On 21 December, the Home Office published further details of the proposals to cut net migration, first announced by the Home Secretary on 4 December 2023.
The Home Office has provided a new factsheet that includes important clarifications for those currently in the UK on routes that will be subject to change, in particular relating to:
- Carers and senior carers.
- Salary thresholds.
- Immigration Salary List.
- Family migration minimum income.
- Graduate route review.
Until the Immigration Rules are amended, current thresholds and policies remain in place.
As previously announced by the Home Office, Students starting courses from 1 January 2024 will only be eligible to bring dependants on the Student route if their course is a PhD, other doctoral qualification, or a research-based higher degree, unless they meet the criteria of another category of Student eligible to bring dependants. Find out which Students remain eligible to bring dependants on our website.
Finally, on 7 December 2023, the Home Office laid a statement of changes to the Immigration Rules, which included:
- Changes to the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS).
- Changes to the Visitor Rules.
- Changes to travel document requirements for school groups visiting the UK from France.
- Changes to the Youth Mobility Scheme.
- Introduction of new Appendix Bereaved Partner.
- Introduction of new Appendix Victim of Domestic Abuse.
- Introduction of new Appendix Statelessness.
- Minor Changes to Temporary Work routes.
- Changes to Appendix Innovator Founder.
- Changes to Appendix Children.
- Changes to Part 5 – Working in the UK.
- Other minor changes.
A detailed explanation of these changes can be found in the Explanatory Memorandum and further information is available in the Home Secretary’s written statement. A summary of these changes affecting students and their family members can be found in our news item.
