March 23rd, 2024 at 12:09 am

UK Government’s Biggest Migration Cut in History | UK Immigration 2024

To bring migration down to its lowest point ever, the UK government is proposing the largest migration decrease in history. Significant changes are being made to the UK’s immigration legislation. Read this article to learn more about the largest-ever migration cut in UK history.

The UK’s new proposal calls for doing away with the shortage occupation list, slashing the 20% pay deduction for shortage occupations, and raising the salary level for the skilled worker visa by 48%.

According to the UK Home Office, steps have been made to ensure that British workers are not undercut. Among these activities are the following:

Significant adjustments to the skilled worker path, like a significant increase in the availability of supplemental employment permits
Raising the overall salary thresholds for the different possibilities for tradable points
Including alternatives for marketable points to safeguard people under transitional agreements

Further Details

The Shortage Occupation List will be replaced on April 4th, 2024, by the immigration salary list for ISL occupations that do not have a 20% going rate reduction. Bloomberg reports that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is coming under increasing pressure from the right wing of his party to lower net migration in front of an expected election later in the year, as it reached a record last year.

It’s noteworthy to note that the Office for National Statistics projects that immigration will have increased the population of the United Kingdom by 6.1 million by mid-2036, from 67 million in mid-2021 to 73.7 million in mid-2036.

Migration will account for nearly all of the population growth. Additionally, the government of Sunak is enforcing new visa regulations to restrict foreign caregivers, especially Indians, from bringing their dependents into the nation. With this action, the disproportionate circumstance from last year—when 100,000 workers brought 120,000 dependents via the care visa route—is intended to be addressed.

UK’s 5 Points Immigration Plan 2024-2025 

The five-point plan timeframe is clarified by the UK government. This update discusses the UK government’s most recent plan to rewrite its immigration laws. Keep up with the important updates that may impact your immigration journey by reading on.

The secretary of state for legal migration and the border, Thomas Glove, provided important updates on the timing for implementing the five-point plan that was unveiled on December 4, 2023, indicating that the UK government is making significant adjustments to its immigration policy.

Furthermore, as stated on January 30, 2024, these modifications will impact several Visa categories, create new standards for both employers and immigrants and reassess the legal migration framework in the UK. Let’s examine the important changes to UK immigration law.

Health and Care Visa Adjustments

As of March 11, 2024, care workers and senior care workers will not be allowed to bring dependents into the UK due to new immigration regulations that were implemented on February 19, 2024.

Family and spouse visa requirements

Furthermore, the minimum income criteria for family visas will climb to £29,000 on April 11, 2024, to raise it to £38,700 by early 2025.

Skilled worker visa thresholds

The income criteria for skilled worker visas will increase from £26,200 to £38,700 on April 4, 2024.

Shortage occupation list revisions

For jobs on the shortage occupation list, the 20% wage deduction will be replaced by a new immigration salary list by April 2024.

Graduate route evaluation

The graduate route will be updated by the Home Office; the Migration Advisory Committee is now reviewing it.

Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) Scheme

Launched in November 2023, the ETA requirement for Atari Nationals is extended to some Middle Eastern nations starting on February 22, 2024. This program streamlines admission into the UK for travelers without a visa, mirroring the US’s welcoming nature

Increased Civil Penalties for Illegal Employment

Following February 13, 2024, employers who hire undocumented workers will face harsher penalties, with repeat offenders facing up to £60,000 in fines. However, this increase underscores the government’s commitment to enforcing immigration laws and guaranteeing lawful employment practices.

Here’s what you need to know

As the UK navigates these developments, all parties involved—employers, immigrants, and legal professionals—must continue to learn about and be ready for the changing immigration landscape. Stated differently, these modifications reflect the government’s strategy for meeting the need for skilled labor while upholding the integrity of its borders and immigration laws.