Increase in Skilled Worker Visa Applications
The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics have shown that net migration has apparently fallen by a quarter since its 2005 peak, from 320,000 to 243,000.
According to Home Office figures, the number of family visas granted fell by almost a third (-31%), while student visas granted were down by over a quarter (-29%) when compared to September 2010 figures.
Work is apparently now the most common reason for migrants to come to the UK, where as previously it was study.
The Government says that the UK continues to welcome top global talent to work for British businesses, with sponsored visa applications for skilled workers up 16%. The majority of applications were for work in the following fields; Information and Communication, Professional, Scientific and Technical Activities, Finance and Insurance sectors.
The Government states that its recent reforms have clamped down on student abuse, while still ensuring that the UK attracts the brightest and best students to its world class universities.
It claims that the latest figures show this strategy is working, with a 5% increase in the number of sponsored student visas applications for universities, with a rise to 8% for Russell Group universities.
In addition, there were 2.1 million visitor visa applications received, with just under two million visas issued, up 5% compared to the previous year. The largest increases in visitors have apparently been from China, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v2.0.
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