The UK is positioning itself to attract highly-skilled foreign workers as the US implements tougher rules on H-1B visas. US President Donald Trump recently introduced a $100,000 fee for new H-1B visa applications, a move aimed at overhauling the program used mainly by tech companies to hire foreign talent. “We are expanding our global talent and high potential individual visa routes, and we’re moving quickly to make those easier to access.”The H-1B visa program is primarily used by companies facing a shortage of US professionals in science, technology, engineering, and math. We’re kicking around the idea of cutting costs to zero,” one official told FT.Currently, the global talent visa costs £766 per applicant, plus a £1,035 annual health surcharge per person. Officials said Trump’s H-1B fee increase has given momentum to the proposal, with the aim of boosting growth ahead of the November 26 Budget.

Source: The Times September 24, 2025 13:36 UTC