From Silicon Valley to Canary Wharf: Skilled workers get new options as UK ups bet on global talent

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. The change makes it significantly more expensive for employers to sponsor foreign workers in the US.

“While President Trump announced late last week that it will make it harder to bring talent to the US, we want to make it easier to bring talent to the UK,” said UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves on Tuesday. “We are expanding our global talent and high potential individual visa routes, and we’re moving quickly to make those easier to access.”

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The H-1B visa program is primarily used by companies facing a shortage of US professionals in science, technology, engineering, and math. Bloomberg reported that the new $100,000 fee, effective September 21, has sparked concerns among tech employers that it could reduce work authorizations for highly skilled immigrants by thousands each month.

Reeves made her remarks at an event in London’s Canary Wharf celebrating the opening of a global headquarters for Revolut Ltd. The company pledged to invest over $4 billion in its UK operations by 2030, creating more than 1,000 jobs. “London isn’t just the capital of the United Kingdom, it is one of the two financial capitals in the world,” Reeves said. “And we want to differentiate ourselves from other countries around the world by being open to the best talent globally.”

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The UK government has been exploring ways to make its visa system more attractive to skilled workers and investors. In May, it committed to increasing arrivals under “very high talent routes,” signaling a clear strategy to capture professionals who might otherwise have gone to the US.

Reeves also highlighted strong US-UK investment ties. During Trump’s state visit, Revolut announced a $500 million investment in its US business and secured backing from Nvidia Corp.

Meanwhile, domestic politics may influence immigration policy. Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party recently vowed to abolish pathways allowing migrant workers to claim indefinite leave to remain. Employment lawyers and immigration experts caution that such a move could discourage skilled migrants, as they would face repeated visa renewals over a five-year period.

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UK considers scrapping fees for top global talent
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is weighing proposals to waive visa fees for leading scientists, academics, and digital experts, a move that would make the UK more competitive for top global talent, the Financial Times reported. Officials said the proposals could apply to people who attended the world’s top five universities or won prestigious awards.

“We’re talking about the sort of people who have attended the world’s top five universities or have won prestigious prizes. 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. The route, introduced in 2020, targets leaders in science, engineering, humanities, medicine, digital technology, and the arts. 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.