UK to overhaul intra-company transfer visas
The UK's Migration Advisory Committee has been asked by the government to conduct a review of intra-company transfer (ICT) visas in a bid to ensure the system is compatible with the new, points-based immigration rules that come into effect on January 1.
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"We would be grateful for the MAC’s advice on where we should set any criteria on the eligibility of workers (e.g. skill and salary thresholds) and the sending organisations (eg, size of company, value of investment or contract, potential job creation, etc)."According to official data, Indian nationals account for 48 per cent of all Tier 2 visas granted in the year to June, with US, Philippines, Nigeria and Australia also figuring prominently in the figures.The Press Trust of India reported: "The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has often raised the issue of a high cost burden of ICT visas faced by Indian companies, as a result of the minimum salary threshold requirement combined with a Skills and Immigration Health Surcharge imposed on such visas."It has, therefore, been pushing for a 'Social Security Agreement' between the UK and India to provide return on benefits towards the annual contribution of Indian firms to the British economy. "Overall, the new points-based system has been welcomed by Indian industry, with the hope that some of these issues will be resolved."In his reply to Ms Patel, Prof Bell said the MAC would issue "our usual Call for Evidence and also run engagement events with key stakeholders", adding that "given the nature of ICTs, where we believe most of the usage is by a limited number of companies, this may take a slightly different format to our usual approach".The MAC is expected to make its recommendations to ministers by October next year.
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