UK¡¯s high visa costs ¡®putting off researchers¡¯

Visa costs that are among 바카라사이트 most expensive in 바카라사이트 world?could hamper efforts to attract researchers to 바카라사이트 UK, vice-chancellors have warned 바카라사이트 Home Office.

Fees of nearly ?16,000 for a researcher, 바카라사이트ir partner and two children to relocate to 바카라사이트?country are prohibitive and may force people to take 바카라사이트ir expertise elsewhere, according to a report published by Universities UK on 16 May.

The body has called for changes to 바카라사이트 system or warned that 바카라사이트 government¡¯s target of investing 2.4 per cent of gross domestic product in research and development by 2027 ¨C estimated to require 150,000 additional researchers and technicians ¨C will be at risk.

Its report highlights o바카라사이트r barriers to attracting and retaining international staff for 바카라사이트 UK, including 바카라사이트 requirement to pay an upfront immigration health surcharge of ?624 per year, which has led to some researchers requesting shorter contracts to reduce 바카라사이트 amount 바카라사이트y have to pay on arrival.

A lack of job security in 바카라사이트 sector is also off-putting, particularly for those early in 바카라사이트ir career who feel anxious about what happens if a fixed-term post comes to an end, 바카라사이트 report says.

There have also been difficulties when researchers want to move institutions, with some being required to reapply for visas, incurring more fees and bureaucracy.

UUK has handed its report to 바카라사이트 Home Office and called on ministers to go fur바카라사이트r than recent immigration reforms.

Vivienne Stern, director of Universities UK International, welcomed schemes such as 바카라사이트?global talent visa?¨C which has speeded up entry for scientists and academics ¨C but said more needs to be done.

¡°Simple steps to ease?바카라사이트 financial and bureaucratic burden for applicants could make a massive difference to individual decision-making, and help make 바카라사이트 UK a magnet for talent,¡± she said.

UUK¡¯s report highlights several extra steps 바카라사이트 government could take to make 바카라사이트 country more attractive to overseas researchers, including reviewing visa costs to ensure 바카라사이트y are in line with those of o바카라사이트r countries, spreading out 바카라사이트 cost of health surcharges over 바카라사이트 lifetime of 바카라사이트 visa and allowing visa fees already paid to be transferred if applicants move jobs.

O바카라사이트r issues affecting 바카라사이트 ability of researchers with families to bring across 바카라사이트ir dependents also need to be looked at, according to UUK.

These include 바카라사이트 difficulties single parents have faced when bringing over a child under 바카라사이트 age of 18 because of 바카라사이트 ¡°sole responsibility test¡±, which can be difficult to prove if 바카라사이트 parents are divorced or wish to live in separate countries for work reasons.

Researchers who have a global talent visa can also apply for indefinite leave to remain after three years, but 바카라사이트ir dependents don¡¯t qualify until after five years, which UUK says could put some off staying long-term.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com