The United Kingdom government towards the tale end of 2023 last year, made some fundamental changes regarding immigration which will have a measure effect on those already living and working in the UK as well as UK citizens and intending immigrants into the UK.
The declaration of these changes was made by the home secretary on the 4th of January 2024, and some of these notable changes are;
Shortage Occupation List (SOL)
The existing shortage occupation list is set to be swapped with the new immigration salary list which will remove the 20% discount to the minimum salary for shortage occupation roles. However, it is implied that a general salary threshold discount will be maintained.
Skilled Worker Minimum Salary
The significant increase in the minimum salary for skilled worker visas is the weightiest change made. The initial salary was £26,200 per annum but has now skyrocketed to £38,700 per annum. This increase however does not apply to Health and Care Workers or education workers on national pay scales.
Family and Dependent Visas
Social workers will not be allowed to bring their dependents to the UK from Spring 2024, though no statement was made about restrictions on dependents for skilled workers or global business mobility migrants.
Graduate Immigration Route
In 2021, the UK government introduced the graduate visa which permitted international graduates to remain in the UK for an additional period of two (2) years post-graduate. This scheme is now under review by the Migration Advisory Committee. The committee is to review the route following questions about the route’s effectiveness, potential abuse, and the future career paths available to international graduates.
Conclusion
The recent announcement shows a major shift in the UK’s immigration policies which aim to create a balance between controlling migration numbers and addressing skills shortages. It is also important to note that when these changes come into effect, they will affect new applications, existing visa holders in the UK, and those who apply before the implementation.
These changes are yet to come into effect as a declaration of these changes will be made within the first quarter of this year, that is why we advise that you keep checking our blog page for any changes that might occur.
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