UK Immigration Policy Changes: Implications for Families and Businesses

The Home Secretary, James Cleverly, unveiled a plan on 04 December 2023 to lower migration rates and combat potential abuse of the immigration system. However, concerns have been raised regarding the effectiveness of these measures, as they may inadvertently disadvantage British families and businesses. The proposed changes will have far-reaching consequences for different groups, including British or settled individuals seeking to sponsor their non-British or non-settled partners and families, as well as companies in need of skilled workers. Let's delve into the potential impact of these policy changes.

Family Visas:

Currently, British or settled individuals looking to sponsor a partner must meet financial requirements, demonstrating earnings of £18,600 or cash savings of £62,500 held for six months. However, from next spring, the minimum income requirement is set to more than double to £38,700. This significant increase may pose challenges for many families. While the exact increase for sponsoring children is unclear, it is expected that there will be adjustments in line with the aim of ensuring people can support themselves.

Companies in Need of Skilled Workers:

Under the current rules, the minimum earnings threshold for a Skilled Worker is £26,200 per year or the going rate for the specific occupation code. However, the government plans to raise the earning threshold to £38,700. The intention behind this increase is to encourage businesses to prioritise British talent and invest in their workforce while bringing wages in line with the average salaries for these roles.

The shortage occupation list:

Closing the shortage occupation list and introducing the Immigration Salary List while aiming to "crackdown on cut-price labour from overseas" poses significant implications for various sectors in the UK. The government's decision to end the 20% going rate salary discount for shortage occupations and replace the Shortage Occupation List with a new Immigration Salary List has raised concerns about ensuring a stable workforce in key industries.

The rationale behind the Immigration Salary List appears to focus on prioritising the growth of the domestic workforce through initiatives such as the Back to Work Plan. However, the immediate impact and effectiveness of these measures remain uncertain. Furthermore, the decision to prevent overseas care workers from bringing their dependents to the UK and restricting care providers in England from sponsoring migrant workers unless regulated by the Care Quality Commission may exacerbate shortages in the health and care sector.

Removing rights of students:

The plan to remove the rights of students to bring partners and children to the UK, except for those studying postgraduate research courses, raises questions about the potential impact on the recruitment and retention of international students in the UK.

Conclusions:

In conclusion, the proposed increase in the salary threshold for skilled worker visas and family sponsorship may have unintended consequences for vulnerable groups such as low-income individuals, families residing outside of London, and women seeking to sponsor their partners. These changes could potentially hinder their ability to reunite with loved ones in the UK. Additionally, the government's narrow focus on reducing net migration fails to recognise the significant financial contributions that migrants make to the UK economy through visa fees, healthcare payments, taxes, and general spending, all of which contribute to economic growth.

Moreover, by neglecting to address job shortages identified in the shortage occupation list, there is a risk of negative repercussions for the overall economy. In an attempt to curb illegal immigration or asylum claims, the Home Secretary's approach runs the risk of causing harm without effectively addressing the underlying issues.