New Changes To All UK Visas: UK Immigration Fees, Dependent, Family, Work & Study Visas All Affected

Travel & Jobs

7 Jul 202404:43

Summary

TLDRUK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the Labour Party propose tightening immigration policies without capping it, focusing on linking immigration to skills and workforce training. They plan to reform the apprenticeship levy, enforce fair pay agreements, and increase penalties for employment law violations. The party also intends to establish a body for migrant worker rights in the social care sector, explore EU arrangements for performers, and consider measures for seasonal workers' welfare. Labour supports a review of family routes and EU settlement scheme administration, aiming to reduce net migration to a couple of hundred thousand annually.

Takeaways

🏛️ New Prime Minister Kia Starma and the Labour Party may tighten UK immigration policies with increased border checks and eligibility criteria for foreigners.
🔗 Labour plans to link immigration more closely with skills policy, addressing sector shortages like construction, IT, and engineering through apprenticeship Levy reform.
🚫 Companies may face disallowed sponsorship if they lack sufficient workforce training, and certain occupations could be removed from the immigration salary list if sectors do not comply with workforce plans.
📉 Increased penalties for employers who violate minimum wage and employment laws are proposed by the Labour government.
🔍 Strengthening the Migration Advisory Committee and linking it with UK-wide skills bodies is part of Labour's plan to investigate the impact of Conservative policy changes.
🏥 Labour will establish a body to enforce employment rights and investigate migrant worker exploitation in the social care sector.
🎭 Labour may negotiate new arrangements with the EU for touring performers to ease post-Brexit administrative burdens but does not plan to negotiate a youth mobility scheme with the EU.
🌱 Expansion of the youth mobility route could address labor shortages in hospitality, retail, and childcare sectors.
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Labour supports increasing the minimum income requirement for the partner route and emphasizes a review of family routes for social and economic benefits.
💼 Concerns about the administration of the EU settlement scheme persist, and the next government must address these issues to ensure compliance with Brexit agreements and improve status verification systems.
💰 Labour has not announced changes to immigration fees, but recent significant increases in fees and the immigration health surcharge may require evaluation before further adjustments.

Q & A

What is the primary focus of the new immigration policies proposed by the UK's new Prime Minister, Keir Starmer?
-The primary focus of the new immigration policies is to tighten immigration by putting more border checks and raising eligibility for foreigners looking to move into the UK.
How does the labor government plan to link immigration with skills and workforce training?
-The labor government plans to impose visa restrictions and link immigration more closely with skills policy to address shortages in sectors like construction, IT, and engineering by reforming the apprenticeship levy for skilled resident workers.
What measures are proposed to ensure companies adhere to government workforce plans and fair pay agreements?
-The labor government plans to disallow companies from sponsoring workers if they lack sufficient workforce training and remove occupations from the immigration salary list if sectors fail to engage with workforce plans.
What is the role of the migration advisory committee in the new policies?
-The migration advisory committee will be strengthened and linked with UK-wide skills bodies to investigate the impact of salary thresholds for the skilled worker route and the prohibition on care workers bringing dependence.
How does the labor government plan to address migrant worker exploitation in the social care sector?
-They will establish a body to enforce employment rights and investigate migrant worker exploitation in the social care sector without reversing the ban on family accompaniment for carers and senior carers.
What is the proposed approach for creative workers, youth mobility, and seasonal workers?
-The labor government may negotiate new arrangements with the EU for touring performers to ease post-Brexit administrative burdens and is considering measures to tackle exploitation for seasonal workers, while not planning to negotiate a youth mobility scheme with the EU.
What is the stance of the labor government on the minimum income requirement for the partner route?
-The labor government supports increases to the minimum income requirement for the partner route but emphasizes a review of family routes for social and economic benefits.
What concerns persist regarding the administration of the EU settlement scheme?
-Concerns about the administration of the EU settlement scheme persist, including compliance with Brexit agreements and the need to improve status verification systems.
Has the labor government announced any changes to immigration fees?
-The labor government has not announced any changes to immigration fees, but recent significant increases in fees and the immigration health surcharge may require evaluation before further adjustments.
What is the fiscal impact of 350,000 annual net migration projected by the Office for Budget Responsibility?
-The fiscal impact of 350,000 annual net migration is projected to reduce public sector borrowing by 7.4 billion by 2028-2029, benefiting public finances.
How do international students contribute to the UK's economy and education system?
-A significant portion of net migration consists of international students whose tuition fees help expand course offerings and compensate for domestic student and research funding shortfalls.

Outlines

00:00

🏛️ UK Immigration Policy Changes by Kia Starmer's Labor Government

The video discusses the potential tightening of UK immigration policies under the new Prime Minister Kia Starmer and his Labor government. The focus is on reducing net migration to around 350,000 annually without setting a formal cap. Key proposals include linking immigration to the skills and workforce training sectors, addressing shortages in construction, IT, and engineering through apprenticeship levy reforms, and imposing visa restrictions. Companies may face disallowance from sponsoring workers if they do not comply with government workforce plans and fair pay agreements. The labor government also plans to strengthen penalties for employment law violations and enhance the migration advisory committee. Additionally, the video mentions the establishment of a body to enforce employment rights in the social care sector, new arrangements for creative workers and seasonal workers, and a review of family and settled status routes.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Immigration Policies

Immigration policies refer to the regulations and procedures set by a government to control the entry and stay of foreigners in the country. In the video's context, the UK's new Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, and the Labour party are proposing to tighten these policies, including more border checks and raising eligibility criteria for foreigners wishing to move to the UK. This is a central theme of the video as it discusses the potential changes to various UK visas.

💡ECR Membership

ECR Membership stands for European Convention on Human Rights membership. The video mentions that Starmer has vowed to maintain the UK's membership in this convention, which is significant as it sets a standard for human rights protection within the country. This commitment is part of the broader discussion on immigration and how it aligns with human rights considerations.

💡Net Migration

Net migration is the difference between the number of immigrants arriving and the number of emigrants leaving a country. The Labour government aims to reduce net migration to a couple of hundred thousand annually, which is a key policy goal discussed in the video. The Office for Budget Responsibility forecasts the impact of this policy on public finances, indicating its broader economic implications.

💡Skilled Worker Visas

Skilled worker visas are a type of visa that allows individuals with specific skills or qualifications to work in a country. The Labour party plans to impose visa restrictions and link immigration more closely with skills policy, aiming to address sectoral shortages like in construction, IT, and engineering. This is a significant aspect of the proposed immigration policy changes.

💡Apprenticeship Levy

The Apprenticeship Levy is a tax on employers in the UK to fund apprenticeship training. The Labour government plans to reform this levy as part of their immigration and skills policy, ensuring that companies sponsoring skilled workers also contribute to workforce training. This is mentioned in the script as a measure to improve the link between immigration and skills development.

💡Workforce Training

Workforce training refers to the process of educating and developing the skills of employees within an organization. The Labour party's immigration policy includes a focus on ensuring that companies have sufficient workforce training in place, which is linked to their ability to sponsor workers. This is a key component of the proposed skilled worker visa restrictions.

💡Minimum Wage

The minimum wage is the lowest amount of money that employers are legally allowed to pay their workers per hour. The Labour government plans to increase penalties for employers who violate minimum wage and other employment laws, which is part of their broader strategy to protect workers' rights in the context of immigration policy.

💡Migration Advisory Committee

The Migration Advisory Committee is a UK-based body that provides advice to the government on migration issues. The Labour party plans to strengthen this committee and link it with UK-wide skills bodies, indicating a desire to enhance the advisory role in shaping immigration policy.

💡Health and Care Visas

Health and Care visas are specific types of visas for workers in the health and social care sectors. The Labour party plans to establish a body to enforce employment rights and investigate migrant worker exploitation in the social care sector, showing a focus on protecting vulnerable workers within the immigration framework.

💡Seasonal Workers

Seasonal workers are individuals who work for a limited time during a specific season of the year. The Labour party may introduce measures to tackle exploitation of these workers, who are currently guaranteed a minimum 32-hour week and have their welfare monitored. This reflects a concern for the welfare of temporary workers within the immigration system.

💡EU Settlement Scheme

The EU Settlement Scheme is a system that allows EU citizens living in the UK to continue residing there after Brexit. The Labour party acknowledges concerns about the administration of this scheme and the need for the next government to address these issues to ensure compliance with Brexit agreements. This is part of the broader discussion on post-Brexit immigration adjustments.

Highlights

UK Prime Minister Kia Starma and the Labor government propose changes to tighten immigration policies.

Immigration policies aim to reduce net migration from 350,000 annually without formally capping immigration.

Plans to link immigration with the skills workforce and training, including apprenticeship levy and skilled worker visas.

Seasonal workers visas and higher minimum wage penalties for migration are being considered.

A migration advisory committee will be strengthened and linked with UK-wide skills bodies.

The impact of Conservative increases to salary thresholds for skilled worker visas will be investigated.

Health and Care visas: establishment of a body to enforce employment rights and investigate exploitation.

No plans to reverse the ban on family accompaniment for carers and senior carers.

Labor may negotiate new arrangements with the EU for touring performers to ease post-Brexit burdens.

No plans to negotiate a youth mobility scheme with the EU, but expansion of the youth mobility route is considered.

Measures to tackle exploitation for seasonal workers, including a guaranteed minimum 32-hour week.

Support for increases to the minimum income requirement for the partner route with a review of family routes.

Concerns about the administration of the EU settlement scheme and the need for the next government to address these issues.

Immigration fees have not been announced for change, but recent increases may require evaluation.

Kia Starma vows to maintain the UK's membership in the European Convention on Human Rights.

Labor pledges to reduce net migration, aiming for a couple of hundred thousand without setting a specific target.

The fiscal impact of 350,000 annual net migration is projected to reduce public sector borrowing by 7.4 billion by 2028/2029.

A significant portion of net migration consists of international students, contributing to course offerings and funding.