The United Kingdom has made stricter amendments to its
immigration laws, further tightening the already stringent regulations
governing the entry of foreigners into the country.
A statement released by the Home Office on Monday said the
new plan to slash migration levels and curb abuse of the immigration system
will deliver the biggest-ever reduction in the country’s net migration.
“Together, this package will mean around 300,000 people who
came to the UK last year would now not be able to come,” the statement said.
Under plans set out by James Cleverly, home secretary,
workers will need to earn at least £38,700 to obtain a visa, up from £26,200,
while care workers will be barred from bringing in dependants from next April.
The home office said the revision will encourage “businesses
to look to British talent first and invest in their workforce, helping us to
deter employers from over-relying on migration, whilst bringing salaries in
line with the average full-time salary for these types of jobs”.
“The government will also increase the minimum income
required for British citizens and those settled in the UK who want their family
members to join them,” the statement added.
“Altogether, this reinforces that all those who want to work
and live here must be able to support themselves, are contributing to the
economy, and are not burdening the state.”
The home office also reiterated plans to review the graduate
visa route “to ensure it works in the best interests of the UK and to ensure
steps are being taken to prevent abuse”.
In May, the government announced a package of measures to
cut the number of student visas being issued, including removing the right for
international students to bring dependants unless they are on postgraduate
research courses and removing the ability for international students to switch
onto work routes before their studies are completed.
This will come into force for courses starting in January
2024.
“Immigration is too high. Today we’re taking radical action
to bring it down. These steps will make sure that immigration always benefits
the UK,” Rishi Sunak, British prime minister, had written on X, formerly
Twitter.
“We’ve just announced
the biggest ever cut in net migration. No Prime Minister has done this before
in history. But the level of net migration is too high and it has to change. I
am determined to do it.”
The crackdown would affect many Nigerian students hoping to
pursue their postgraduate studies in the UK, as they accounted for the highest increase
in the number of dependents accompanying persons with study visas in 2022.
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