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16 Feb 2011

Non EU migrants earning £150,000 or more to escape immigration cap

The Government has announced that individuals from non-EU countries earning £150,000 or more a year will not be subject to the immigration cap due to take effect on 6 April 2011.

The immigration cap is aimed at reducing net migration from around two hundred thousand each year to tens of thousands.

Damian Green, the immigration minister, explained that the exclusion of high earners from the cap was to ensure that the UK attracted "the brightest and the best" individuals although he added that this should not be at the expense of workers already in the UK.

Meera Jhaveri, Lawrence Graham employment lawyer, said: "This announcement is in response to concerns voiced by business leaders that the immigration cap would damage London's reputation as an international financial centre and prevent City institutions from recruiting the best international talent. The move appears to represent a climb down by the Government and one that will surely be welcomed by UK businesses."

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