UK Opens Doors as US H-1B Tightens Talent Rules for Global Tech

First, list of detected linkable resources in order of appearance (from your provided list):
1. Form I-129 (form)
2. DS-160 (form)
3. UK Global Talent visa guidance (uscis_resource)
4. GOV.UK Global Talent visa guidance (policy)
5. DS-160 Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application (form)

Now I will add up to five .gov links, linking only the first mention of each resource in the article body text, using the exact resource names as they appear.

Article with official government links added (no other changes):

(LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM) Britain is moving to capture a global tech talent shift as the United States 🇺🇸 imposes a new $100,000 surcharge on H-1B filings from abroad, effective September 21, 2025. At the opening of Revolut’s global headquarters in Canary Wharf—an event underscoring how Revolut London has become a magnet for fintech jobs—U.K. Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the government will widen routes for high-skill migrants and speed paths to stay, pitching the United Kingdom as the easier, faster choice for STEM and finance workers. “We want to make it easier to bring talent to the UK … we are expanding our global talent and high potential individual visa routes,” Reeves told business leaders, drawing a sharp contrast with Washington’s fee hike and new limits.

The move sets up a clear policy split. Under the administration of President Biden, the United States is tightening H-1B access from overseas for at least 12 months, signaling a focus on higher-paid roles and enforcement. The United Kingdom, by contrast, is reshaping its UK migration policy to welcome researchers, engineers, and digital specialists. Employers with international hiring plans—especially in software, AI, and fintech—are already weighing whether to place more roles in London, Manchester, or Edinburgh instead of Silicon Valley or Austin.

Under the U.S. changes, any new H-1B petition filed for a worker outside the country must include the $100,000 fee, applying to the 2026 lottery and all new filings after the effective date. The rule does not cover existing H-1B holders, petitions filed before September 21, 2025, or extensions with the same employer. Officials say the measure aims to reduce misuse, protect domestic workers, and favor high-wage, high-skill offers. Legal challenges are expected, but the surcharge is in force. For employers that rely on campus recruiting or offshore hiring, the price jump changes the math—even for large firms that once treated filing costs as a rounding error.

In the U.K., ministers have taken a more targeted approach. From July 22, 2025, the Skilled Worker route now requires roles at RQF Level 6 (graduate level) and sets a higher general salary floor of £41,700, with some occupations needing more. Over 100 mid-skill roles lost eligibility unless listed on the Immigration Salary List or Temporary Shortage List. At the same time, the government reaffirmed support for the Global Talent and High Potential Individual routes, signaling faster decisions for researchers and innovators, and greater flexibility for academics and founders. Officials have also floated fee reductions or waivers for graduates from top-ranked universities and winners of global awards, though final Home Office guidance on how and when those reliefs apply is still pending.

Policy Changes Overview

• United States 🇺🇸 H-1B changes:
  • $100,000 surcharge for new petitions filed from outside the country, effective September 21, 2025.
  • Applies to the 2026 cap season and new filings after the start date; not retroactive.
  • Duration: in place for 12 months, with an option to extend.
  • Scope: extensions with the same employer are exempt; petitions filed before the effective date are not affected.
  • Policy goal: reduce abuse, prioritize high-wage roles, and protect domestic labor markets.
• United Kingdom Skilled Worker revisions (from July 22, 2025):
  • Skill level raised to RQF Level 6; minimum salary set at £41,700 (higher for some roles).
  • More restrictions for care, hospitality, and construction; growth focus on STEM, digital, finance, and advanced manufacturing.
  • Transitional protections allow current Skilled Worker holders in now‑ineligible roles to extend or switch sponsors until at least July 2028.
  • Reinforced support for Global Talent and High Potential Individual routes with quicker settlement and flexible sponsorship for researchers, academics, and innovators.
  • Proposed fee waivers/subsidies for elite talent are expected, pending formal instructions.

Reeves’ remarks at Canary Wharf, against the backdrop of Revolut London adding headcount in engineering and product, capture the government’s core message: Britain wants to be the global hub for skilled workers who feel priced out or delayed by the new H-1B gate. That pitch is aimed especially at Indian software engineers, AI scientists from across Asia, and founders in Africa and Latin America who historically saw the U.S. as the default destination.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the U.S. surcharge could redirect hiring plans across tech and finance, pushing global firms to place more teams in the U.K., the EU, or Canada 🇨🇦. London’s deep fintech base, English language, and venture ecosystem give it an edge, but the U.K. still faces tough competition from Toronto, Berlin, Paris, Amsterdam, and Singapore. If the Home Office follows through with fee relief for top graduates and award winners, the U.K. could widen that edge, especially for early-career researchers and PhD talent.

For individuals weighing options, the rule shifts are not just abstract. A Bangalore engineer who once relied on H-1B now faces a higher-cost, longer route to a U.S. job if applying from abroad. In contrast, that same candidate might find a smoother path to London through a Skilled Worker offer at or above £41,700 or, if qualified, through Global Talent, which can lead to faster settlement. A San Francisco startup planning a new AI team may now choose to open a London pod to avoid H-1B surcharge risk and speed onboarding.

Impact on Applicants and Employers

• For prospective H-1B applicants abroad:
  • Employers must now budget the $100,000 surcharge in addition to standard filing charges and potential attorney fees.
  • The surcharge does not apply to in-country extensions with the same employer.
  • Companies may prefer internal transfers or hires already in the United States 🇺🇸 in valid status to avoid the surcharge.
• For U.K. applicants and sponsors:
  • Roles must meet RQF Level 6 and pay at least £41,700 unless a higher occupation rate applies.
  • Current Skilled Worker holders in affected roles can extend or switch until at least July 2028, reducing disruption for families already settled.
  • Watch for Home Office guidance on fee waivers for elite talent, which could lower costs for qualifying graduates and award recipients.
• For cross-border employers:
  • Expect stronger demand for London, Leeds, and Belfast hubs to anchor engineering and data teams.
  • HR should reevaluate global mobility budgets, factoring in the U.S. surcharge and U.K. salary floors.
  • University recruiting may tilt toward British campuses and European institutes, with the U.K. using Global Talent to attract postdocs and senior researchers.

Some practical steps can help teams act now. U.S. employers planning overseas H-1B hiring should update cost models and talent forecasts. When filing, petitioning companies must still complete the Form I-129 employment petition; the official instructions are on the USCIS page for Form I-129. Beneficiaries who proceed with consular processing must also complete the online nonimmigrant visa application, known as Form DS-160; details are available on the State Department’s DS-160 page. These core requirements remain, even as fees and policy goals shift.

In the U.K., the strongest alternative for seasoned researchers and founders remains Global Talent. It offers flexible sponsorship rules, recognition of sector leaders, and often quicker settlement timelines than standard work routes. Official guidance on categories and endorsing bodies is set out under the UK Global Talent visa guidance on GOV.UK. Meanwhile, the High Potential Individual route, designed for recent graduates from selected universities, is expected to feature in the government’s plan to draw “elite” early-career candidates—especially if fee reductions move forward.

The political framing is also clear. While President Biden’s team argues the surcharge curbs misuse and supports higher wages, the U.K. government is marketing openness to world-class specialists. Industry groups in both countries see risks: in the United States, startups warn that the fee could push emerging teams offshore; in the U.K., social care and hospitality employers worry that tighter Skilled Worker rules will deepen staffing gaps. The government’s answer is to target high-growth sectors and use visas as an economic lever.

For families, details matter. H-1B spouses on H-4 may still face long waits for work authorization if filing from abroad, even aside from the surcharge. In the U.K., dependants of Skilled Worker and Global Talent holders can usually work, but costs—from visa fees to the Immigration Health Surcharge—add up. If the Home Office confirms fee waivers for certain Global Talent candidates, that relief could free up funds for relocation and housing, especially in high-cost markets like London and Cambridge.

Reeves’ Canary Wharf stagecraft—paired with Revolut London’s headline move—signals how immigration now sits at the heart of economic strategy. Financial services, AI labs, and biotech scale-ups want speed, clarity, and stable costs. Whether the U.K. can offer that, while raising salary thresholds, will decide if this moment becomes a lasting realignment or a short-lived opening. For now, the contrast is stark: a U.S. H-1B surcharge of $100,000 on one side, and a U.K. offer of wider talent routes and possible fee relief on the other.

Employers and applicants should keep close watch for updates. In the United States, further guidance on the fee’s application across consular posts and timing in the 2026 cap season will shape planning. In the United Kingdom, the next Home Office notices on Global Talent and High Potential Individual fees will determine how far the welcome mat extends. With Canada 🇨🇦, the EU, and Singapore also vying for the same engineers and scientists, every rule tweak matters—and every month’s delay can shift where the next lab, data team, or fintech product takes root.