CHENNAI: AMIDST the ongoing problems with visas to Indian professionals working in the United States, the IT sector took another blow on Friday with the United Kingdom stating that it would crackdown on soaring immigration by changing its visa policy for non-EU nationals.
The changes announced has provoked IT sector body Nasscom to decry the move. Under the new rules, anyone applying after November 24 under the Tier 2 intra-company transfer (ICT) category would be required to meet a higher salary requirement of 30,000 (25 lakh) pounds from the earlier 20,800 (17.4 lakh) pounds.
The ICT route is one of the most popular routes used by Indian IT firms in Britain to bring Indian workers into the UK, with a Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) study finding this year that Indian IT workers accounted for nearly 90 per cent of visas issued under this route.
Besides the Tier 2 ICT salary threshold hike,UK has also increased Tier 2 (General) salary threshold for experienced workers to 25,000 pounds, with some exemptions; reducing the Tier 2 (ICT) graduate trainee salary threshold to 23,000 pounds and increasing the number of places to 20 per company per year; and closing the Tier 2 (ICT) skills transfer sub-category.
Meanwhile Nasscom expressed disappointment, stating that fast growing tech sectors rely on policy that attracts high-skilled workers and minimises barriers. “NASSCOM is committed to... build the IT skills base in the UK in order to demonstrate the cross-fertilisation that will benefit the UK in an increasingly globalised economy,” it said, adding, “A system that restricts... ability to access talent is also likely to restrict the growth and productivity. The UK needs to have the right policies in place,” it said.
It also asked both governments to agree on a high skilled worker mobility agreement during the UK PM’s visit to India. “The movement of skilled tech workers from India should be seen as a trade priority rather than an immigration issue. Temporary placement of highly-skilled individuals into the UK provides a significant economic boost yet has a negligible impact on net migration.” Nasscom concluded.