11/03/2024
On 4 December 2023, the Home Secretary announced a "five-point plan" to reduce immigration. As of now, none of the changes have been put into effect, but a timeline for implementation is available.
The United Kingdom has recently introduced changes to its immigration policy, which are set to have a significant impact on foreign workers and their families. The following is an overview of the five key changes:
Firstly, social care workers will no longer be able to bring their dependents, including partners and children, on their visa. This change may have a substantial impact on social care workers and their families.
Secondly, the minimum salary required for sponsorship of a Skilled Worker visa will be increased. The baseline minimum will rise from £26,200 to £38,700. However, this change will not affect the Health and Care Worker visa, which includes social care, or education workers on national pay scales. The potential implications of this change for foreign workers seeking employment in the UK are significant.
Thirdly, changes to the shortage occupation list have been introduced, which will reduce the number of jobs eligible for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship on less than the usual minimum salary. The primary purpose of the list is to identify roles that are experiencing a shortage of qualified workers. Therefore, this change may have significant implications for foreign workers seeking employment in the UK.
Fourthly, the minimum income required to sponsor someone for a Spouse/Partner visa will rise in stages from £18,600 per year to £29,000 and ultimately to around £38,700. This change may have a substantial impact on foreign spouses/partners of UK citizens or residents.
Finally, the Graduate Visa, a two-year unsponsored work permit for overseas graduates of British universities, is under review. The outcome of the review may have significant implications for international students and UK businesses.
When applying for a visa from outside the UK, only the sponsor's income can be considered towards the minimum income requirement of £18,600. However, for extensions and permanent residence, both the applicant's and sponsor's income can be counted. To meet the requirement, individuals typically need to show evidence of earning the required income for the past six months. However, there are other options available for those who do not earn the minimum income, such as using savings over £16,000 or in some exceptional circumstances. The Home Office has stated that these options will still be available once the income threshold increases. Regarding the amount of savings needed as an alternative to income, the current rules dictate that the required amount of savings automatically increases as the income threshold rises. If the rules remain unchanged when the income threshold rises to £29,000, then the maximum savings required would increase from £62,500 to £88,500. The statement of changes to the Immigration Rules, which is set to be released on 14 March, will confirm the exact amount required.
