Good News for Indian Families
Yes, the UK has decided to discontinue the circulation of the Rs 41 that was officially dubbed as ‘controversial’. 5 lakh income condition for British nationals and other permanent residents for sponsoring relatives for a visa in the Britain.
This decision of the new Labour Party government is welcome by many Indian families since they previously feared the previous plan to raise the minimum income levels. The first rise was initiated by the ex-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in order to regulate immigration levels.
Current Income Threshold Remains
Home Secretary, United Kingdom Yvette Cooper also stated that the current £29,000 (about Rs. 31.2 lakh) income requirement would also remain the same.
Scrapping of 3-year-old expectations of an immediate increase of the figure until the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) looks into impacts of such hikes on families. Cooper also stated clearly that family immigration rules should have respect to the families but at the same time respect the economy of UK.
Review of Key Sectors
The MAC is also required to assess the extent to which key sectors such as IT and Engineering are reliant on international skills particularly from India. This review is a first attempt towards evaluating the literature in order to know how different immigration policies affect important sectors.
Effect on Indian Visa Seekers
The previous plan to raise the income level has drawn the attention of the analysts regarding its impact on lower- income earner families. As per the visa statistics of the year 2023, under the Family Visa category, Indians are the second-largest group of visa applicants, and the above decision is quite beneficial.
Simran Brar, Partner at Karanjawala & Co expressed his concern over the difference in polices between the UK and other more liberal countries such as the USA, Canada, and Australia. On the other hand, Aritra Ghosal of OneStep Global said that there are positive impacts of international students on the UK’s economy and the education sector.
Ongoing Visa Restrictions
Although the Labour government has frozen the proved plan to raise income, it has sustained many other visa restrictions from the previous Conservative government.
This ranges from restrictions concerning family dependents of international students and care givers. Cooper focused on the fact of fighting against the abuse of the immigration system but at the same time the respect for the international students and skilled workers.
Impact on Student Dependents
There has been a notable decrease in the number of dependents accompanying students to the UK, with a 80% drop in applications from January to March 2024 compared to the same period last year.
This decline underscores the importance of supportive immigration policies for maintaining a balanced approach that supports both economic and academic growth. For more information, check with your local UK immigration authorities to understand how these changes might affect you.