New UK Visa Rules: Significant Changes Ahead

The Home Secretary has unveiled a strategy to significantly reduce migration levels and address the misuse of the immigration system, resulting in the most substantial decrease in net migration to date. Collectively, these measures will prevent approximately 300,000 individuals who arrived in the UK last year from being eligible to enter.

• Put an end to the entry of dependants arriving in the UK
• Elevate the minimum salaries required for overseas workers and British or settled individuals sponsoring family members, and
• Address issues of exploitation within the immigration system

According to the Home Office for the year ending September 2023, a total of 101,000 Health and Care visas were issued to Health and Care workers, with an estimated 120,000 visas granted to dependants.

• Increasing the earning threshold for overseas skilled workers from £26,200 to £38,700 [those coming on the Health and Care visa route will be exempted from the increase to the salary threshold for Skilled Worker visas]
• Increase the minimum income required for British citizens and those settled in the UK who want their family members to join them from £ 18,600 p.a. to £ 38,700
• End the 20% going rate salary reduction for jobs in the shortage occupation list
• Review the Graduate (post study work) visa route

These changes will influence net migration. Notably, starting January 2024, student visa holders can no longer apply for dependents, a group that constituted 153,000 visas granted for student dependents in September 2023.

UK visa applicants are reminded that the immigration health surcharge will increase from £ 624 to £ 1,035 per year from Jan 2024.