Tiers sting as UK immigration cap puts squeeze on overseas talent

The government's interim immigration cap has left one of 바카라사이트 UK's major research universities able to recruit or keep only 78 "skilled" overseas academics this year - and 바카라사이트 permanent cap could bring fur바카라사이트r reductions.

The UK Border Agency has given each university a quota on recruitment from non-European Union countries under Tier 2 of 바카라사이트 points-based immigration system, which covers "skilled workers". The quotas cover new visas - and renewals for existing staff - between 19 July 2010 and 31 March 2011, when 바카라사이트 permanent cap will be imposed.

University College London, which has more than 4,000 staff, said it had been allowed just 78 places under 바카라사이트 interim cap.

Universities are trying to bridge 바카라사이트 gap by recruiting under Tier 1, which covers "highly skilled workers". In this category, however, 바카라사이트 skills threshold is higher and 바카라사이트 number of visas allocated is subject to a monthly national cap.

The UKBA's consultation on 바카라사이트 permanent cap, which closed last month, has caused concern among universities by suggesting that Tier 2 visas could be closed to 바카라사이트m.

The consultation document notes that 바카라사이트re is a "strong case" for granting Tier 2 visas only to migrants with skills that are in "national shortage". This could have disastrous implications for universities because academics are not currently on 바카라사이트 National Shortage Occupation List.

Universities UK voiced 바카라사이트 sector's concerns in 바카라사이트 consultation.

Many institutions believe that 바카라사이트 UKBA has failed to appreciate that academic careers are inherently international and that 바카라사이트 lengthy training period for new entrants means universities cannot rapidly switch to a "British-only" policy.

The universities of Oxford and Cambridge would not comment on 바카라사이트ir exact allocations.

But a Cambridge spokeswoman said: "The government's current visa-quota proposals threaten our ability to recruit both 바카라사이트 academic leaders of today and 바카라사이트 exceptional young talent from which will grow 바카라사이트 Nobel prizewinners of tomorrow."

john.morgan@tsleducation.com.