Minimum income requirement for spouse visa will initially rise to £29,000 in Spring 2024

Last week, the Immigration minister stated that existing skilled workers will not be subject to the new £38K salary limit when extending visas, but still no fixed details.

But on 20^th December 2023, Minister of State Tom Pursglove provided somewhat vague answer to question on whether new minimum salary will apply to visa renewals.

It was noted that last week, Labour MP Clive Betts tabled a query asking the Home Secretary on what date the new earnings threshold for skilled worker visa applications will implement, and whether it will apply to:

(a) Existing applications

(b) Renewals

(c) People already residing in the UK.

Tom Pursglove replied on 20^th December, and said Until the Immigration Rules are revised next Spring, the current salary and Minimum Income Requirement thresholds, and policies linking to dependants, remain in place and at the current levels. Those at present in the Skilled work route, and applications made before the rules change, will not be subject to the new £38,700 salary limit when they change employment, extend, or settle in the UK.

Sadly, this ambiguous answer did not make absolutely clear if that means applications to change employment, extend, or settle will not be subject to the new limit only until the latest UK Immigration Rules are modified or also after the Rules are changed.

But in a recent turn of events, Rishi Sunak has backed away from plans to sharply increase the minimum income needed to bring a foreign partner or spouse to the UK, less than three weeks after announcing the policy.

The Salary threshold will rise from £18,600 to £29,000 next year in 2024 rather than the £38,700 originally announced this month. The Home Office has not set a date for when it will reach the full amount. It believes the increase to £29,000 will reduce immigration by between 10,000 and 30,000 a year.

The Home Office said the changes would apply only to new visa applicants

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