New scheme launched for scientists and researchers for UK immigration

The government of the United Kingdom has long been  a strong advocate for higher education and has supported the inflow of students who are interested in pursuing their overseas educationin UK.The importance of high quality research is known to most educators, academics and industry leaders as well as governments from across the globe. Recognizing the need for encouraging a global collaboration among researchers and academia, the government of UK has opened a new scheme under UKRI

Under the UKRI scheme, which will be launched from 6^TH July researchers, academics and scientists hailing from outside the European Economic Area  will be allowed to come and work in the United Kingdom for a period of up to 2 years.

New UK immigration scheme to benefit intelligentsia

The new scheme for immigration to UK which is expected to benefit the intelligentsia, was added to the ,  Government Authorized Exchange for temporary workers or Tier 5 visa stream.  The new changes for immigration to UK have been brought in with a view to improve and encourage the growth of research within the country

The new scheme is expected to be overseen by the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). As per the provisions of the scheme, the aforementioned institute  along with a dozen other research organizations, such as the Natural History Museum, which are approved by the government of the United Kingdom, will be  able to directly sponsor highly talented and  skilled individuals, such as researchers and scientists to apply for immigration to UK

The  organizations which will be sponsoring the applicants  will be monitored by UKRI which has been designated as the owner of the scheme. The organizations will also need licences for sponsoring Tier 5 visa.

UK immigration Minister weighs in on new scheme

The  Minister for immigration in the United Kingdom has stated recently that she is determined to welcome highly talented researchers and scientists from around the globe to give a boost to research efforts within the country and recognised the contribution made by scientific research to the economy of the United Kingdom.  The Minister hailed the United Kingdom as a global leader in the fields of innovation and research and added that  the new  changes would smoothen the path  for international scientists to work and train in the UK. The minister also expressed the importance of having a system that ensures the attraction of leading talent from around the world so the UK could benefit from their expertise and knowledge.

The chief executive of UKRI also stated that the nature of research in the 21^st century is mostly international as researchers from different countries collaborate together. As such the movement of researchers and scientists is essential for meeting the challenges that they are trying to address.

The new scheme would be a step in the right direction to allow collaboration among research groups and to enable international researchers to work in the United Kingdom.

 The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) is expected to monitor  the day to day  activity of the new scheme along with the UKRI in order to ensure that it is coming up to the standard for a Tier 5 visa scheme

This latest initiative demonstrates the commitment of  the UK  government towards ensuring that the country remains an open and dynamic society. Other measures taken by the government towards this end recently include

·         Doubling of  the visas that  available on the Exceptional Talent route to 2,000 per year

·         Introduction of a  new Start-up visa scheme to replace the Tier 1 visa

·         Removal of  medical practitioners  from the cap for  Tier 2 visa