February 15th, 2024 at 12:20 am

3 Key UK Immigration Changes Announced In February 2024

Do you plan to relocate to the United Kingdom? To learn about the most recent immigration updates, which the UK government released in February 2024, read this article. In the first two weeks of February 2024, the UK announced several significant immigration amendments that reflected modifications to the income requirements for visas, health surcharges, and the consequences of working illegally.

Immigration Health Surcharge Increase

Beginning on February 6, 2024, the UK will be charging each applicant an annual immigration health surcharge of 66%, or £1,035 instead of £624. Furthermore, this rise significantly raises the price of applying for a visa for immigrants from the UK, influencing the affordability of work, study, and family visas.

Adjustments to Family Visa Income Thresholds

The wage criteria for new family visas will rise to £29,000 instead of the originally suggested £38,700, reversing earlier announced objectives. This phased strategy seeks to streamline the increase that will ultimately reach 38,700 in early 2025 and rise to £34,500 later in the year.

Increased Fines for Employing Illegal Workers

This is a surprising turn of events. The UK notably increased punishments on February 13, 2024, for firms found guilty of hiring undocumented labor. But for the first infraction, the fine has tripled, going from £5,000 to £45,000. This program draws attention to the government’s aggressive campaigns against unlawful employment practices.

Under the burden of net migration, the UK is steadily enhancing its immigration laws while stabilizing the need for skilled labor. In summary, the large increase in the IHS signifies a wider trend towards rising immigration-related expenses in the UK, even as the necessity for a skilled labor force is consistently emphasized.

New UK Immigration Changes Cause Visa Processing Delays

Have you filed a UK immigration application? Due to the UK’s overwhelming demand for immigration application processing services, there may be a delay in processing your application. This will have a significant impact on the processing of all immigration applications. Read this article through to the end to learn more about this.

Exclusive Immigration Updates

The Home Office is managing the increase in the Immigration Health fee and impending changes to the skilled worker and partner pathways to meet the growing demand for immigration application-related services.

What Services are Currently Affected?

Due to a noticeably higher than-normal quantity of applications being considered, the processing of all immigration applications may be delayed overall. Important services required to file an immigration application are also impacted by the skilled worker route, and processing times may reach eighteen weeks.

These Services include;

• Applications for sponsor licenses
• Applications for specialized sponsorship certificates for skilled workers seeking permission to enter the country from outside the United Kingdom
• A notable inability to obtain the worker’s and temporary worker’s availability for the change of scenario service
• A notable inability to obtain the worker’s and temporary worker’s availability for the change of scenario service, particularly for

1. 1. 1. Requests for extra or yearly allocations of undefined certificates of sponsorship for skilled workers requesting authorization to remain in the UK
      2. Requests to alter a sponsor license’s principal personnel

• Lastly, normal Sponsor Change of Circumstance services (processing time may reach eighteen weeks)

A delay in the issuance of a certificate of sponsorship could be quite problematic for individuals who intend to apply in-country under the skilled worker route before their present immigration visa expires. In these situations, each option should be considered separately.

UK Dependent Visa ~ New Changes To UK Family Visa

A brief guide to dependent family members’ work visa applications for the UK. Would you like your family to visit the UK? As we provide you with important information about how workers in the UK can enter the country with dependant family members, read this. To help families thinking about moving, this update offers comprehensive guidance on eligibility, financial requirements, and benefits for dependents.

Who Qualifies as a Dependent?

As per the immigration laws of the United Kingdom, a dependant may include the primary applicant’s spouse, civil partner, unmarried partner, or dependent children. However, immigration specialists stress how important it is for unmarried partners to validate a true and lasting relationship, which necessitates providing proof of cohabitation for at least two years before applying.

Financial Requirements for Dependents

It is common knowledge that eligibility for dependents is contingent upon fulfilling certain financial requirements. Thus, you have to fulfill one of the prerequisites listed below;

• Maintenance should be certified by your employer. This implies that they will provide for the primary applicant’s and their dependents’ financial necessities.
• You have to provide evidence that you have enough money to support yourself in the UK, preferably in the form of bank statements.

Rights and Privileges of Dependents

The application process is made simpler by the fact that dependents are exempt from the English language proficiency criterion. In the UK, dependents are also able to work, start a business, and even pursue careers in professional sports.

In conclusion, families moving to the UK greatly benefit from this flexibility, which allows them to pursue their goals both personally and professionally.