In a recent debate at Westminster Hall, United Kingdom MPs voiced strong opposition to the Home Office’s changes to family visa rules, describing them as “incredibly stupid,” “disappointing,” and “unfair.”
The MPs questioned the government’s decision to raise the minimum income requirement for family visa applicants from £18,600 to £29,000 starting from April 11. They also raised concerns about the planned increase to £38,700 by early 2025, VisaGuide.World reports.
Sheffield Central MP Paul Blomfield, who led the debate, emphasized the potential hardships that the new visa rules could impose on specific groups. He pointed out that many professionals like nurses, teachers, and police officers would not meet the £38,700 salary threshold.
He further argued that this would disproportionately affect women, individuals in lower-wage areas, the self-employed, young people, and those at the beginning of their careers. MPs criticized the new rules as “ill-considered,” “disappointing,” and not aligned with conservative principles.
Blomfield also criticized the previous salary criteria for focusing too much on migrants’ financial contributions rather than their living costs.
MPs Alarmed by UK Visa Fees & Health Surcharge Increase
During the debate, several MPs shared concerns about their constituents being unable to return to the UK due to the new salary requirements and increased visa fees. They also highlighted a 66 percent rise in the immigration health surcharge from the previous year.
Government ministers have expressed concerns about high levels of immigration. In 2022, net migration was estimated at around 745,000.
The recent increase in migration is attributed to international students, social care workers, their families, humanitarian visa programs, and asylum seekers.
UK Visa Changes Affect Newcomers & Long-Term Residents
These changes in December 2023 followed earlier adjustments to student-dependant rules in May 2023. The Home Office estimates that about 300,000 people who moved to the UK last year would only have been eligible to do so with these changes.
In the same period, the Minister for Legal Migration clarified that individuals on the Skilled Worker visa route, or those who applied before the new rules took effect, won’t need to meet the £38,700 salary requirement when changing jobs, renewing their visa, or applying for settlement. This exception was made to ensure that those who have already made plans or commitments based on the previous rules are not unduly affected.
Moreover, the updated Immigration Rules specify that anyone with a Skilled Worker visa obtained before April 4, 2024, and applying to renew it or for settlement before April 4, 2030, will only need to earn either £29,000 or the ‘lower going rate’ for their job, whichever is higher, instead of the £38,700.