Visa crackdown: new rules for foreign workers and higher wage thresholds revealed in immigration restructuring
Fundamental reforms to the UK immigration system have been in place, which will severely limit the number of work and student visas distributed to immigrants, students and their families.
Employers will also face new restrictions and are told to promote training for domestic workers before hiring immigrants.
The government said the controversial proposals would “end the reliance on international recruitment” and “restore order to bring the failed system between 2019 and 2023”.
However, charities and some businesses criticize these plans as bad for economic growth.
This is what the new rules mean for visa holders and applicants:
Wage threshold and skilled workers:
This includes a general threshold of £38,700 per year, with a discount for new entrants at £30,960. The minimum wage for people working in certain departments (such as CARE) is about £25,000.
The salary of a science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) worker with a PhD qualification must be at least £26,100.
The government said the threshold “causes a drop in visas for all skill levels.” However, the average skill level of immigrants entering the UK is “still lower than historically”.
As part of the new reform, the Home Office confirmed that the minimum wage required will rise as the immigration wage list will provide people with a discount on the salary threshold.
Skilled workers will now also need university-level education to come to the UK.
The home office said access to the points-based immigration system will be limited to long-term shortage departments, and employers seeking to recruit from abroad are “committed to playing their own role.”
General view of passengers at terminal 2 Heathrow Airport Terminal 2 (Pennsylvania)
PA wire
The government plans to end overseas recruitment of the social care sector to reduce “low skills” visas to “up to 50,000” next year.
This means that nursing visa routes will be closed to the new app by 2028.
Under current regulations, to qualify for a nursing staff visa, a person must obtain a sponsorship certificate from his employer and provide information about their role in the UK.
The Home Secretary said the rule changes would “prevent being used to recruit from abroad” but “we will allow them to continue extending their visas and can also recruit from more than 10,000 people who have obtained a health worker visa, where sponsored visas were cancelled”.
During the transition period ending in 2028, a “workforce strategy” will be developed and launched to recruit more UK workers. During this period, visa extensions have been available here.
More stringent examinations will be conducted on colleges and universities that provide venues for foreign students.
Institutions using overseas recruiters will have to register for a “Good Framework” to ensure high-level students.
When planning to recruit students from abroad, universities and universities will need to show that they believe it will have an impact locally.
A 6% tax on international students’ income is being considered.
The length of time foreign graduates can stay in the UK after their studies will be reduced to 18 months – a decrease from two years.
The government vows to develop new family policies by the end of this year.
It will cover all British residents, including British citizens and immigrants who have settled or worked, as well as refugees seeking to bring their families to the UK.
“The clear relationship requirements are designed to ensure that only real, maintaining relationships are the ones,” the Ministry of Home Affairs said.
Those who come to the UK on a family visa will need “proper English proficiency”.
Families also need sufficient funds to support relatives without relying on taxpayers. This will be done by reviewing and extending financial requirements to other cause pathways.
Those who serve or serve in the armed forces and their families will have the right to reside in the UK and become British citizens.
The Relocation Advisory Committee has been commissioned to study financial requirements regarding the dependent’s family visa route and asylum reform.
The government also vowed to overhaul complex immigration arrangements for family and private life, claiming that too many cases were considered “special” by the court.
The European Court of Human Rights and its Article 8 right to family life have been used specifically by foreign criminals to avoid deportation.
The white paper promises legislation to “strengthen the public interest test to show that parliament needs to be able to control our country’s borders and regain control over who comes and stay in the UK”.
Immigration skills charges paid by employee sponsors will rise by 32%.
Key sectors that rely heavily on overseas recruitment will have to develop workforce strategies to ensure they are training and trying to hire UK workers.
A temporary shortage list will be introduced to allow some departments to access point-based immigration systems to lower proficient roles.
Only work supported by the Advisory Committee on Long-term Shortage and Relocation is eligible.
Some refugees and displaced persons with the right skills will be able to apply through skilled workers’ routes.
In the UK, more work routes will be opened for highly skilled people.
The Ministry of the Interior will provide more resources to address illegal work, including the use of EVISA and biometrics technology and increase law enforcement access.
