London: The UK sees the US H-1B visa fee hike to $100,000 as a chance to attract top global talent. Prime Minister Keir Starmer is exploring ways to cut or remove visa fees for elite professionals.
A Financial Times report said Starmer’s “global talent task force” plans to bring the world’s best scientists, academics, and digital experts to the UK. Officials are considering free visas for those who attended top five universities or won major awards.
The move supports UK officials aiming to reform the high-end visa system before the November 26 budget. Starmer’s task force is led by business adviser Varun Chandra and science minister Lord Patrick Vallance. The Home Office has not yet discussed fee cuts.
The global talent visa, introduced in 2020, costs £766 for the applicant and partners, plus a £1,035 health surcharge. Applicants must be leaders or potential leaders in science, engineering, medicine, arts, or digital technology.
In the year ending June 2023, the UK issued 3,901 global talent visas, a 76% increase from the previous year. Officials aim to make the process simpler and faster to attract top professionals worldwide.
