The UK government has announced a series of changes to its visa rules in an effort to reduce immigration. The new measures, which will come into effect in December 2023, are expected to significantly reduce the number of foreign workers entering the country.
Key changes to the visa rules include:
- An increase in the salary threshold for skilled worker visas from £25,600 to £38,700.
- Restrictions on the dependents of Health and Care visa holders, who will no longer be automatically granted visas to join their family members in the UK.
- Tougher requirements for family visas, with the minimum income threshold increasing from £18,600 to £27,600.
The UK government estimates that the new visa rules will reduce net migration by up to 300,000 people per year. This is a significant reduction, given that net migration to the UK was 672,000 in the year ending June 2023.
The changes are likely to have a big impact on Indian nationals, who are the largest group of foreign workers in the UK. According to the Migration Advisory Committee, there were an estimated 425,000 Indian nationals working in the UK in 2021.
The new visa rules have been met with mixed reactions. Some have welcomed the changes, arguing that they are necessary to reduce immigration and protect British jobs. Others have criticized the rules, saying that they will make it more difficult for businesses to recruit skilled workers from overseas.
The UK government has defended the changes, saying that they are necessary to control immigration and ensure that only the most skilled and talented workers are able to come to the UK.
Conclusion
The new visa rules represent a significant tightening of the UK’s immigration system. The changes are likely to have a major impact on the number of foreign workers entering the country, and they are likely to be met with continued opposition from some quarters.