numbers fall after immigration "cap" is introduced ?

Migrant work visa applications fall under new immigration rules

Three-quarters of initial allowance from UK Border Agency left unused

Employers' concerns that immigration visa restrictions for skilled workers would stop talent coming to the UK appear to be unfounded, as the first month’s allocation leaves visas going spare.

Of the available 4,200 restricted certificates of sponsorship for skilled workers (as the work visas are known), only 1,028 were taken up, according to figures from the UK Border Agency reported in the Financial Times.

The number of visas available had been set at a higher level to make allowances for an initial surge in demand, with subsequence allocations to be reduced to 1,500 visas. But the unused 3,172 visas will be carried over into the next month’s allocation.

Immigration experts warned that the lower-than-expected take-up was not a sign of a lack of demand, but was more likely to be confusion among businesses about the rules.

Damian Green, immigration minister, said the availability of visas showed the new limit was “getting off to a good start”.

But some experts said that as the understanding of the system improved, the number of visa applications would increase.

www.commonwealthimmigration.com