A look at what you should know about new UK visa rules

It is no longer news that the UK government has unveiled a package of measures to reduce the number of people coming to the UK.

Home Secretary James Cleverly said the changes, which are due to take effect from next spring, would deliver the biggest ever cut in net migration.

This is coming after net migration of the difference between the number of people coming to live in the UK and those leaving reached a record 745,000 last year.

Meanwhile, mixed reactions have trailed the plan, which encompasses various measures, such as prohibiting care workers from relocating with their families and increasing the minimum salary requirement for skilled worker visas.

Below are few things to know about UK’s plan to cut immigration;

1. Health and care visas

A measure to put a stop to the “abuse of the health and care visa” has been proposed, which would prohibit overseas care workers from bringing their dependents. The government defines a dependent as a husband or wife, a civil partner or single partner, and children under the age of eighteen.

2. Skilled worker visa minimum salary change

The minimum salary requirement for obtaining a skilled worker visa, currently set at £26,000, has been increased to £38,700. This is a 50% increase.

3. Shortage occupation list

The Shortage Occupation list is a list that includes jobs that the UK government believes are hard to fill in the labour market for UK residents.

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These jobs have softer requirements for qualifying for sponsored work visas. However, that is about to change as a result of the new policy, which eliminates the 20% minimum wage reduction offered to those applying for a visa in Shortage Occupations.

Moreover, Cleverly said that the list would be trimmed and reviewed. The current list includes graphics designers, construction workers, vets, programmers, laboratory technicians, among others.

4. Family visas

To further “ensure people only bring dependents whom they can support financially,” the minimum requirement for a family visa will also be increased to £38,700, from £18,600, the rate from 2012.

5. Student Visas

“In total, this package, plus our reduction in students’ dependents, will mean around 300,000 fewer people will come in future years than have come to the UK last year,” Mr Cleverly told MPs.

The government has requested that the Migration Advisory Committee review the graduate route. So changes to the Students Visa are expected to be announced soon.

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