London
In response to widespread criticism, the UK government has abandoned its proposal to raise the salary threshold for bringing family members to the country. The initially proposed increase, from GBP 18,600 to GBP 38,700, had left approximately 300,000 non-Britons, including many Indians, shocked. The decision to revise the plan was confirmed by Lord Sharpe of Epsom in a parliamentary response. The revised approach will see the threshold rise to GBP 29,000 in the spring, with subsequent incremental increases. Although the eventual aim is to reach GBP 34,500 and then GBP 38,700, specific dates for these increments were not provided. The government faced pressure to reduce net migration, with the proposed salary threshold being part of a plan to achieve this goal. Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper criticized the government for its lack of proper consultation on the new threshold and suggested that the reversal demonstrated Tory government chaos. The opposition Labour party emphasized that the government’s hasty retreat indicated a failure to consult adequately. The government’s push to cut arrival numbers was driven by the record net migration of 745,000 in the previous year. The new threshold was expected to contribute to the government’s target of reducing legal migration by 300,000 this year. Family-related visas, including those for partners, children, and other relatives, accounted for 82,395 issued in the year to September. Reunite Families UK, a campaign group challenging UK visa rules, expressed dissatisfaction with the revised GBP 29,000 threshold, considering it very high for most families. The group found the government’s decision to implement gradual increases baffling, adding complexity to an already intricate process.
