Japa: 10 new changes Nigerians, other foreigners should know before relocating to UK

In its bid to cut the influx of migration, the United Kingdom, UK, has made some changes in the visa schemes offered to Nigerians and other foreigners.

On Monday, the UK announced that foreign health workers and caregivers would not be allowed to bring their dependants with their work visas.

The Secretary of State for the Home Department, James Cleverly disclosed this, reiterating it was part of the plan to check high migration.

In another move, the UK, Thursday, said orders have been laid in the Parliament to increase the family visa minimum income requirement.

“This will ensure people only bring dependants to the UK they can financially support,” the Home Office said.

Cleverly said in the X account of the Home Office, “Migration is too high. We have to bring the numbers down to create a fairer system for the British people.”

Considering these changes, in this article, Vanguard reveals new 10 changes that foreign nationals should know before relocating to the UK.

Some of the rules affected the family and work visas for 2024.

According to the House of Commons, “Some of the changes have come into force and most of the rest will by 11 April 2024, in accordance with two sets of changes to the Immigration Rules released on 19 February and 14 March.”

Below are the 10 latest changes implemented by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak-led UK government:

1. Social care workers are no longer permitted to bring families (that is, spouses and children) on their visas.

2. The minimum salary to be sponsored for a Skilled Worker visa is increasing, with the baseline minimum rising from £26,200 to £38,700 (but not for the Health and Care Worker visa, which includes social care, or for education workers on national pay scales).

3. Changes to the Shortage Occupation List to reduce the number of jobs where it will be possible to fund someone for a Skilled Worker visa on less than the usual minimum salary (which is the main purpose of the list).

4. The minimum income normally required to sponsor someone for a spouse/partner visa is rising in stages from £18,600 per year to £29,000 and ultimately around £38,700.

5. A review of the Graduate visa, a two-year unsponsored work permit for overseas graduates of British universities.

6. The ban on newly arriving care workers bringing immediate family has been in place since 11 March 2024.

7. The Skilled Worker minimum salary increases will happen on 4 April 2024.

8. An interim Immigration Salary List, replacing the Shortage Occupation List, will also come in on 4 April 2024; the list will be reviewed later.

9. The spouse/partner visa minimum income will first increase to £29,000 on 11 April 2024; to around £34,500 at an unspecified time later in 2024; and finally to around £38,700 “by early 2025”.

10. The review of the Graduate visa has begun, with the Home Secretary asking for a report by 14 May 2024.

Source: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/03/japa-10-new-changes-nigerians-other-foreigners-should-know-before-relocating-to-uk/

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