H-1B visa

The UK government is reportedly considering a visa fee waiver as part of its push to attract top global talent in science, research, and technology, according to a Financial Times report on Monday. The proposal comes under the Global Talent Taskforce, a body launched in June and directly reporting to Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Chancellor Rachel Reeves. It is supported by a £54 million Global Talent Fund designed to cover relocation and research costs for exceptional individuals and their teams over five years. A senior government official told the newspaper that the idea of cutting visa fees “to zero” was being explored to target individuals from leading global universities or winners of internationally recognized awards. The move comes as the US, under President Donald Trump, imposed a steep one-time $100,000 fee on all new H-1B visa applications—widely used by the American tech sector, with Indians being among the largest beneficiaries. Chaired by Varun Chandra, the PM’s business adviser, alongside Science Minister Lord Patrick Vallance, the taskforce aims to simplify the UK’s Global Talent Visa route, which has long been criticized for being overly bureaucratic. The UK’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) said the initiative sends a “clear signal” that Britain wants to remain a global hub for innovation by drawing in world-class researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, engineers, and creatives. “Competition for elite talent is fierce,” former business and trade secretary Jonathan Reynolds said at the launch, stressing that the policy would boost innovation in critical sectors, create jobs, and strengthen the economy. While the government says the plan supports its Immigration White Paper to fast-track “the brightest and best” into high-growth industries while limiting overall migration, opposition voices are pushing back. On Monday, Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party vowed to scrap the route to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) if it comes to power, accusing the system of being misused and pledging a tougher citizenship process with higher salary thresholds. Downing Street dismissed these proposals as divisive and unworkable. Source: PTI