Labour Halts Further Rises to Family Visa Minimum Income Threshold

Labour to Commission Independent Review into Family Visa Minimum Threshold

The Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, has announced to parliament that the minimum income threshold for Family visas will not be raised any further than the current £29,000 figure until an independent review has been completed.

The review will be undertaken by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC). It has not yet been confirmed how long the review will take to complete.

The minimum income threshold for Family visas was originally set to be raised to £34,500 in late 2024 and then to £38,700 in 2025, in accordance to plans set out by the former Conservative government.

In her statement to parliament, Cooper stated that:

“The Family Immigration Rules, including the Minimum Income Requirement, need to balance a respect for family life whilst also ensuring the economic wellbeing of the UK is maintained. To help ensure we reach the right balance and have a solid evidence base for any change, I will commission the MAC to review the financial requirements in the Family Immigration Rules. The Minimum Income Requirement is currently set at £29,000 and there will be no further changes until the MAC review is complete.”

No Reversal of Conservative Policies

Although the Family visa income threshold increase is being paused until further notice, Cooper made it clear that no other existing policies brought in by the Conservatives would be reversed, and that Labour would continue with their overall goal to bring UK net migration down to lower levels.

This means that changes to UK immigration policy such as the rise in the Skilled Worker minimum salary threshold and the restrictions on students and care workers being able to bring family members with them to the UK will remain in place.

Cooper also outlined the Labour government’s plans to address skills shortages within the UK in order to remove pressure on businesses to turn to hiring talent outside of the country.

These include initiatives in conjunction with the Department of Education to help address and fill skills shortages in the UK, and a new Labour Market Advisory Board to look into issues regarding the UK’s labour force.

The MAC will also conduct reviews into the UK IT and engineering job markets to help alleviate the over-reliance on international recruitment within these sectors.

What’s Next for the UK Family Visa Minimum Income Requirement?

The Home Secretary’s announcement came after a period of relative uncertainty on Labour’s stance on specific Conservative policies.

In the run-up to the general election, Labour made it clear that they shared the Conservatives’ general goal to reduce net migration, but did not explicitly state if they would halt or reverse specific policies such as the raising of the Family visa minimum income threshold.

The recent announcement now seems to balance Labour’s intention to follow through with their overall intention to tackle net migration numbers with a desire to appease the vocal critics and detractors of the latest Family visa changes.

The rise in the minimum income threshold for these visas was variously described as “cruel”, “immoral” and “foolish” by members of the public and parliament alike when it was announced by then-Home Secretary James Cleverly late last year.

The commissioning of the MAC study may be interpreted as many as a glimmer of hope that any further increases to the minimum threshold may be scrapped for good, given that the independent body were allegedly not consulted in the initial immigration changes set out by the Conservatives.

The MAC have previously demonstrated their capacity to influence government policy, most recently through an investigation into the Graduate visa route commissioned by the Conservatives earlier this year. Despite concerns over suspected abuse within this visa route, the MAC report found no evidence of this and thus recommended that the visa continue to operate as normal, much to the relief of universities and international students.

Although no timeframe has been given for the Family visa investigation, there is no doubt that many new applicants for the Family visa routes affected may be cautiously optimistic over what the future holds for their loved ones and their ability to immigrate to the UK in the future, many of whom may be hopeful for a similar result to the Graduate visa investigation already completed.

Have You Been Affected by the Latest Changes to UK Immigration?

The past year has seen dramatic change to UK immigration, and with it, a degree of uncertainty for foreign nationals both inside and outside the UK.

If you’ve been affected by any of these changes and wish to speak to a professional immigration adviser about your situation, reach out to IAS.

We can help advise on a wide range of UK and international immigration issues, including if you or your partner are affected by the latest Family visa minimum income changes. We can help deliver reassurance and certainty to your situation through expert and professional legal assistance, supported by decades’ worth of experience in immigration law.

Circumstances in UK immigration can change quickly, so don’t hesitate to seek help today. Call us on 0333 305 9375 or reach out to us online for immediate help with your case today.