The new policy, effective from Spring 2024, raises the minimum income threshold for family visas, including spouse and partner categories, from £18,600 to £29,000. This figure is set to further increase to £38,700 in early 2025. Current family visa holders will still be assessed against the £18,600 benchmark for extensions or settlements.
The UK Home Office has announced a revision in the minimum income requirements for family visas, encompassing spouse and partner categories.
Initially proposed at a substantial £38,700 (approximately $48,986), the requirement has been adjusted to £29,000 ($36,708), slated to take effect from Spring 2024. This new threshold represents a considerable increase from the existing £18,600 ($23,537), although it is lower than the initial proposal.
Applicants for a Fiancé Visa prior to the Spring 2024 increase will still be subject to the £18,600 requirement. However, following the implementation date, new applicants or those transitioning to the five-year partner route will be required to meet the £29,000 threshold.
This policy adjustment has sparked debate, particularly as the new threshold surpasses the average UK salary. This situation could potentially impact numerous families. Those concerned about fulfilling the new requirement are advised to apply before the increment. The government has indicated that this is part of a staged plan, with expectations of a further increase to £38,700 ($48,986) in early 2025. However, the future implementation of this increase remains uncertain, aligning closely with the next general election in January 2025.
Comprehensive immigration reforms
The comprehensive immigration reform plan, introduced on Dec. 4, 2023, by the UK Prime Minister and Home Secretary, encompasses various measures aimed at curbing immigration abuse and reducing net migration. This initiative is expected to affect approximately 300,000 potential migrants under last year’s regulations.
Central to the reform are several measures, such as restricting overseas care workers from bringing dependents and mandating CQC regulation for sponsoring social care firms in England. Another significant change is the increase in the Skilled Worker visa minimum earnings from £26,200 ($33,164) to £38,700 ($48,986), aligning occupation-specific thresholds with the median full-time wage for equivalent roles in 2023.
Impact on visa holders
Health and Social Care Visa holders and certain education workers are exempted from the £38,700 salary threshold, ensuring continued access to vital healthcare and educational professionals. The reform also transforms the Shortage Occupation List into an Immigration Salary List, eliminating the 20 percent salary discount for these roles and revising the list to reflect increased salary thresholds.
The family visa minimum income requirement is set to incrementally rise to eventually match the £38,700 Skilled Worker threshold, starting with the increase to £29,000 in Spring 2024. This measure is designed to ensure financial self-sufficiency for those bringing dependents to the UK. Additionally, the separate child element in the minimum income requirement for family visas has been removed.
A review of the Graduate route by the Migration Advisory Committee is commissioned to align with national interests and maintain the integrity of the UK’s higher education system.
Until the Immigration Rules undergo amendment, the current thresholds will remain operative. For carers and senior carers, these changes will be implemented in the new year, allowing those already in the route to maintain their dependent status. For skilled workers, the new salary thresholds will apply from April, with existing workers exempted during sponsor changes, extensions, or settlements. The revised Immigration Salary List will replace the SOL following the MAC’s review, commencing in January.
While the family migration policies are designed to safeguard current visa holders and applicants from the imminent changes, individuals switching to the five-year partner route after the hike will face the new income standards. The MAC’s review of the Graduate route, expected to continue until late 2024, seeks to optimize the visa’s alignment with the UK’s strategic interests.
Policy controversy
The decision has sparked widespread controversy, however. Critics, including esteemed academics like Sir Richard Evans from the University of Cambridge, argue that this move overlooks the long-term consequences for the UK’s higher education sector and its global standing. They emphasize that the policy could diminish the UK’s intellectual and cultural diversity, which has been greatly enriched by international students.
These institutions, particularly research-intensive universities, rely heavily on the financial contributions of international graduate students, many of whom have families. Sir Evans highlights the short-sightedness of this decision, noting its potential to significantly impact these universities’ funding.
Critics also raise ethical concerns, condemning the policy as inhumane for potentially separating families and counterproductive in its approach to immigration and education. This policy is perceived as a reflection of a broader trend of hostility towards immigrants in the UK, contributing to a divisive and intolerant environment.
