The Campaign for Science and Engineering (CaSE) have published a new briefing on the UK immigration and visas system. The UK needs a competitive immigration policy that attracts international R&D talent, to meet its ambitions for a research-intensive economy, and to support universities.
CaSE Immigration Briefing – March 2024
Read the full briefingIn the briefing, CaSE calls on all parties to commit to:
Reduce the upfront cost of UK visas
Clarify eligibility for the Global Talent Visa
Increase visa flexibility
Support businesses to navigate the visa system
De-risk visa sponsorship for organisations
Mitigate the impact of visa changes on students and universities
Over the last year the UK immigration and visa system has seen changes that have increased upfront costs and restricted eligibility criteria for overseas workers and their dependents. CaSE have looked closely at why the UK needs to attract global talent, the detail of the changes, and the impact they are having or are anticipated to have on the R&D sector.
“Big increases in visa costs and restrictive immigration rules do nothing to help us achieve our collective ambitions for UK R&D, and are totally counterproductive to the UK Government’s ambitions of being a science and technology superpower. If we want to carry out the best science, we need the best talent the world has to offer.
“Despite what the Secretary of State has said, UK universities are seeing real difficulties with funding, made worse by added restrictions on recruitment of international students. Even if we see no change to immigration policy, as a cornerstone of the UK R&D sector, it is vital at universities are provided the support they need to thrive.
“It is not too late to change course, CaSE calls on all parties to commit to policies that produce a healthier and more productive immigration system for UK R&D.”
Dr Daniel Rathbone
Interim Executive Director, CaSE
Related press
Immigration measures give cause for serious concern
06 December 2023
This week the Home Secretary, James Cleverly MP, proposed a series of measures aimed at reducing immigration into the UK.
Response to increases in visa costs
17 July 2023
The Government has announced that it is to increase the immigration health surcharge.
CaSE calls on government to support an integrated skills system for a more innovative UK
14 June 2023
The Campaign for Science and Engineering’s (CaSE’s) latest report looks at the skills needs of a more innovative and research intensive UK.
School science vital to levelling-up scientific potential across the UK
12 May 2021
CaSE has published ‘Inspiring Innovation’, a briefing putting forward recommendations for the UK and devolved governments to enable them to provide high-quality science education in primary and secondary schools across the UK.