearly $100,000. Such a move may prove detrimental for startups, tech companies, and skilled professionals alike. For decades, the H-1B programme has been the very gateway for talent from across the globe, mainly from India, to enter the US job market. This exorbitant pricing, however, can only mean that the dream of working abroad may be closing further. Seizing the opportunity, the UK is now in the process of slashing visa fees as an inducement for talent acquisition from around the world.”

    Kajal Dave, Co-Founder, LaunchEd Global echoed similar sentiments as she stated, “The recent contrast in visa policies between the U.K. and the U.S. is already influencing how global talent makes decisions. The U.K.’s move to cut visa fees for top global talent shows it is serious about attracting skilled professionals and international students. Lowering costs not only makes the U.K. more accessible but also creates a clear message: the country is open and welcoming to talent. On the other hand, the U.S. decision to raise H-1B visa costs to as high as $100,000 is creating concern in India. For years, the U.S. has been the top choice for Indian graduates, especially in technology and management. But with higher costs and ongoing immigration uncertainty, both employers and students may hesitate. Companies could rethink sponsoring talent, and students may wonder if the high cost of a U.S. degree is still worth it when work opportunities are less certain.”

    Current Cost of Britain’s Global Talent Visa

    The Global Talent visa presently costs £766 ($1,030) in Britain, and partners and dependents must pay the same amount. Since President Donald Trump signed the proclamation instituting the $100,000 levy, which is frequently used by American software companies to hire Indian employees, the gap with the US has widened.

    According to a source close to the UK negotiations who spoke to FT, the US ruling has “put wind in the sails” for those advocating for Britain to reduce the expense of its expensive immigration system before the November 26 Budget. To recruit scientists and IT workers, the UK established a Global Talent Taskforce in June 2024, supported by a £54 million Global Talent Fund.

    The taskforce will assist researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, senior engineers, and creatives, according to the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology. The funding will be distributed to top universities and research institutions through UK Research and Innovation during a five-year period beginning in 2025. In accordance with Britain’s new Industrial Strategy, these organisations will locate and target certain individuals.

    Good News for Skilled Indians Planning for Britain

    India is anticipated to play a significant role. The Global Talent visa is an essential tool for luring scientists and innovators, according to Lord Patrick Vallance, Minister for Science, Research, and Innovation. He stated that India and the UK already have a solid connection and that he believes it is only becoming stronger while speaking at the India Global Forum’s Future Frontiers Forum in London on June 20.

    But in reality, everything isn’t driven by government-to-government ties on science. Both the scientist and the person must be scientists. There are significant scholarly connections. “I’d like to see more of that as India becomes an increasingly powerful player in the science and tech space,” he said. India has been moving up the research ladder in the world.

    According to the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, the nation placed in the top five for 45 of 64 essential technologies in 2023. In fields like distributed ledger technology and biological manufacturing, it surpassed the US.

    Quick
    Shots

    •Possible exemption for applicants
    from top 5 global universities or with prestigious awards.

    •Trump administration imposes $100,000
    fee on new H-1B visas from September 21, mainly affecting Indian tech
    workers.

    •UK launched taskforce in June 2024
    with £54m Global Talent Fund to attract scientists, engineers, and
    innovators.

    •Funds to be distributed via UK
    Research & Innovation to target top researchers and specialists.

  • Scale-Up Visa Route: A New Opportunity for Skilled Workers in the UK

    The article is contributed By Mr. Yash Dubal, Director, A Y & J Solicitors, London, UK.

    The UK Government has unveiled a range of measures to entice talented Indian workers but has made life more difficult for some entrepreneurs and investors.

    Recently, the British immigration system introduced several significant changes designed to attract ‘the brightest and best’ migrants from around the world. The aim of the policy changes is to boost UK productivity, making the nation more competitive.

    One of the most significant updates is the introduction of the highly anticipated Scale-Up visa route on August 22. This is targeted at highly skilled graduates wishing to work for UK companies with an annualized growth of at least 20% over the last three years and at least 10 employees at the beginning of the period.

    The Scale-up visa holders will be able to change employers after six months of working for their initial sponsor company, unlike workers on Skilled Worker visas who can only work for their sponsor.

    The Scale Up visa application process is anticipated to be easier than the current system for Skilled Workers. Candidates must speak English proficiently and have a job offer that is at the graduate level or above with a £33,000 per annum salary, or the going rate for the job, whichever is higher.

    The visa lasts for two years and can be extended for a further three if certain criteria are met. After five years’ continuous residence, an application for permanent settled status can be made, providing certain conditions are met.

    Another option for talented individuals wishing to work in the UK is the High Potential Individual (HPI) visa, which is opening for applications from 30 May. This ‘elite’ visa route is aimed at applicants who have gained a bachelors or postgraduate degree from a top-ranking university. The list of qualifying universities will be compiled annually by the UK Home Office – the UK government department in charge of immigration. Generally, post-grads from institutions in the top 50 Times Higher Education World University Rankings, Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings and The Academic Ranking of World Universities will qualify. Candidates will also need to speak English proficiently and can sponsor dependents.

    The visa will allow high-flyers to work in any full-time job at any skill and pay level but is not a route to settlement.

    While the HPI and Scale Up visas are squarely aimed at attracting highly qualified individuals to boost the UK’s tech, digital and fintech sectors, there is also a new route for business people. The Global Mobility visa offers several options for workers going to the UK on temporary business assignments. There are sub-categories for graduate trainees, service suppliers, seconded workers, managers and specialists transferring from overseas branches and senior employees deployed to the UK by Indian businesses to expand their UK presence. These routes open from 11 April 2022.

    While these new routes aim to poach talent from other nations, other well-established visa routes have been closed. The controversial Investor or ‘golden’ visa was closed earlier in the year following concerns it had been used as a way of bringing dirty money to the UK to be laundered.

    The Sole Representative Visa route has been closed for initial applications from 11 April 2022, and also the Intra-Company Transfer route. These closures create real problems for businesses in India wishing to expand into the UK, for which Global Mobility routes are unsuitable. In these cases, A Y & J Solicitors, an expert immigration legal practice based in London, has pioneered a new, legal process called Self-sponsorship.

    This innovative idea allows those with a genuine intention to open a business in the UK a route to realise their ambitions. The process involves establishing a UK company, and then applying for a sponsor licence, which allows that company to sponsor an overseas worker on a Skilled Worker visa. That skilled worker will be the applicant, who, in effect, will be sponsoring themself to work in their own company. Under this scheme, after five years the visa holder may also qualify for residency and after six, for citizenship. They can also take spouses and children under 18.

    Top 24 Startup Incubators & Accelerators in London (UK)
    Find the best startup incubators & accelerators in London to scale your startup. Here’s a list of the top 24 Startup Incubators in London.
    StartupTalkyAlan Joseph

    There are big changes in the UK immigration system over the next months and the advice offered is to seek legal help from a reputable immigration expert when weighing up the possibilities of emigrating.