The government has announced several new measures, to take effect in spring 2024, which are aimed at reducing net migration in the UK. These include:

• increasing the minimum salary threshold for Skilled Worker visas (excluding Health and Care Worker visas) from £26,200 to £38,700 per year (or the going rate for the role, if higher)
• removing the 20% salary discount for roles on the Shortage Occupation List (SOL) – instead the SOL will be replaced with a new, smaller Immigration Salary List, which will retain a general threshold discount
• prohibiting those on Health and Care Worker visas from bringing their dependants to the UK
• asking the Migration Advisory Committee to conduct a review of the Graduate visa route to ensure it is working in the best interests of the UK and is not being abused
• increasing the minimum income threshold for family visas (i.e. the minimum income required for British citizens and those settled in the UK who want their family members to join them) from £18,600 to £38,700 per year.

Some of these measures will affect those employers who recruit and employ foreign workers under the UK’s points-based immigration system.

Source: New feed