Core Viewpoint - The UK government is considering proposals to eliminate certain visa fees for top global talent to attract leading scientists, scholars, and digital experts, aiming to boost the economy [1] Group 1: Visa Policy Changes - The "Global Talent Visa" introduced in 2020 has an application fee of £766, with additional annual healthcare surcharge of £1,035 per applicant [1] - Discussions are ongoing about the possibility of reducing these fees to zero [1] Group 2: Impact of US Visa Policy - The discussions on UK visa reforms began before the US announced significant increases in H-1B visa application fees, which has encouraged those advocating for changes in high-end visa systems [1] - The new H-1B visa regulations are expected to exacerbate the existing trends in global talent mobility [1] Group 3: Trends in Student Applications - There has been a 14% increase in the number of American students applying to study in the UK this year [1] - Conversely, the number of visitors holding student visas to the US dropped to a four-year low in August, with a year-on-year decrease of 19% [1]