London, September 22— The UK government is weighing a plan to waive visa fees as part of its broader push to attract leading international scientists, technologists and innovators, the Financial Times reported on Monday. The initiative comes as the United States begins enforcing a new rule requiring a one-off $100,000 application fee on all new H-1B visa applicants, a change that will affect thousands of Indians working in the American tech sector.
Officials said the Global Talent Taskforce, which reports directly to Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Chancellor Rachel Reeves, is considering cutting visa costs to zero to strengthen Britain’s appeal. “We’re kicking around the idea of cutting (visa) costs to zero,” a government official was quoted as saying. “We’re talking about the sort of people who have attended the world’s top five universities or have won prestigious prizes.”
The taskforce is part of a £54 million Global Talent Fund announced earlier this year, which aims to lure international experts to relocate to the UK by covering relocation and research expenses for five years. The government said the fund was designed to reinforce Britain’s leadership in “growth-driving sectors” such as science, medicine, and advanced technology.
Since its launch in June, the taskforce has sought to support researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, top-tier engineers, managers, and high-calibre creatives. It is chaired by the prime minister’s business adviser, Varun Chandra, and Science Minister Lord Patrick Vallance.
“Competition for elite global talent is high, and by establishing this taskforce we are solidifying our position as the first choice for the world’s brightest sparks,” then Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said at the launch. He added that the program would “turbocharge innovation in medicines and inventions of the future, boosting British business and putting money in working people’s pockets.”
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) said in a statement that the Global Talent Fund “sends a clear signal to exceptional talent and businesses that the UK seeks to continue its global leadership.”
The government insists the initiative aligns with
