THE United Kingdom (UK) Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, has announced the postponement of its plan to raise the family visa income requirement from £29,000 to £38,700 (approximately N80 million).
Initially set for implementation in 2025, the policy was introduced by former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as a measure to curb high immigration levels. However, the new government has decided to delay this increase until the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) conducts a comprehensive review of the family visa policy.
Yvette Cooper stated, “The Minimum Income Requirement will remain at £29,000 until the MAC review is completed.”
She emphasized the importance of balancing respect for family life with maintaining the economic well-being of the UK. According to Cooper, the government has instructed the MAC to assess the impact of restricting migrant workers from bringing family members to the UK and the consequences of increasing wage thresholds.
The review by the MAC is expected to evaluate how these restrictions affect the local labour market and address ongoing issues such as labour shortages.
Cooper also highlighted the increase in non-EU long-term migration, which rose from 277,000 in December 2022 to 423,000 in December 2023. She attributed this rise to the previous government’s failure to address labour market issues effectively.
To tackle these challenges, the new government plans to link migration policy and visa controls more closely with skills and labour market policies, aiming to enhance the local workforce’s capabilities before relying on foreign workers.
The first quarter of 2024 saw a 25 per cent drop in visa applications across key routes in the UK. This decline is largely due to stricter immigration regulations introduced by the previous government, including higher minimum income requirements, more stringent student visa rules, and tighter policies for foreign healthcare workers.
In summary, the UK government has decided to maintain the current family visa threshold of £29,000 until a thorough review by the MAC is completed, ensuring that immigration policies align with the country’s economic needs and labour market conditions.
Eighteen-Eleven Media