Recent changes in UK Immigration

The UK government’s recent announcement on its ‘five-point plan’ for legal migration has made various changes to UK immigration which is aimed to curb net migration to the UK. The main changes are below.

– Minimum salary requirement for a skilled worker visa will rise from £26,200 to £38,700 on the 4th of April 2024 and removing the 20% going rate discount for occupations on the Shortage Occupation List (being renamed the Immigration Salary List);
– Immigration Health Surcharge has risen from £624 to £1035 per year per applicant from 6 February 2024;
– Increase of immigration fines for employing illegal workers.The fines for employing illegal workers in the UK will increase from £20,000 to £45,000 on 13 February 2024 and for repeated breaches within 3 years fines will increase to £60,000 per illegal worker;
– Graduate visa route is currently under review by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC)which could be either suspended or restricted;
– From 11 April 2024 first time spouse visa applicants will need to show that their UK partner’s income is £29,000 (increase from £18,600) which eventually will increase to £34,500 and £38,700 accordingly. However, showing income with savings will stay at £62,500 for now;
– Existing leave to remain visa holders with a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP), and new applicants for leave, will be able to create a UKVI account from April 2024. This is in relation to digital status, which the Home Office plans to replace BRPs in full from the beginning of 2025;
– From 1 January 2024 International students (student visa holders) will not be able to bring their spouses and children to UK unless they are studying either for a PhD or a research based higher degree;
– From 11 March 2024, care workers and senior care workers will not be allowed to bring their dependents to the UK;
– Existing Employer Sponsor Licences for UK based companies have been automatically extended until 2034.