Plans to abolish UK visa fees for the most talented migrants are reportedly being drawn up by the Government.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s “global talent task force" is understood to be working on ways to attract the world's best scientists, academics and IT experts to Britain in a bid to drive economic growth.
Ideas are said to include scrapping the £766 cost of the global talent visa application, which is paid by workers, their partners and children who want to come to the UK, on top of a £1,035 per year Immigration Health Surcharge.
Costs would be significantly cut for people who have attended the world's top five universities or have won prestigious prizes in their field under the potential reforms, the Financial Times reported.
It comes as Donald Trump has taken a much tougher stance on immigrants coming to the US to work.
The President’s administration announced it was imposing a $100,000 (£74,000) fee for new H-1B visas needed for foreign workers taking on high-skilled jobs that are difficult to fill. The visa route is widely used by tech companies in the US
The UK reforms were being discussed in Number 10 and the Treasury before the Trump administration made the decision, according to the FT.
However, it has out “wind in the sails" to those pushing for changes to Britain's high-end visa system, aiming to spur growth ahead of Rachel Reeves’ Budget on November 26, a Government source told the newspaper.
Nigel Farage on Monday said his party would end the right of migrants to apply for permanent residency in the UK after five years, and force those who already have settled status to reapply for a new stricter visa.
The Reform UK leader wants to abolish indefinite leave to remain (ILR), which migrants can currently apply for after five years, and force them to renew their visa instead.
Applicants would have to meet certain criteria, including a higher salary threshold and better standard of English.
Workers would have to have lived in the UK for seven years, up from five, and there would be tighter restrictions on bringing spouses and children to the UK.
The new visa would also prevent any access to benefits under the plans set out by Zia Yusuf.
Reform’s policy chief wrote in The Telegraph: “We will abolish ILR altogether, including rescinding it retrospectively, and close all loopholes to ensure only UK citizens receive welfare or social housing.”
