UK visas News
The salary requirements for UK visas have risen sharply under
government plans to reduce migration.
Prime Minister Rishi
Sunak said the record number of 745,000 people who came to the UK in 2022 - the
last full year for which figures are available - was "far too high".
What
is the minimum salary UK visa applicants need?
Most people wanting to
work in the UK still have to apply for a visa through the points-based
system (PBS).
But from 11 April
2024, they need a job offer with a higher salary.
They
have to earn at least £38,700 - an increase of nearly 50% from the previous
£26,200 minimum.
The threshold does not
apply to some jobs - such as in health and social care, and teachers on
national pay scales. But overseas care workers cannot bring family dependants
with them.
When the plans were
announced, groups including the CBI and the Royal College of Nursing criticised
the government for failing to address the UK's labour shortages.
But then-immigration
minister Robert Jenrick insisted that any gaps in the labour market caused
by the changes would "be filled by British workers".
What
are the rules about family visas?
You need a family
visa if you want to live with a relative who has the right to be in the UK
for more than six months.
Official
statistics show that 82,395 family-related visas were issued in the year
to September 2023.
You can apply to live
with your:
·
spouse
or partner
·
fiancé,
fiancée or proposed civil partner
·
child
·
parent
·
relative
who will provide long-term care for you
You have to demonstrate
a good knowledge of English, and meet the minimum income threshold.
This was initially due
to rise to £38,700 - a sharp increase from the previous £18,600 figure.
But
after warnings the new rules risked separating families, the government
dropped the new minimum to £29,000.
The amount will increase
in the future, however, first to £34,500 and then £38,700. Mr Sunak
said the higher threshold would be reached "in early 2025".
Anyone renewing an
existing family visa will not have to meet the new earnings threshold, the Home
Office has confirmed.
·
Home
Office rows back on salary threshold for family visa
·
Visa
salary rules will keep us apart, mum warns
How
does the points-based system work?
Applicants need 70
points to qualify for a skilled worker visa.
You
get 50 points from having a job offer above a minimum skill level, and
speaking English.
The remaining 20 points
can come from a higher salary, working in a sector with job shortages, or
having a relevant PhD.
The standard fee for a
skilled visa is usually between £719 and £1,500.
Visa applicants also
have to pay a healthcare surcharge for each year of their stay.
The amount can vary -
but from April 2024, the standard fee is £1,035 per year, up from £624.
What
is the 'shortage occupation list'?
The "shortage
occupation list" helps employers fill vacancies in key sectors.
These jobs have a lower
salary threshold, making it easier for applicants to gain enough points to get
a visa.
The list includes:
·
health
and care workers
·
pharmacists
·
graphic
designers
·
construction
workers
·
vets
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