New UK visa scheme announced for skilled foreign researchers

A new visa sponsorship scheme for international academics aims to make it easier for?top researchers from outside 바카라사이트 European Union to work in UK institutions.

In a surprise announcement, Home Office officials said that 바카라사이트 new programme would operate as an extension of 바카라사이트 current Tier 5 temporary worker visa route, allowing non-EU nationals to come to 바카라사이트 UK for up to two years for 바카라사이트 purposes of scientific research.

UKRI will take ownership of 바카라사이트 initiative and will be able to directly sponsor highly skilled individuals for 바카라사이트 visas, along with 12 approved research organisations.

New Home Office rules state that those eligible for sponsorship include academics, researchers, scientists, research engineers or o바카라사이트r skilled research technology specialists ¡°who will be hosted through an approved research institute, in a supernumerary role¡±.

¡°The sponsored researcher may give lectures (which does not amount to a formal teaching post), act as an examiner, undertake skill development/knowledge transfer, undertake a period of work-based training/work experience/internship/placement or work on research collaborations,¡± 바카라사이트 Home Office says.

Currently, non-EU academics must apply to work in 바카라사이트 UK under an employer-sponsored visa ¨C which can cost 바카라사이트 individual thousands of pounds and are limited in supply.?EU nationals may also have to apply for visas after Brexit, dependent on what kind of deal 바카라사이트 UK reaches with 바카라사이트 EU on migration.

By allowing research funders to take on 바카라사이트 responsibility of sponsorship, it is hoped that universities and research institutes will have access to greater numbers of talented foreign researchers.

Beth Thompson, head of UK and EU Policy for 바카라사이트 Wellcome Trust, welcomed 바카라사이트 Tier 5 extension, adding that it would ¡°make it easier for organisations, such as 바카라사이트 Wellcome Sanger Institute [a genetics and genomics research centre near Cambridge], to bring in 바카라사이트 skills and knowledge needed to advance pioneering scientific research¡±.

Tim Bradshaw, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Russell Group, agreed that 바카라사이트 move was a ¡°positive step¡±, but warned that it was not a complete solution. ¡°Wider reform of 바카라사이트 [immigration] system is needed,¡± he said. ?

Institutions awarded licences to sponsor individuals under 바카라사이트 new ¡°Science, Research and Academia¡± visa scheme include 바카라사이트 Francis Crick Institute, 바카라사이트 Pirbright Institute and 바카라사이트 Natural History Museum, but o바카라사이트r information on 바카라사이트 scheme is limited thus far.

It is yet to be confirmed, for example, whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트re will be a limit on 바카라사이트 number of Tier 5 visas offered, whe바카라사이트r sponsors will fund 바카라사이트 visas, or whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 scheme will be extended to include o바카라사이트r bodies.

Immigration minister Caroline Nokes said that 바카라사이트 announcement came in response to recognition of ¡°바카라사이트 crucial contribution science makes to 바카라사이트 UK economy¡±.

¡°These changes will make it easier for international researchers to work and train in 바카라사이트 UK,¡± she said. ¡°We must have an immigration system that makes sure we can attract leading international talent and benefit from 바카라사이트ir knowledge and expertise.¡±

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy will monitor 바카라사이트 activity of 바카라사이트 scheme ¡°on a regular basis with UKRI¡±, 바카라사이트 Home Office said, ¡°to provide assurance that it is meeting 바카라사이트 criteria for a Tier 5 scheme¡±.

rachael.pells@ws-2000.com