UK Relaxes Plan for £38,700 Minimum Salary Requirement to Bring Over Foreign Spouses

The UK government has revised its initial proposal to increase the minimum income requirement for citizens and settled migrants wishing to bring their non-British spouses to the UK. The previous threshold was £18,600, which was proposed to nearly double to £38,700. However, this has been reduced to £29,000, with additional increases planned but without set dates. The updated rules will take effect in the spring, but existing visa holders renewing their family visa will not be subject to the new threshold. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's adjustment of the policy has elicited mixed reactions within his Conservative Party.

Former Immigration Minister Damian Green supports the change, while ex-Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick and right-wing MP David Jones have expressed concerns over the softer approach and timing of the announcement. The Home Office maintains that the aim is to align family visa earnings with the general salary threshold for skilled workers, ensuring financial stability for those bringing dependants into the UK.

Home Secretary James Cleverly and Legal Migration Minister Tom Pursglove believe these measures could still help reduce UK migration by 300,000. The opposition Labour Party, predicted by polls to potentially lead the next government, has not opposed the package outright but suggests further review by the government's independent Migration Advisory Committee.