Under the proposed changes, some 300,000 individuals who entered the UK last year would no longer be eligible.
Under the proposed changes, some 300,000 individuals who entered the UK last year would no longer be eligible.
The United Kingdom has introduced measures aimed at reducing the number of foreign dependents entering the country, as well as increasing salary requirements for overseas workers and family sponsors.
The decision seeks to achieve the largest-ever reduction in net migration and address abuses within the immigration system.
Under the proposed changes, some 300,000 individuals who entered the UK last year would no longer be eligible, the government said in its announcement.
“My plan will deliver the biggest ever reduction in net migration and will mean around 300,000 people who came to the UK last year would not have been able to do so,” said Home Secretary James Cleverly.
“I am taking decisive action to halt the drastic rise in our work visa routes and crack down on those who seek to take advantage of our hospitality.”
Targeting the Health and Care Worker visa, which has experienced a surge in granted visas to care workers and their dependents, the government aims to restrict overseas care workers from bringing their dependents to the UK.
Care providers in England will now only be permitted to sponsor migrant workers engaged in activities regulated by the Care Quality Commission.
In a move set to take effect next spring, the government plans to raise the earning threshold for overseas workers by nearly 50 percent, increasing it from the current £26,200 (US$32,906) to £38,700 (US$48,606).
The initiative is intended to encourage businesses to prioritize British talent and invest in the local workforce, thereby reducing reliance on migration.
Simultaneously, the minimum income requirements for British citizens and settled individuals sponsoring family members will see an increase.
To address the issue of cut-price labor from overseas, the government will eliminate the 20 percent salary discount for shortage occupations and introduce the Immigration Salary List in place of the Shortage Occupation List.
The new list will retain a general threshold discount, and the Migration Advisory Committee will review and adjust it against increased salary thresholds, aiming to reduce the number of occupations on the list.
The Graduate visa route is also set for a comprehensive review by the Migration Advisory Committee to ensure its alignment with the best interests of the UK and to prevent potential abuse.
These measures build upon previous actions taken to address the rise in students bringing dependents to the UK, with changes set to come into effect in the new year.
The government anticipates that these combined efforts will have a tangible impact on net migration, enhancing the integrity and quality of higher education in the UK.
The new initiatives are made possible through the government’s prioritization of growing the domestic workforce as part of the Back to Work Plan, a comprehensive employment-focused support package announced in the Autumn Statement.
The plan aims to assist individuals with long-term health conditions, disabilities, or unemployment to find and sustain employment.
Cleverly cited the necessity of these measures, stating that while leaving the European Union granted control over who can come to the UK, more must be done to reduce numbers and alleviate strain on public services and British workers.
In addition to migration reduction measures, the government will raise the annual Immigration Health Surcharge from £624 (US$ 783) to £1,035 (US$ 1,300), ensuring migrants contribute fairly to public services, including the NHS.
The announcement comes amid concerns over the high proportion of visas issued for workers and their dependents, with Skilled Worker and Health and Care Worker visas accounting for a substantial portion.
The government stressed that these measures are essential to safeguard the NHS and social care systems while addressing compliance and exploitation issues within the adult social care sector.
Earlier measures to cut student visas, including restrictions on bringing dependents and limiting the ability to switch to work routes before completing studies, are set to be enforced for courses beginning in January 2024.
Vivienne Stern MBE, chief executive of Universities UK, expressed satisfaction with the government’s commitment to maintaining the Graduate Route.
Stern emphasized the importance of dispelling any notion of scrapping the visa, reassuring prospective international students about the UK’s continued appeal.
“No one wants abuse of the system, so we will work with government to ensure there is no scope for this,” she said. “However, it is important that we now put to bed the suggestion that this visa will be scrapped, which will go a long way to reassuring prospective international students that the UK remains an attractive destination.”
Highlighting the importance of the Graduate Route in the UK’s offerings to potential students, Stern acknowledged the competition and stressed the economic contribution of international students, amounting to approximately £40 billion annually.
She also cited the positive impact on various towns and cities across the country, emphasizing the economic boost that should not be overlooked.
However, Stern voiced concerns on behalf of universities regarding potential impacts stemming from changes to skilled salary thresholds and the shortage occupation list.
She said that such changes could affect universities’ capacity to attract global talent in various disciplines, including civil and mechanical engineering, lab technology, and IT specialties.
Stern conveyed Universities UK’s commitment to collaborating with the government to assess the potential consequences of these proposed changes.
“We will work with the government to consider the impact of these potential changes.”
The number of international students in the UK has reached a record high, surging by almost a third in a single year, according to a new study by the Centre for Migration Control via Yahoo News.
In the academic year 2022-2023, a total of 787,000 foreign students were enrolled in UK universities, as revealed by the latest official data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency. This represents a substantial increase from the 679,970 foreign students recorded during the previous academic year of 2021-2022.
