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| New UK visa rules: Changes to spouse and family visas and a review by MAC. |
Introduction:
On August 2nd, 2024, the UK government introduced significant changes to the UK spouse and family visas. The Home Secretary's statement to Parliament outlined the government's strategy towards legal migration. This article delves into the key points of these changes and their potential impact on migrants and the UK economy.
Key Points of the Announcement:
1. Skilled Worker Visas: The salary threshold for skilled worker visas will remain at £38,700. This decision aims to maintain a balance between attracting skilled workers and controlling immigration levels.
2. Review of Minimum Income Requirement (MIR): The Home Secretary will commission the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to review the current £29,000 minimum income requirement for family and partners' spouse visas. Importantly, there will be no further changes to this requirement until the MAC review is complete.
3. Reliance on Migrant Workers: The Home Secretary has also tasked the MAC with reviewing the reliance of key sectors of the UK economy, particularly IT and engineering, on migrant workers. This review aims to understand and potentially reduce dependency on overseas recruitment in these critical sectors.
4. Net Migration Reduction: The government is committed to reducing net migration from the record levels seen under the previous conservative government. The Labour government will not reverse the policy changes made under the five-point plan announced in December 2023 to reduce net migration.
5. Work Visas Statistics: In the 12 months leading up to March 31st, 2024, the number of work visas issued, including dependents, was 605,264. This figure is over three times that of 2019 before the pandemic and 24% higher than in the 12 months to March 31st, 2023, which was 486,000.
6. New Approach to Skills and Migration: The government is setting up a new approach to skills and migration to ensure that the UK can source the skills it needs domestically rather than relying on overseas recruitment. This strategy aims to build a robust, self-sufficient workforce within the UK.
Conclusion:
The changes announced by the UK government regarding spouse and family visas signify a comprehensive review of the current immigration policies. By maintaining the skilled worker visa salary threshold and reviewing the minimum income requirement for family visas, the government aims to balance the need for skilled workers with the goal of reducing net migration. The upcoming reviews by the Migration Advisory Committee will play a crucial role in shaping the future of the UK's immigration landscape.
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