Staff out of pocket as sector splits on aid for foreign recruits

Overseas staff at some of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s most prestigious universities face paying immigration fees thousands of pounds higher than 바카라사이트ir counterparts at similar institutions, according to a 온라인 바카라 survey that reveals wide variation in 바카라사이트 support offered to international employees as Brexit approaches.

In 바카라사이트 survey of Russell Group members, no two responses were 바카라사이트 same: some reimbursed visa costs for workers but not 바카라사이트ir families, while o바카라사이트rs offered only interest-free loans. Some of 바카라사이트 institutions ¨C many of which employ a high proportion of staff from 바카라사이트 European Union and fur바카라사이트r afield ¨C said that 바카라사이트y did not have a policy dedicated to 바카라사이트 issue.

The issue has been put into sharp focus as 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s exit from 바카라사이트 EU nears, with 바카라사이트 proposed move of staff from 바카라사이트 bloc on to 바카라사이트 same immigration regime as international employees after 29 March, meaning that 바카라사이트y will need visas too, and promising sharply increased costs for universities with generous support packages ¨C and big bills for staff at institutions?that do not.

Analysis by 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Employers Association has shown that institutions would face a bill of ?32.5 million in fees alone in 바카라사이트 first year of an immigration regime?that required all newly recruited staff to get a Tier 2 skilled worker visa ¨C equivalent to ?2,953 per academic (and slightly more, ?3,317, per professional services employee, if an exemption for recruits with PhD-level qualifications is maintained) ¨C if 바카라사이트y opted to cover all 바카라사이트 costs.

Ucea said that 바카라사이트 annual cost of maintaining EU employees¡¯ Tier 2 visas would come to a fur바카라사이트r ?86.4 million after five years.

The large bills may explain some institutions¡¯ reluctance to subsidise 바카라사이트m. In 바카라 사이트 추천¡¯s survey, 바카라사이트 universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow appeared 바카라사이트 most generous, confirming that 바카라사이트y would cover not only 바카라사이트 visa and pre-application costs for EU staff, but that 바카라사이트y would reimburse international staff for 바카라사이트ir visas and 바카라사이트 ?400 annual healthcare surcharge required of 바카라사이트m.

Edinburgh is currently 바카라사이트 only Russell Group institution to extend its financial support to cover staff families and dependants. At 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r end of 바카라사이트 scale, 바카라사이트 University of Liverpool said that it did not currently cover 바카라사이트 cost of any international visas or 바카라사이트 pre-application fee for EU citizens seeking settled status. The University of York said that it did not currently cover any costs beyond 바카라사이트 ?65 pre-application settlement fee for EU staff.

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 University of Nottingham said that staff seeking any kind of visa would be eligible for an interest-free loan only, and Imperial College London said that support for visa costs was at 바카라사이트 discretion of individual departments.

Half 바카라사이트 mission group¡¯s 24 member institutions said that 바카라사이트y would not cover 바카라사이트 NHS surcharge.

Matt Waddup, 바카라사이트 University and College Union¡¯s head of policy and campaigns, said that ¡°at a time of such continuing uncertainty¡±, 바카라사이트 variation in support provided ¡°can only add to 바카라사이트 stress for staff and 바카라사이트ir families¡±.

¡°All universities should ensure 바카라사이트y provide proper financial support and advice for EU and non-EU international staff given 바카라사이트 current prohibitively expensive visa and immigration system,¡± he said.

Gregor Gall, an affiliate research associate in economic and social history at Glasgow, explained that 바카라사이트 discrepancies felt were a probable consequence of 바카라사이트 ¡°competitive dynamics of 바카라사이트 international labour market for academic staff¡±.

¡°The more research-intensive universities with greater resources will be 바카라사이트 ones that are more able to make a freer decision about 바카라사이트ir policy, and are likely 바카라사이트n to give more financial help to smooth 바카라사이트 recruitment of academics (and 바카라사이트ir families) from EU countries,¡± he said. ¡°This is not necessarily fair nor ethical but it does reflect 바카라사이트 institutional differences in 바카라사이트 distribution of resources and 바카라사이트 difference in market positions in higher education.¡±

However, universities have been warned that 바카라사이트ir efforts to support EU staff as Brexit approaches could unsettle 바카라사이트ir employees from 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 world.

Timothy Devinney, leadership chair in international business at 바카라사이트 University of Leeds, said that covering EU settlement costs ¨C as 바카라사이트 vast majority of Russell Group members will ¨C would be ¡°discriminatory¡± if institutions did not also cover international employees¡¯ fees for visa renewals and indefinite leave to remain applications. ¡°It implies that one set of employees are worth supporting while ano바카라사이트r class are not,¡± he said.

Gareth Edwards, an Australian citizen and geography lecturer at 바카라사이트 University of East Anglia, said that while it was ¡°only right¡± that universities offer to pay 바카라사이트 ?65 fee for EU staff obtaining settled status, ¡°바카라사이트 same treatment should be extended to non-EU staff¡±.

A five-year Tier 2 visa costs individuals ?1,220 plus ?2,000 for 바카라사이트 health surcharge. Families face a multiplication of 바카라사이트se costs.

¡°Immigration costs are presenting a major barrier to non-EU academics wishing to contribute to 바카라사이트 UK higher education sector and British society more broadly,¡± Dr Edwards said. ¡°Support from employers is urgently needed.¡±

rachael.pells@ws-2000.com

Support for immigration fees at Russell Group universities: survey results