Sunak govt takes ‘radical action’ to reduce migration in the UK. What we know of new work visa rules

Rishi Sunak’s government has significantly raised the salary requirement for work visa applicants, among other factors. The tightening of immigration rules aims to reduce net migration ahead of a general election expected next year.

So, if you are looking to apply for a work visa now, you will have to earn £38,700 ($48,900) to qualify, which was earlier £26,000. Announcing the same, Home Secretary James Cleverly said in the House of Commons on Monday, “The aim is to reduce annual net immigration by 300,000 “in future years, but without setting out a precise timetable.”

Apart from this, from now on overseas care workers cannot bring dependents to to UK, also it ended 20% salary discount firms can pay compared with the going rate for workers on the government’s shortage occupation list.

Check new immigration rules:

• Care companies will require more regulation to sponsor visas
• Annual immigration health surcharge to rise by 66% to £1,035
• Salary threshold to qualify to bring spouse to UK will be £38,700
• UK will review its graduate route to visas to avoid overstaying

Sunak has faced intense pressure from Tory MPs to come up with a plan to tackle surging immigration, after the Office for National Statistics said last week an estimated 672,000 more people moved to the UK than departed in the year ending June. Party strategists see immigration — and the government’s failure to reduce overall numbers — as a key electoral issue.

The rules came as a response to these oppositions and Sunak acknowledged that ‘the net migration is too high and he is determined to change that’ 

“The British people will always do the right thing by those in need,” Cleverly said. “But they also — and they are absolutely right to want to — reduce overall immigration numbers, not only by stopping the boats and shutting down the illegal routes, but by a well-managed, reduction in legal migration too.”