• August 1, 2024

Govt not to increase income threshold for bringing foreign spouses to £38,700 until MAC review

Govt not to increase income threshold for bringing foreign spouses to £38,700 until MAC review

LONDON Aug 1: Labour government has dropped Tory plans to stop people earning under £38,700 from bringing foreign spouses or partners to the UK.

As part of efforts to reduce legal immigration, ex-prime minister Rishi Sunak hiked the minimum income requirement for sponsoring a foreign spouse or partner visa.

The income threshold was raised from £18,600 to £29,000 per year by the Tories in April, with plans to increase it to £34,500 later this year and £38,700 by early 2025

Yvette Cooper confirmed there will be “no further changes” to the current £29,000-a-year wage threshold Britons need to bring a family member from abroad until a review of the family visa policy has been completed.

The Standard reported earlier this year that Labour planned to ask the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to investigate the impact of preventing workers from bringing dependents to the UK and increasing salary thresholds.

Ms Cooper confirmed on Wednesday that she will order the independent public body to launch a review.

“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,” the Home Secretary said in a written statement.

“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.”

The minimum income was raised from £18,600 to a £29,000 per year by Rishi Sunak’s government in a bid to help bring down the UK’s record immigration numbers.

Under the old plans the lower wage limit was set to increase to £38,700 in 2025.

Ms Cooper insisted that a “new approach” to legal migration aimed at boosting the UK workforce’s skills before recruiting abroad will be taken by Labour.