UK to impose annual cap on immigrants from non-EU countries

A move, that is likely to affect highly skilled workers from non-EU countries of which Indians make the major chunk, the UK government is ready to announce an annual cap on such workers.

Its going to be 24,100 for the period starting July 2010 till April 2011, when they want to finalize a permanent CAP. Well, it remains to be seen whether this will actually be implemented, as there has been a lot of opposition from industry and schools that hire and enroll a lot of fee-paying students from non-EU countries.

The economic times says - "However, the proposed annual cap is expected to face opposition from British companies struggling to recruit employees with the right skills. Campaign groups such as the Highly Skilled Migrants Forum have already announced that they will oppose such limits."

Personally, I fear this move. But since the CAP is just a 5% reduction in the number of migrants that came last year its nothing to worry. Real worry could be when next year, in April 2011 if they go on to reduce the number even lower. Getting a Tier-1 Visa would be then like winning a lottery. (As it happens when applying for H1 Visa to work in the US).

If that is not enough, there are talks of implementing bonds for students who come for education, which they need to pay for studying and will get it back only if they return.

I think this is CAP will just be temporary, and can not remain for long. As it is UK is having shortage of highly skilled workers. This seems to me as a knee-jerk reaction, and nothing else. What this move also serves is a fulfillment of promise made during elections. Come April 2011, when the move will be reviewed, it could be taken back.  Remember what happened to the eligibility rules for Tier-1 in April 2010. First they changed the point based system (PBS) for Tier-1 to allow just masters degree holders to come to the UK in 2009 and then rolled it back in 2010 as they surely found no good in that. Well, that was the non-conservative government at that time, but I believe things will change as economy also recovers during early next year.

The Hindu says - "Leading British businesses are opposed to an artificial limit arguing that it would make it difficult for them to recruit the necessary skilled staff and damage the economy. Universities, who depend on fee-paying foreign students as the main source of their income, are also strongly opposed to such rigid restrictions."

[References]

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/services/travel/visa-power/UK-to-impose-annual-cap-on-immigrants-from-non-EU-countries/articleshow/5954003.cms