UK Immigration Rishi Sunak seeks to calm minimum income visa fears by source December 16, 2023 written by source December 16, 2023 13 December 2023 Rishi Sunak has said the government is looking at “transitional arrangements” for British citizens with foreign spouses who earn less than £38,700. It comes amid warnings new visa rules will tear families apart. From next spring, British citizens and those settled in the UK must be earning at least £38,700 to bring in foreign family members. The government initially said the new rule would also cover people already in the UK who were reapplying for visas. But Mr Sunak confirmed that the policy was being rethought, at Prime Minister’s Questions. Labour MP Sir Stephen Timms said: “The marriage plans of thousands of couples were dashed last week by the sudden announcement of a big increase in the salary requirement for a spouse visa. “Can the prime minister give any reassurance to those with very well advanced marriage plans that appear now to have been scuppered and to families already in the UK who need to extend their stay who won’t comply with the new rules?” Couples ‘devastated’ by migration visa rule changes Welby: Migrant visa changes will harm families What is the government’s new immigration policy? Have you been affected by issues covered in this story? You can share your experiences by emailinghaveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. Please read our terms & conditions and privacy policy Mr Sunak said it was right that “anyone bringing dependents to the UK must be able to support them financially” and the income threshold had not been increased in “over a decade”. But he said the Home Office was looking at “transitional arrangements” to “ensure that they are fair” and an announcement would be made “shortly”. On LBC radio, Home Secretary James Cleverly said he understood people’s concerns about the new, higher salary threshold and he hoped to “clarify” the rules shortly. Asked if people already living in the UK would be OK, he said: “Yes. This is a forward looking proposal rather than backward.” Newly-appointed legal immigration minister Tom Pursglove later came under pressure to confirm that people already living in the UK would not be forced to leave the country if they earned less than £38,000. Tory MP Tim Loughton said many people – including one of his constituents – were worried “they may have to up sticks and move quite quickly”. Mr Pursglove said anyone applying to renew their visa before the new rules came in would not have to worry. Asked if they would be protected in future years, he told the Home Affairs Committee: “We are not intending to apply these measures retrospectively.” He declined to offer any more clarity but said more details would be announced “as soon as we are able”. The increase in the minimum income threshold to more than double the previous limit of £18,600 has prompted criticism from opposition MPs and some Conservatives. Last week, former Tory minister Lord Barwell said: “It is both morally wrong and unconservative to say that only the wealthiest can fall in love, marry someone and then bring them to the UK.” The government is keen to stress that the family immigration rules contain an exemption for “exceptional circumstances”, where there would be “unjustifiably harsh consequences for the applicant, their partner, a relevant child or another family member if their application were to be refused”. The minimum income threshold is for skilled workers but does not apply to health and care workers. When applying for the initial visa from outside the UK, only the sponsor’s income can be counted towards the minimum income threshold. For extensions and permanent residence, partners must have a combined income of £38,700. Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-67705178.amp 0 comment 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail source previous post Nurses’ salaries across Europe: Which countries pay the highest and lowest wages? next post SEF replacement agency facing tough 2024 Related Articles UK Charity Worker Visa offers pathway for voluntary... October 17, 2024 October 17, 2024 Major changes ahead for UK visa application centres... October 16, 2024 UK Charity Worker Visa Requirements and Application Process October 13, 2024 Couple fined £3,000 after finding migrant in van October 13, 2024 International crime-fighting teams to be deployed by G7... October 13, 2024 Home United Kingdom Universities UK releases blueprint for... October 13, 2024 Guy Dampier No wonder Britain is becoming the... October 13, 2024 Care workers Record number of men in care... October 12, 2024 Labour to review UK’s international education strategy October 9, 2024