The new Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, delivered a statement in Parliament on the 30th July, on the new government’s approach to immigration policy specifically regarding legal migration.
The Government, under the previous Home Secretary James Cleverly, put in place a five point plan, in early 2024, with the aim to reduce net migration. Our previous post, "Five-Point Plan for Immigration Changes" explored these updates.
Yvette Cooper’s full statement confirms that the new Government is maintaining the view that net migration must be reduced. To this end, the five point plan will continue to be implemented.
So what does this mean?
One of the changes made was to the minimum salary threshold for Skilled Workers, which was increased to £38,700. This increase will remain.
Another change was the increase of the minimum income requirement for family visas. This has since increased from £18,600 to £29,000 and there had been further planned increases to £34,500 later this year, and then £38,700 in early 2025. The Home Secretary has announced that she will commission the Migration Advisory Committee to review the current income requirement of £29,000 and that there will be no further changes to the requirement until this review is complete.
We can therefore expect that the minimum income requirement for these visas will remain for now at £29,000, with the future for family visas being dependent on the outcome of the review.
If you would like our advice or assistance in respect of your immigration matters, then please do not hesitate to contact one of the experienced solicitors in our immigration team.
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