The British government's decision to raise the eligibility bar for skilled worker visas in the United Kingdom is expected to impact around 300,000 non-Britons, including many Indians. The new minimum salary requirement for applicants has been increased from £26,000 to £38,700.
Home Secretary James Cleverly defended the policy shift in the House of Commons, citing its aim to reduce net migration into the UK. Net migration figures, reaching 745,000 in 2022, have faced widespread criticism among Britons, prompting this move.
The policy is a response to the concerns over uncontrolled immigration, a factor that fueled support for the UK's exit from the European Union. While the exit aimed to regulate immigration, influxes from various parts of the world, notably India, have posed challenges to this goal.
However, exceptions are made for those entering on health and social care visas, predominantly nurses. Despite the exemption, these professionals are not allowed to bring their partners or children, a measure intended to curb what Cleverly terms as "abuse of the Health and Care Visa."
Acknowledging the significant number of dependents not contributing to the economy, Cleverly highlighted that around 120,000 dependents accompanied 100,000 care workers and senior care workers in the year ending September 2023.
Other recent stringent measures include restrictions on students bringing dependents to the UK, with undergraduate students no longer permitted to bring their partners or children.
The health surcharge payable by foreign job seekers is also set to increase by 66%, escalating from £624 to £1,035, as per Cleverly's announcement.
The opposition Labour party's Shadow Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, criticized the Conservative government, deeming the new proposals an admission of years of failure. She targeted Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, accusing him of wavering without direction and being easily influenced.
The Scottish National Party expressed skepticism regarding the motives behind Cleverly's pronouncement, questioning whether it catered to the right-wing faction of the Conservative party.
Concerns have been raised regarding the potential adverse effects of these policies, with warnings of businesses failing and care homes closing.
However, it seems that post-study work visas, available after completing a master's degree in the UK, are currently unaffected by the new guidelines, offering relief to Indian students, who numbered 120,000 in the academic year 2021-22.
(With Agency Inputs)
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