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Mahesh

24/12/23 10:09 AM IST

UK new visa regulations

In News
  • The government of the U.K. recently proposed new immigration rules to cut the net flow of immigration to the country, primarily by tightening visa requirements across several categories of workers seeking to move to the U.K. from abroad.
Immigration Statistics 
  • According to the U.K.’s Office for National Statistics (ONS), net migration into the U.K. touched a record high of 7,45,000 in 2022, with reports suggesting that the number of work permits issued to foreign technology professionals in particular rose from 39,899 in 2021 to 52,686 in 2022, marking a five-year high.
  • Specifically, it was the category of web design and development that saw the largest percentage increase with 76% more work permits issued during this period.
  • Of the 11,80,000 people who entered the U.K. during the year ending June 2023, with the intention to stay for at least one year, the greatest majority of migrants — 9,68,000 — came from outside the EU.
  • According to the ONS, students comprised the largest cohort of non-EU migrants, both in 2023 and 2022.
  • The nations that sent the most migrants to the U.K. from outside of the EU were, in order, India (which sent 2,53,000 people), Nigeria (1,41,000), China (89,000), Pakistan (55,000) and Ukraine (35,000). Of these individuals, a total of 39% entered the U.K. for the purpose of pursuing studies, 33% to work, and 9% for humanitarian reasons.
New Rules
  • The new visa regulations propose to clamp down on the dependents of students arriving in the U.K. as well as other categories of foreign nationals with family ties in the country.
  • Skilled workers seeking visas will be impacted by an increase in the minimum salary requirement.
  • At the moment this salary requirement is the highest, of either £26,200 per year or £10.75 per hour or whatever is defined as the “going rate” for the job in question.
  • From early 2024, this is expected to rise to £38,700 per year. Health and social care workers, who comprise nearly 50% of work visa migrants, will reportedly be exempt from the increase, suggesting that the maximum impact will be on middle-skilled jobs including those working in the hospitality industry.
  • Families of U.K. citizens too could be impacted — an aspect of the changes that has provoked the sharpest protests.
  • For example, the minimum income necessary for U.K. citizens seeking to bring over a family member who is a foreign citizen will rise from £18,600 to £38,700 a year — and such a move would have impacted approximately 70,000 people who sought such visas during the year ending June 2023.
  • Other changes include a ban on immigrant care workers bringing family members with them, a review of student visas for graduates to prevent “abuse” of the system including a ban on students switching to work visas before completing their studies, and an increase in the immigration health surcharge paid to the NHS by annual fee visa holders, from £624 to £1,035.
Source- The Hindu

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