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

Summary

UK 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.