UK suspends £38,700 (N80m) family visa threshold
The United Kingdom says the government’s plan to raise the family visa threshold from £29,000 to £38,700 [approximately N80 million] has been suspended.
This policy, initially set to take effect in 2025, was introduced earlier this year by former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as part of efforts to address record immigration figures.
The UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper disclosed this on Friday.
The new administration has decided to delay the implementation of the proposed increase until a comprehensive review of the family visa policy is conducted by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC).
Until the review is completed, the current threshold of £29,000 will remain in place, according to Cooper.
READ ALSO:
Cooper confirmed that no further adjustments to the policy would occur until the independent review is completed.
The government has tasked MAC with evaluating the impact of restricting migrant workers from bringing family members to the UK and the implications of increasing wage thresholds.
The new government, under Cooper’s direction, plans to reassess its approach to legal migration.
The objective is to enhance the skills of the local workforce before turning to foreign recruitment.
Cooper criticized the recent rise in legal migration levels, citing it as indicative of failures in addressing labour market shortages. Non-EU long-term migration surged from 277,000 in the year to December 2022 to 423,000 in the year to December 2023.
“This is why we are setting out a different approach – one that links migration policy and visa controls to skills and labor market policies – so immigration is not used as an alternative to training or tackling workforce problems here at home,” Cooper stated.
Updated: Nigerians worry over Wike’s look after poisoning alarm Nigerians are worried about the alleged…
FG to quarantine passengers from China amid virus surge The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced…
Delta resident stabs man to death for insulting his mother The Delta State Police Command has arrested…
Ukraine launches new offensive in Russia's Kursk Ukraine has launched a counter-attack in Russia's Kursk region,…
El-Rufai speaks on report of defection to PDP Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has dismissed claims…
Delta Gov Oborevwori under fire for hobnobbing with APC In Delta State, some PDP elders have queried Governor…