UK�s coalition government on Tuesday unveiled the critical number of �cap� for skilled and highly-skilled workers from outside the EEA at 21,700 for next year, lower than the 43,000 lim IT suggested by the UK government�s migration advisory committee. The figure is a cut of 6,300 on the equivalent figure for 2009.

The maximum cut will be on Tier 1, or highly-skilled immigrants looking for a job, let in on a points-based system, which will include a 1,000 for �exceptional� people like sportsmen, artists, and scientists. This category has traditionally been widely used by doctors and other highly-skilled professionals to enter the UK.

The somewhat good news for business is that intra-company transfers for employees on salaries above �40,000 per annum is exempt from any cap, plus one staff member for ICT at a salary level of above �24,000. Tier 2 visas, meant for people with job offers in hand, what used to be the work permit visa, will also rise by 7,000.