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Time of India
15 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
UK's visa crackdown leaves city of London immigrants in limbo
One banker in the City of London is faced with paying an extra £40,000 a year in university fees for his children. Nursing homes are worried about finding enough caretakers for residents. The insurance industry says overseas relocations have now ground to a halt. Such is life in the UK after the government announced it would now take ten years for immigrants to receive preferential status known as indefinite leave to remain, or ILR. That's twice the time it used to take. 'Ten years is a very long time to spend without certainty,' said Louise Haycock, partner at the immigration services firm Fragomen, who has been fielding frequent requests from businesses on the matter. 'The UK already has one of the most expensive immigration schemes.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Experience next-level CPAP comfort with Resmed AirSense 11 ResMed Buy Now Undo The government, which is still finalizing the changes, is attempting to navigate public pressure to tackle the number of people arriving in the country, as the right-wing populist Reform party gains ground in local and parliamentary elections. It's too soon to say whether the plans will apply retroactively to those already in the country, immigration minister Seema Malhotra said this week. (Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates) Net migration to the UK quadrupled between 2019 and 2023. While official data suggests this rise is reversing as the post-Covid spike in foreign students ends and European Union citizens face more hurdles to move, the government is keen to drive the decline further. The rules are also tightening for those who wish to bring family members when they move. Live Events You Might Also Like: UK hubs for exploited migrant carers are of little help The most obvious businesses hit by the crackdown are care homes, which rely heavily on workers from abroad. Under proposals set out by the Labour government after May's local elections, overseas recruitment in the care sector will end within months, reversing an exemption introduced in 2022. The charity Care England described the decision as a 'crushing blow to an already fragile sector.' Operators say funding pressures prevent them from offering higher salaries, meaning the jobs often only appeal to overseas workers. The government has said employers will be able to hire migrants who are already in the UK until 2028. Other sectors are concerned by the changes. Pharmaceutical companies, for example, face extra paperwork and costs that could restrict scientists moving to the UK. The hospitality industry also depends on attracting workers from abroad, who will find it tougher to qualify for skilled worker visas under the new, higher pay threshold. You Might Also Like: A UK industry is still able to hire foreign workers under visa clampdown One large multinational British company is anticipating the changes to immigration rules will raise costs for its staffing moves, according to a person familiar with the matter, who asked not to be named given the sensitivity of the topic. Despite the likely financial impact, the person said the company didn't plan on raising the issue with the government and will instead absorb the additional expense. City Fears In the City of London, whose banks, law firms and professional services firms have long drawn skilled workers from overseas, there's rising anxiety. One City worker, who requested anonymity, is considering a move to Dubai or the US in order to fund his child's increased university fees and said he felt cheated by the changes the government is making. You Might Also Like: UK tightens student visa rules: Shorter stays, stricter checks, fewer perks Some individuals relocated to the UK to enable their children to study at British universities. Yet parents without settled status will now face as much as £50,000 in annual international fees, instead of £9,535 in domestic fees. 'We've got people that are in the UK who are coming to us and saying, 'I've been in the UK for three and a half years, I've made it my home, my kids are in school, I pay my taxes, I want to buy a house. But I can't now because I don't know if I'm going to be able to get a mortgage in five years time if I'm going to have to wait another six, seven years for ILR,'' said Seema Farazi, global immigration leader for government affairs and financial services at EY. The headline measures announced by the government to restrict immigration were not helping the UK's image with high-skilled migrant workers, she added. 'We have seen a lot of people who are looking at alternative options in different parts of the world.' As well as the extra years waiting for settled status, foreign bankers are also facing higher taxes relative to other global financial hubs, the end of the non-dom status that might have shielded their overseas wealth from UK tax and increasingly squeezed public services. One London employee at a major international investment bank, who spoke to Bloomberg on condition of anonymity, said she was now concerned about her position in the UK. She'd bought a house after relocating from Asia, in the confidence that she'd have permanent residency within five years and would be able to apply for a new job if she lost her current one. But she said in a fiercely competitive industry, it was far from clear that anyone would keep their role for a decade. Had she known it might be that long before she would gain settled status, she said she would not have come to the UK. Companies will also need to pay the UK's £1,000 annual immigration skill charge for five additional years until workers become settled. Large international banks are expected to largely absorb the increased bureaucratic burden but the task won't be feasible for every firm. Smaller firms will be particularly hard hit by the reforms, said Craig Beaumont, executive director of the Federation of Small Businesses, in a speech in May. 'Small business owners are not immigration officers,' he said. 'To attract and retain experienced international talent, we need to have access to long-term visas that are compatible with families moving to the UK,' said Arabella Ramage, legal and regulatory director at the insurance trade body Lloyd's Market Association. The organization expects 260,000 skilled people to leave the insurance industry by 2035, based on the ages of workers. Details of the immigration policy are still being finalized, and the government has said it will allow some people to qualify for ILR sooner, based on criteria yet to be decided that could measure immigrants' economic contribution. 'It's just another burden and it's clamping down on using highly skilled individuals,' said Richard Harris, chief legal officer at recruitment agency Robert Walters Group. Uncertainty is palpable, even for those already in the country. It's clear the government's intention is trying to find different ways they can make immigration more difficult, according to immigration barrister Catherine Taroni. 'The white paper itself is very broad. It's quite all encompassing,' she said.
Deccan Herald
2 days ago
- Business
- Deccan Herald
UK's visa crackdown leaves City of London immigrants in limbo
By Meg ShortOne banker in the City of London is faced with paying an extra £40,000 a year in university fees for his children. Nursing homes are worried about finding enough caretakers for residents. The insurance industry says overseas relocations have now ground to a halt. Such is life in the UK after the government announced it would now take ten years for immigrants to receive preferential status known as indefinite leave to remain, or ILR. That's twice the time it used to take.'Ten years is a very long time to spend without certainty,' said Louise Haycock, partner at the immigration services firm Fragomen, who has been fielding frequent requests from businesses on the matter. 'The UK already has one of the most expensive immigration schemes.'The government, which is still finalising the changes, is attempting to navigate public pressure to tackle the number of people arriving in the country, as the right-wing populist Reform party gains ground in local and parliamentary elections. It's too soon to say whether the plans will apply retroactively to those already in the country, immigration minister Seema Malhotra said this week. Net migration to the UK quadrupled between 2019 and 2023. While official data suggests this rise is reversing as the post-Covid spike in foreign students ends and European Union citizens face more hurdles to move, the government is keen to drive the decline further. The rules are also tightening for those who wish to bring family members when they move. .The most obvious businesses hit by the crackdown are care homes, which rely heavily on workers from abroad. Under proposals set out by the Labour government after May's local elections, overseas recruitment in the care sector will end within months, reversing an exemption introduced in 2022. The charity Care England described the decision as a 'crushing blow to an already fragile sector.' Operators say funding pressures prevent them from offering higher salaries, meaning the jobs often only appeal to overseas government has said employers will be able to hire migrants who are already in the UK until sectors are concerned by the changes. Pharmaceutical companies, for example, face extra paperwork and costs that could restrict scientists moving to the UK. The hospitality industry also depends on attracting workers from abroad, who will find it tougher to qualify for skilled worker visas under the new, higher pay large multinational British company is anticipating the changes to immigration rules will raise costs for its staffing moves, according to a person familiar with the matter, who asked not to be named given the sensitivity of the topic. Despite the likely financial impact, the person said the company didn't plan on raising the issue with the government and will instead absorb the additional expense. City FearsIn the City of London, whose banks, law firms and professional services firms have long drawn skilled workers from overseas, there's rising City worker, who requested anonymity, is considering a move to Dubai or the US in order to fund his child's increased university fees and said he felt cheated by the changes the government is making. Some individuals relocated to the UK to enable their children to study at British universities. Yet parents without settled status will now face as much as £50,000 in annual international fees, instead of £9,535 in domestic fees. 'We've got people that are in the UK who are coming to us and saying, 'I've been in the UK for three and a half years, I've made it my home, my kids are in school, I pay my taxes, I want to buy a house. But I can't now because I don't know if I'm going to be able to get a mortgage in five years time if I'm going to have to wait another six, seven years for ILR,'' said Seema Farazi, global immigration leader for government affairs and financial services at EY. The headline measures announced by the government to restrict immigration were not helping the UK's image with high-skilled migrant workers, she added. 'We have seen a lot of people who are looking at alternative options in different parts of the world.'.Trump gets key wins at Supreme Court on immigration, despite some well as the extra years waiting for settled status, foreign bankers are also facing higher taxes relative to other global financial hubs, the end of the non-dom status that might have shielded their overseas wealth from UK tax and increasingly squeezed public services. One London employee at a major international investment bank, who spoke to Bloomberg on condition of anonymity, said she was now concerned about her position in the UK. She'd bought a house after relocating from Asia, in the confidence that she'd have permanent residency within five years and would be able to apply for a new job if she lost her current she said in a fiercely competitive industry, it was far from clear that anyone would keep their role for a decade. Had she known it might be that long before she would gain settled status, she said she would not have come to the will also need to pay the UK's £1,000 annual immigration skill charge for five additional years until workers become settled. Large international banks are expected to largely absorb the increased bureaucratic burden but the task won't be feasible for every firm. Smaller firms will be particularly hard hit by the reforms, said Craig Beaumont, executive director of the Federation of Small Businesses, in a speech in May. 'Small business owners are not immigration officers,' he said. 'To attract and retain experienced international talent, we need to have access to long-term visas that are compatible with families moving to the UK,' said Arabella Ramage, legal and regulatory director at the insurance trade body Lloyd's Market Association. The organization expects 260,000 skilled people to leave the insurance industry by 2035, based on the ages of of the immigration policy are still being finalized, and the government has said it will allow some people to qualify for ILR sooner, based on criteria yet to be decided that could measure immigrants' economic contribution. 'It's just another burden and it's clamping down on using highly skilled individuals,' said Richard Harris, chief legal officer at recruitment agency Robert Walters Group. Uncertainty is palpable, even for those already in the country. It's clear the government's intention is trying to find different ways they can make immigration more difficult, according to immigration barrister Catherine Taroni. 'The white paper itself is very broad. It's quite all encompassing,' she said.
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Business Standard
3 days ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
Could social media silence cost you a US student visa? Experts weigh in
The recent clampdown on immigrants and international students in the US has sparked confusion about the grounds on which visas can be rejected. One of the key questions now being asked is whether a lack of social media presence could hurt someone's chances of getting a visa. No post, no visa? Not quite There is no official rule saying that not having social media accounts will automatically lead to a visa refusal. However, immigration lawyers say the absence of an online footprint could still raise red flags. 'As we understand the policy, a lack of social media presence might lead the government to assume the person is attempting to hide their views from scrutiny. That raises concerns that individuals who have opted out of social media for personal reasons could face negative immigration consequences as a result,' Daniel Pierce, partner at Fragomen's Washington, DC office told Business Standard. What the leaked cable says A cable sent by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to embassies worldwide instructed consular officers to examine the social media activity of foreigners applying to visit Harvard University. According to Rubio, the move would act as a test case for broader security vetting of visa applicants. Student visa interviews have also been paused temporarily. The document instructed officers to: * Search applicants' social media profiles * Ask applicants to make those accounts public * Consider a lack of posts or private settings as suspicious 'Consular officers should consider whether the lack of any online presence, or having social media accounts restricted to 'private' or with limited visibility, may be reflective of evasiveness,' said Rubio. Still, the cable stops short of saying that visas should be denied on that basis alone. Delays and denials likely 'The government has not explicitly stated what types of issues it may target in its new social media vetting,' said Pierce. 'But given the vague nature of the policy, we believe anyone applying for a visa at a consulate is likely to face additional delays while their social media is reviewed.' He added, 'We may also see a rise in visa denials, as individual consulates and consular officers will likely retain broad discretion in applying vague guidance. That could lead to inconsistent outcomes even for applicants with similar profiles.' Indian students on edge According to media reports, some Indian students applying to US universities are already taking down social media posts or deleting their accounts altogether, worried that their online history may be misinterpreted. But lawyers are advising against that. 'Visa applicants likely cannot do much to avoid refusal. Setting accounts to private may cause the government to assume the applicant is hiding something. Deleting or editing posts at this stage could also raise concerns that the applicant previously shared problematic content,' said Pierce. Legal challenge is difficult Under US law, challenging a visa denial is extremely difficult. 'Under a doctrine known as 'consular nonreviewability,' courts typically refuse to second-guess decisions made by consular officers abroad,' said Pierce. 'There may be ways to challenge the State Department at the policy level—for example, if its guidance to consular offices is flawed or if it exceeds constitutional free speech principles. But individuals who receive denials will likely have no direct legal remedy and will need to reapply and hope for a different outcome.' Free speech groups raise concerns Greg Lukiano, president and chief executive of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, said the instructions created a no-win scenario. 'It seems a little bit like a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation,' he wrote in a blog on 'The Atlantic' on May 31. 'I hadn't actually thought about the idea that if you post on social media and you say things the government doesn't like, you can be in trouble — but also if you conspicuously don't or try to keep them private you can also be in trouble.' Sofia Cope, staff attorney at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, was quoted by Bloomberg as saying, 'Penalising a would-be foreign student or visitor for not being active on social media or keeping their online presence shielded from the general public is an outrageous overreach by the administration.' Pierce pointed out that any privacy arguments may not hold up in a consular setting. 'It remains unclear whether any privacy rights apply at a consulate. The government will likely take the position that disclosing social media activity publicly is the cost of seeking a visa to the United States,' he said.
Forbes
15-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
H-1B Visa Cap Results: 65% Rejected, Immigration Fees Prompt Decline
H-1B cap registrations declined this year, but U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services still rejected almost two-thirds of applications due to the low annual H-1B limit. Higher immigration fees and other factors contributed to the drop in registrations for FY 2026. An H-1B visa is often the only practical way a high-skilled foreign national, including an international student, can work long term in the United States. The H-1B visa category remains the most restrictive in the U.S. immigration system. USCIS released H-1B cap results for FY 2026 that showed a decline in registrations. The immigration service makes selections by lottery in any year the agency receives more H-1B electronic registrations than permitted by the annual limit. The H-1B annual limit is 65,000 plus a 20,000 exemption for individuals with an advanced degree from a U.S. university. For the past two decades, employers have exhausted the quota every year. For FY 2026, USCIS received 343,981 eligible registrations, a decline of 27% from 470,342 for FY 2025. Higher immigration fees likely contributed to the drop in H-1B registrations. A Biden administration fee rule raised the cost of filing an H-1B registration for FY 2026 from $10 to $215. 'With the higher fee this year, employers had to make a more informed economic decision about how many employees to enter into the lottery,' said Kevin Miner of Fragomen. 'That being said, we continued to see very high demand, and regardless of the decrease in registrations, many people who need H-1B status still were not selected.' The number of unique employers increased, going from approximately 52,700 for FY 2025 to 57,600 for FY 2026, a rise of 9%. However, H-1B registrations filed per employer declined. For FY 2026, employers filed an average of 6.0 eligible registrations, a decline of 33% from 8.9 eligible registrations per employer for FY 2025, according to a National Foundation for American Policy analysis. A second round of selections may be less likely to occur in 2025. 'I think it is less likely this year that there will be another pull of names from the lottery like they have done in prior years,' said Miner. 'Because employers had to make a larger investment into the lottery entries, it is likely that most individuals who were selected in the lottery will end up with an H-1B filed for them, so the chances of another pull of names from the lottery are probably lower this year.' 'The increased registration cost is a driver, but it can't be viewed in isolation,' said Lynden Melmed of BAL. 'The overall process for hiring and retaining foreign workers is getting more expensive and difficult.' He notes that companies that filed in FY 2026 had a better chance of getting a registration selected because of fewer filings. Vic Goel of Goel & Anderson agrees that higher fees are only one factor in the decline in H-1B registrations. 'In my experience, the most substantial factor behind the drop was the combination of USCIS reforms aimed at curbing multiple registrations for the same beneficiary and growing employer uncertainty tied to the political climate,' he said. 'The beneficiary-centric selection model did a good job limiting duplicative filings, creating a more compliant pool—but also a smaller one.' USCIS implemented a beneficiary-centric model starting with the FY 2025 selection process to limit multiple filings for the same individual. Despite the lower number of H-1B registrations, nearly two-thirds were rejected due to the annual limit of 85,000. USCIS selected 120,141 registrations out of 343,981, or 35%. That means the agency rejected 65% of registrations because of the numerical limit. USCIS selects more than 85,000 registrations to account for denials and withdrawn or abandoned applications. Only 85,000 new H-1B visa holders will begin work in FY 2026 for cases that count against the annual limit. That means only 25% of the 343,981 eligible registrations will result in new H-1B workers for companies in FY 2026, up from 20% in FY 2025. Still, according to an NFAP analysis, the H-1B visa category remains the most restrictive. In FY 2024, the State Department approved 89% of J-1 visas for exchange visitors and 96% of H-2A visas for agricultural workers. A European teenager is three times more likely to get a visa to work at a summer amusement park than a graduate student is to receive H-1B status to work for a U.S. company on artificial intelligence. In recent months, the State Department has revoked or threatened to revoke thousands of visas for international students. 'There are still a lot of individuals who have been entered into the lottery multiple times that have not been selected, so employers need to continue to look at their foreign national population, including recent hires who might have two or three years of Optional Practical Training still available to them, and get lottery entries in next March to maximize the chances of being selected,' said Kevin Miner. Research by economist Britta Glennon concluded that immigration laws restricting H-1B visas result not in more employment for U.S. workers but more jobs leaving the United States. According to attorney Vic Goel, 'The overall shortage of H-1B visas continues to pressure employers to explore alternatives, whether through other visa categories or offshoring.'
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Business Standard
14-05-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Buy a yacht and get a 10-year golden visa for tax-friendly Dubai, Abu Dhabi
In yet another expansion of the UAE's Golden Visa regime, Abu Dhabi and Dubai are now offering a 10-year residence permit to superyacht owners and key executives in the yachting industry. As per Fragomen, an immigration law firm, eligible individuals include private yacht owners with vessels of 40 meters or more, as well as CEOs, major shareholders of yacht building companies, central yacht agents, yacht service providers, and yacht insurance providers. As a reminder, family members of Golden Visa holders are eligible to apply for a dependent Golden Visa, which will have the same duration as that of the principal visa holder's residency period. Dubai's Golden Visa for Superyacht Owners is open to: Yacht Owners – Individuals who own private yachts of 40 meters or longer. Maritime Industry Executives – CEOs, major shareholders, and central yacht agents. Yacht Service Providers – Professionals in yacht maintenance, insurance, and brokerage. Family Members – The visa extends to immediate family, offering stability for dependents. Unlike traditional UAE residency visas, Golden Visa holders can remain outside the country for extended periods without losing their residency status. By offering long-term residency, the government aims to: Attract Ultra-High-Net-Worth Individuals (UHNWIs) – Encouraging more yacht owners to register and base their vessels in Dubai. Boost the Marine Economy – Stimulating growth in yacht services, luxury tourism, and high-end waterfront developments. Enhance Dubai's Global Yachting Hub Status – Competing with Monaco, the French Riviera, and Miami as a year-round luxury yachting destination. "One of the key benefits is long-term residency stability, with visa categories such as the Golden Visa offering up to 10 years of residency without the need for a local sponsor. This allows expatriates to live, work, and study in the UAE with greater security and flexibility. Additionally, UAE visa holders enjoy tax advantages, as the country imposes no personal income tax, making it a financially beneficial place to reside. The visa also grants access to world-class healthcare and education systems, ensuring a high standard of living for individuals and their families. Furthermore, holding a UAE visa enables seamless business operations, with residency simplifying banking, property ownership, and investment opportunities," as per Tag Consultancy, an accounting firm based on Dubai. In December, Abu Dhabi launched the 'Golden Quay to Abu Dhabi' initiative, a collaboration between the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), the Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT Abu Dhabi), and Yas Marina. This programme offers eligible superyacht owners the ability to secure the 10-year UAE Golden Visa and is part of Abu Dhabi's wider initiative to position itself as the 'Capital of Capital' and attract ultra-high-net-worth individuals. Eligible individuals under the Golden Quay are: Yacht owners with vessels measuring 40 meters and above. Key yachting industry executives, including: CEOs and major shareholders of yacht-building companies Central yacht agents Yacht service providers Yacht insurance providers Immediate family members of nominees are also eligible for the Golden Visa. "The Golden Quay offers a 10-year UAE residency for the applicants and their family members, with no requirement for a local sponsor or employer. Designed to integrate the superyacht sector into Abu Dhabi's investment ecosystem and fast expanding tourism industry, the Golden Quay also provides preferential berthing rates, marina investment incentives and luxury tourism perks," as per Sovereign, a leading independent provider of corporate, private client and retirement planning services. Announced at the Dubai International Boat Show (DIBS) 2025 in February, Dubai's Superyacht Golden Visa has a similar eligibility profile for yacht owners and yachting industry executives and their families. It grants a 10-year residency, allowing holders to live, work and study in the UAE without needing a sponsor or employer. "The UAE's Golden Visa for yacht owners is a smart move that unlocks significant business and investment opportunities. The UAE is creating a dynamic ecosystem that benefits both investors and the broader economy. A smart move to boost maritime tourism and investment," said Daniel Dronsfield, Client Services Director - EER Middle East, a provider of corporate services, immigration and relocation in the region.
