In a major policy reversal, the UK Home Office has decided to implement the planned increase to the minimum salary threshold for family visas gradually rather than hiking it sharply next spring as previously announced.
The climbdown comes amid intense pressure from multiple fronts over concerns that the initial policy would prevent many families from reuniting.
Minimum Salary Raised to £29,000 Next Spring
The Home Office stated earlier in December that the minimum income requirement for family visas would be raised from £18,600 to £38,700 starting April 2023.
However, Home Office minister Lord Sharpe has now confirmed that the threshold will instead be increased to £29,000 next spring.
Further incremental hikes will occur at unspecified future dates before eventually reaching £38,700.
The Home Office indicated that renewals of existing family visas will still be allowed under the previous £18,600 minimum salary threshold.
The new £29,000 level is projected to reduce legal migration by tens of thousands towards the government’s target of cutting net migration by 300,000 in 2023.
Opposition Parties and Advocacy Groups Condemn Changes
The reversal of policy has drawn criticism from opposition parties and advocacy groups.
Labour shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper described it as “Tory government chaos,” arguing that the Home Office failed to properly consult before announcing the initial five-fold increase to £38,700.
Liberal Democrats home affairs spokesman Alistair Carmichael branded the £38,700 figure as “unworkable” and stated that it should be devised in cooperation with experts.
Meanwhile, the campaign group Reunite Families UK said that even the new £29,000 threshold is “very high for most families.”
Health and Social Care Sectors Express Concerns
The health and social care sectors have warned that the family visa changes could worsen staffing shortages.
In a joint letter to the Health Secretary, Unison and National Care Forum said that many migrant care workers regret moving to the UK and now plan to leave.
They urged the government to scrap the threshold increase altogether.
Home Office Defends Gradual Approach
In a letter to MPs, Home Office legal migration minister Tom Pursglove stated that the gradual phase-in provides those affected “adequate time to prepare for upcoming changes.”
He described it as striking the “right balance” between reducing migration and minimizing disruptions.
Some Tory MPs Push for Faster Increase
Despite the slower phase-in, some Conservative backbench MPs want to see a swifter progression to the £38,700 level.
Sir John Hayes, an ally of former Home Secretary Suella Braverman, argued on BBC Radio 4 that “if we're going to £38,700 … that needs to be done with speed so that people know where they stand.”
EU Visitors and Immigrants Also Impacted
The tightening of family visa rules comes as the UK is also implementing stricter policies affecting EU citizens visiting or immigrating to the country.
Starting in May 2025, EU visitors will need to apply for an ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System) visa waiver to enter the UK.
The ETIAS requirements will add barriers for EU families hoping to reunite in the UK or come for extended stays.
Digital nomads, students, investors, and other long-term travelers from the EU could reconsider choosing the UK as a destination given the mounting restrictions.
Tougher UK Rules Influence EU Policies
The UK’s immigration crackdown has implications for policies in EU member states as well.
As the UK makes itself less welcoming, the EU may seek to attract more newcomers and skilled workers being deterred from moving to Britain.
However, some EU countries are also toughening their own immigration regimes.
The implementation of the EU-wide ETIAS system reflects a broader European trend towards more controls.
With the UK outside the EU, both sides seem intent on reducing immigration levels, making it harder for families split across borders to unite.
Final Hurdles Remain in Family Visa Overhaul
The reversal shows the difficulties facing the government in delivering on its pledge to significantly reduce immigration.
With opposition mounting and many unanswered questions remaining, the family visa saga seems far from over.
The Home Office will need to tread carefully to avoid further missteps as it proceeds with fundamentally reshaping the UK’s immigration system.