•Sunak
The UK government announced a five-point plan in December 2023 to cut net migration by around 300,000 people per year, starting in spring 2024. The plan includes the following changes to immigration rules:
• Ban most overseas students from bringing their families to the UK.
• Ban overseas care workers from bringing dependants.
• From April 4th, increasing the minimum income threshold for skilled workers to £38,700.
• 4th April, scrapping the 20% going rate salary discounts offered for shortage occupations.
• 11th April raising the minimum income requirement for family visas.
It would be recalled that UK home secretary, James Cleverly had announced a package of measures designed to cut the number of migrant workers and their dependants entering the UK, making it far harder for employers to bring in overseas staff, including in the NHS and social care sector.
The home secretary presented a five-point plan in which the minimum salary requirement for a skilled worker visa would rise to £38,700, while the rule allowing the most-needed professions to be hired at 20% below the going rate would be scrapped.
The move, which the government said will help reduce net migration by 300,000 a year, marks an attempt by Cleverly and the prime minister, Rishi Sunak, to rescue the Conservative party’s flagging reputation for controlling immigration.
