Factsheet: UK government updates plan to slash migration levels

Thousands of Zimbabweans are in Britain working in various fields, and many others at home are always looking for job opportunities in the UK as well.

What did the UK government say about overseas workers’ families migrating?

The United Kingdom government released updated information on the proposed plan to prevent overseas immigrants from bringing family members with them to the UK when they are recruited for work. Earlier, British Home Secretary James Cleverly had announced a plan to slash migration levels and prevent ‘abuse’ of the immigration system.

What were the implications of the initial announcement?

Overseas care workers would be stopped from bringing dependants and requiring social care firms in England who wish to sponsor care worker visas to be providing services regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
An increase in the minimum earnings threshold for Skilled Worker visas from £26,200 to £38,700 and raise the individual occupation ‘going rate’ thresholds in line with the median full-time wage for equivalent jobs in 2023.

What are the updated developments?

Immigrants coming on the Health and Social Care Visa route will be exempt from the £38,700 salary threshold applied to skilled workers, so that we can continue to bring the healthcare workers that our care sector and NHS need. This also applies to education workers on national pay-scale occupations.
Raise the minimum income requirement for family visas with the intention being to bring this in line with the new minimum general salary threshold for Skilled Workers, £38,700. This will ensure people only bring dependants to the UK they can support financially and will apply to all British and settled sponsors under the five-year partner route.
The Home Office confirmed that anyone who wants to renew an existing family visa will be able to, without having to meet the new earnings threshold.