Response to skilled immigration headlines

“The reports today that the Government are considering reducing visa fees paid by highly skilled researchers are welcome. CaSE has long called for a reduction in upfront visa costs for the brightest and best researchers coming to this country, with current fees being very high when compared to other countries. If these changes happen, they will put the UK in a strong position to compete on the global skills market, especially given the changes in the opposite direction in the USA.

“However, despite this positive development, there is also news today that Reform would remove indefinite leave to remain from individuals already settled in the UK. Retrospective changes of this sort would be extremely damaging to UK R&D and the wider economy, as well as individuals and their families. Policy proposals like this also have a negative impact on the attractiveness of the UK as a destination for the world’s brightest and best researchers because people may worry their right to be in the country could be taken away. I call on all parties considering their immigration policy platform to engage constructively with the R&D sector to find a productive route forward.”