Migrant Workers: Research

(asked on 25th May 2022) - View Source

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the impact of the cost of visa applications on (a) recruiting and (b) retaining researchers in the UK.


Answered by
Tom Pursglove Portrait
Tom Pursglove
Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
This question was answered on 9th June 2022

Attracting international research talent is a key component of our global points-based immigration system. We have a very generous immigration offer, which enables talented researchers to come to the UK through several different routes, including Global Talent, Skilled Worker, and Authorised Exchange (GAE) routes.

Visa fees are set taking account of the charging powers provided by Section 68(9) of the Immigration Act 2014, which include the ability to set fees based on: the cost of processing the application, the benefits provided by a successful application and the wider cost of the Migration and Borders system. Full details are available via the following link - http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2014/22/section/68.

Turning to the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), this is payable by individuals coming to the UK to work, study or join family for a period exceeding six-month in length. An impact assessment was published alongside the Immigration (Health Charge) (Amendment) Order 2020 on 16 July 2020 which included assessments of the impact of the IHS on work routes, of which researchers would be in scope. The impact assessment can be viewed through this link https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/1086/impacts.

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