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The UK government, under Prime Minister Keir Starmer, has paused its plans to increase the minimum income requirement for sponsoring a family member on a family visa. This move offers a sigh of relief to foreigners hoping to reunite with their families in the UK.
What is a Family Visa?
A Family Visa allows individuals to live with a family member in the UK for more than six months. This visa applies to spouses, partners, children, parents, or dependents of someone who is either a British citizen or settled in the UK.
To qualify for a UK family visa, applicants must meet several requirements. These include income thresholds and evidence of a genuine relationship with the sponsoring family member. The aim is to ensure that applicants can support themselves without depending on public funds during their stay in the UK.
Freeze on Income Requirement Amidst Review
UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced that the current minimum income requirement of £29,000 for family visas will be frozen. This freeze will continue until the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) completes its review of the financial criteria.
In a statement to Parliament, Cooper explained, “The Family Immigration Rules, including the Minimum Income Requirement, need to balance a respect for family life while ensuring the UK’s economic wellbeing.” She also noted that any future changes will be informed by the findings of the MAC.
Planned Increases Paused
The UK government had initially planned to raise the income requirement for family visas in stages, aiming to align it with the general salary threshold for skilled workers, set at £38,700. The first planned increase was to raise the income threshold to £29,000, starting from April 2024, followed by further rises to £34,500 in subsequent stages.
As of April 2024, the income threshold for new family visa applicants was set to rise from £18,600 to £29,000. This change also removed the child component, meaning that the income requirement would remain the same, no matter how many children were included in the application.
Recent Changes to Other UK Visa Routes
In addition to the pause on the family visa income requirement, the UK government has introduced changes to other immigration pathways:
- Student and Graduate Visas
- The government has tightened regulations on student and graduate visas, implementing stricter eligibility criteria and increasing oversight of academic institutions to prevent visa misuse.
- Limits on Family Members for Students
- International students are now largely restricted from bringing their family members to the UK, part of an effort to reduce pressure on public services and address potential abuse of dependent visas.
- Care Worker Restrictions
- Care workers, including senior care workers, are now subject to limits on bringing their dependants to the UK. In addition, care providers must be registered with the Care Quality Commission to sponsor migrant workers.
- Increased Salary Threshold for Skilled Workers
- The salary requirement for skilled worker visas has been raised from £26,200 to £38,700. This change ensures that international workers earn competitive wages and are not seen as undercutting UK workers.
- End of the “Going Rate” Discount
- Employers can no longer pay migrant workers less than their UK counterparts for jobs on the shortage occupation list. This aims to prevent exploitation and guarantee fair wages for all workers.
Family Visa Eligibility
To live with a family member in the UK for more than six months, you need a family visa. However, this does not apply if your family member is temporarily in the UK on a student or work visa. In such cases, you would need to apply as a dependant instead.
The decision to pause the increase in the minimum income requirement for family visas is welcome news for many hoping to bring their loved ones to the UK. However, as the government continues to review the financial rules, it remains important for applicants to stay informed about potential changes that could impact their eligibility for family reunification.
