Home Affairs Committee to hold inquiry as Tier 2 (General) visa limit reached in June
The UK technology news website 
Image credit: UK GovernmentTechworld reported on Monday that 1,329 visa applications were refused last month after the Tier 2 visa limit was reached on June 25th.
An annual cap of 20,700 Tier 2 (General) visas was introduced in April 2011, and a total of 1,650 visas were made available in June 2015.
Techworld submitted a Freedom of Information request together with the visa guidance startup Migreat to obtain data on the refused visas from the Home Office.
According to Techworld, it is understood that at least one of the world's top five technology companies was unable to bring in the people it wanted as a result of last month's cap.
Many of the largest technology companies operating in the UK, including Google and Facebook, rely on Tier 2 visas to bring in the skilled workers they require, Techworld noted.
Techworld also spoke to a cofounder of an ecommerce startup who explained how he was unable to hire a highly experienced software developer from Ukraine, saying: "The application process is extremely time consuming and painful, so I have wasted a huge amount of time. Our development speed has suffered now as a result."
Parliament's Home Affairs Committee said last week that it will be holding an inquiry into the Tier 2 Skilled Workers system.
Keith Vaz MP, Chair of the Committee, said: "Reaching the cap limit for the first time last month sparked concerns of skills shortages across the health and care sectors, and among business leaders, particularly in the hospitality industry. It is totally unfair that only those with the highest salaries are granted visas once the cap is reached."
"The Committee hopes to gain an insight into whether the current system is the best way to achieve the twin aims of controlled immigration that can maintain the level of skilled workers essential to providing the services we all rely on and enjoy."
The Committee invites written submissions on the impact of the visa cap by Wednesday 9 September 2015.