The UK government, under Prime Minister Keir Starmer, has halted plans to increase the minimum income requirement for sponsoring a family member on a family visa. The move to pause the increase in the minimum income requirement for sponsoring a family member on a family visa will aid foreigners intending to bring their families to the UK.
The UK Home Secretary announced a freeze on the current £29,000 minimum income requirement for Family visas until the Migration Advisory Committee reviews the financial requirements.
Yvette Cooper, Secretary of State for the Home Department stated in a written parliamentary statement:
“The Family Immigration Rules, including the Minimum Income Requirement, need to balance a respect for family life whilst also ensuring the economic wellbeing of the UK is maintained. To help ensure we reach the right balance and have a solid evidence base for any change, I will commission the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to review the financial requirements, in the Family Immigration Rules. The Minimum Income Requirement is currently set at £29,000 and there will be no further changes until the MAC review is complete.”
As per the original plan, the increase to the Monthly Income Requirement was to be implemented incrementally in 3 stages bringing the threshold into line with the minimum general salary threshold for skilled workers – £38,700 at the time of announcement, by early 2025. The first rise implemented on 11 April 2024 is to £29,000 is the 25th percentile of the minimum general salary threshold, and the second stage increase will be to the 40th percentile, currently £34,500.
On 11 April 2024, the minimum income threshold increased for new applicants from the original £18,600 to £29,000. Applications made after 11 April will no longer have the separate child component to the minimum income requirement, the MIR threshold is fixed regardless of the number of children within the family.
According to the Secretary of State for the Home Department, the government is continuing with the previously announced measures to reduce abuse on student and Graduate visa routes.
A number of changes to the system were made earlier this year, including:
Restricting most overseas students from bringing family members to the UK.
Restricting the ability of care workers and senior care workers to bring dependants with them and requiring all care providers sponsoring migrants to register with the Care Quality Commission.
Increasing the general salary threshold for those arriving on Skilled Worker visas by 48% from £26,200 to £38,700.
Abolishing the 20% going rate discount so that employers can no longer pay migrants less than UK workers in shortage occupations.
You need a family visa to live with a family member in the UK for more than 6 months. You cannot apply for a family visa if your family member is in the UK temporarily on a work visa or student visa. You can apply to stay with them as a dependant instead.