6 January 2020

Brexit is feared to have detrimental effects on scientific progress in the UK. For instance, many European scientists have been leaving the UK since the referendum. Moreover, UK research institutions will no longer have access to generous EU funding, including the ground-breaking Horizon 2020 programme.

Attracting the brightest and best
With an eye on proving Britain can be a leader in innovation and scientific progress without freedom of movement, the Johnson Government announced important changes to the immigration system to “attract the brightest and best minds”. When taking office last summer, Prime Minister Johnson promised the introduction of a Global Talent Visa, which would provide a fast track entry for scientists without the need for a job offer or a fellowship.

His announcement last week to double the number of fellowships eligible for accelerated processing from 62 to 120 brings some relief to the scientific community. Nevertheless, its effects are not near to what had been promised and definitely not what would be needed for a brain gain.

Exceptional Talent visas
Currently, the Home Office allows 2000 individuals per year to enter the UK under the Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) category. Highly skilled people who are internationally recognised and established as leaders in their field can enter the UK under this category. They first have to apply to an endorsing body, consisting of experts in their field who decide whether they qualify for such status. In case they secure the endorsement, they can apply in a second phase to the Home Office which assesses whether they fulfil the general visa requirements.

If they successfully obtain leave to enter as a Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) migrant, in most cases they enjoy the freedom to choose their employer or be self-employed and a shorter track to obtain settlement. This confers them a privileged status over other economic migrants

Accelerated science track
Within the Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) visa category, the “Research and Innovation Talent Visa” provides an accelerated route to obtain leave to enter. Applicants who obtain a fellowship with a recognised institution are immediately set on a fast track route for their visas. It is this list of recognised institutions which is being doubled. The full list is expected to be revealed shortly, however, amongst the new institutions are the European Research Council, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions and Human Frontier Science.

The beginning of an ambitious scientific visa scheme?
Given the niche character of the fellowship route, the Johnson Government will have to live up to its prior immigration promises to substantially strengthen the scientific sector. For instance, the Home Office had announced in earlier communications that it is looking to remove the cap for the entire category of Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) visas and to expand the list of endorsing bodies. We encourage these proposals and hope the Home Office will not limit itself to merely symbolic measures.