How Will The 2024 UK Immigration Statistics Affect The Spouse Visa Financial Requirement?
In this article, our Immigration Solicitors assess the potential impact of the recently released ONS immigration statistics on the Migration Advisory Committee's review of the Family Visa financial requirement.
If you are one of the thousands of couples looking to reunite in the UK through securing a Family Visa or Spouse Visa you need to be aware of the MAC review and the potential impact on your Family Visa application.
UK Online and London-Based Immigration Lawyers and Spouse Visa Solicitors
For Spouse Visa immigration law advice call London-based OTS Solicitors on 0203 959 9123 or contact us online.
Our lawyers speak Arabic, Armenian, Farsi, French/Mauritian Creole, Spanish, Tamil Tagalog/Ilonggo, Urdu/Punjabi.
The 2024 Immigration Figures
We need to start with some headline immigration figures to understand where the UK government may be heading with the Family Visa eligibility criteria.
The Home Office headline migration information shows:
- 1 million UK non-visit visas were granted in the year ending September 2024
- The 1.1 million visas include Work Visas, Family Visas and Student Visas
- 95,635 family-related visas were issued in the year ending September 2024
- Family-related visa applications increased by 31% in 2024 compared to the 2023 figures
Family-related visas are visas where the applicant applies to live with a family member who is a British citizen or a non-British citizen with settled status (such as Indefinite Leave to Remain or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme). It also covers people applying to join a relative in the UK who has refugee status or humanitarian protection.
Who is Coming to the UK on a Family-Related Visa?
The Home Office report outlines where Family Visa applicants came for Family Visa applications made in the year ending September 2024.
- The highest number came from Pakistan - 15,104 of all applications
- Pakistani applicants amount to over a sixth of all applicants
- Syrian nationals were the second-highest nationality with Indian nationals third
The Home Office attributes the rise in applications from Pakistani and Syrian nationals to the increase in successful Indefinite Leave to Remain and refugee applications by citizens of Pakistan and Syria.
Spouse Visa Statistics
Although Family Visas, including family-related visas, have increased since 2023 the statistics for Spouse Visas and Unmarried Partner Visas show a different picture:
- From April to June 2024 there were 15,292 Family Partner Visa applications
- From June to September 2024 there were 8,982 Family Partner Visa applications
Spouse Visa Solicitors suspect the reduction in applications for Spouse Visas, Unmarried Partner Visas and Civil Partner Visas is down to the increase in the Family Visa financial requirement from £18,600 to £29,000.
Timeline of Family Visa Financial Requirement Changes
Here is the timeline for the financial requirement changes:
- Before April 2024 - £18,600
- After April 2024 - £29,000
Since April 2024 the financial requirement has been set at £29,000. However, the Home Office no longer increases the financial requirement if non-British children accompany the Family Visa applicant on Dependant Visas. Before April 2024, for the first child, an additional income of £3,800 was required. An extra £2,400 was needed for each additional child.
The Conservative government planned two further increases to the Family Visa financial requirement:
- To £34,500 in mid to late 2024
- To £38,700 in early 2025
The 2024 newly elected Labour government announced the Migration Advisory Committee would review the financial requirement income threshold set by the Conservatives. Until the outcome of the MAC review the financial requirement remains at £29,000.
Predicting if the Family Visa Financial Requirement will Increase From £29,000
No one can say with any certainty if the Migration Advisory Committee will recommend an increase in the financial requirement for the Family Visa from £29,000 or if it will recommend the rise suggested by the Conservatives to £38,700. The figure of £38,700 wasn’t just plucked out of the air. £38,700 is the minimum salary threshold for applicants for the Skilled Worker Visa.
While Spouse Visa Solicitors can't predict the outcome of the MAC review or say whether the government will accept its recommendations, most Immigration Solicitors think it is highly likely that the financial requirement will rise. The best-case scenario is probably that the financial requirement remains at £29,000. It seems unrealistic to hope for a return to the previous £18,600.
The prime minister and home secretary have said the UK government is committed to bringing down net migration. However, they have not said what this means for the Family Visa financial requirement. They will no doubt remain silent until after the Migration Advisory Committee report is available. However, once the report is available, they may act quickly to confirm or change the financial requirement.
Any change in the financial requirement may mean a Family Visa applicant is no longer able to meet the financial requirement on income and only be able to meet the eligibility criteria through:
- Reliance on capital cash savings to meet the financial requirement in full or partially
- Pleading exceptional circumstances in your Family Visa application
Reading the Room on ONS Net Migration Figures
It doesn’t take a specialist Immigration Solicitor to tell you that there is immense pressure on every UK political party to say what they will do to reduce net migration. The pressure is on because according to the ONS statistics, the revised net UK migration figure for 2023 was around 906,000 people.
There are measures to limit arrivals:
- On Dependant Visas where the main applicant is on a Student Visas or is a carer on the Health and Care Worker Visa
- By focusing on sponsor licence compliance and reducing the exploitation of overseas workers
- By maintaining the current Skilled Worker Visa minimum salary threshold of £38,700 or the going rate for the job, whichever is higher
- By increasing training for British people so employers are not reliant on recruiting overseas workers to fill the UK skills shortage
It is equally clear that the government may think they will give out mixed messages on their commitment to tackle and reduce UK net migration if they keep the Family Visa financial requirement at £29,000 or reduce it back to £18,600.
What Should Family Visa Applicants do to Prepare for Spouse Visa Financial Requirement Changes?
First, the changes may not happen. The Migration Advisory Committee report may recommend the financial requirement remain at £29,000 or the government may decide to not follow the MAC recommendations. Only time will tell.
If you currently meet the eligibility criteria for a Family Visa, Spouse Visa, Unmarried Partner Visa or Civil Partner Visa but you know you will struggle if the financial requirement is increased to £38,700 then maybe you should apply for your Family Visa now rather than wait and hope that your sponsoring partner’s income will substantially increase so you will meet any new minimum salary threshold.
If you are already in the UK on a Family Visa or an extension to a Family Visa then transitional rules apply so you don’t need to worry about potential increases to the financial requirement. Our specialist Legal 500 recommended Spouse Visa Solicitors can talk to you about:
- The transitional rules and how they apply to your situation
- Applying for a Family Visa
- Spouse Visa and Unmarried Partner Visa extension applications
- Applying for family reunion
- Settling in the UK after arrival on a Family Visa
- British citizenship applications after entry to the UK on a Family Visa
- Settlement applications if your sponsoring partner has passed away or the relationship has ended
- Applying for dependent family members to join your family in the UK
UK Online and London-Based Immigration Lawyers and Spouse Visa Solicitors
For Spouse Visa immigration law advice call London-based OTS Solicitors on 0203 959 9123 or contact us online.
Our lawyers speak Arabic, Armenian, Farsi, French/Mauritian Creole, Spanish, Tamil Tagalog/Ilonggo, Urdu/Punjabi.
Related Posts
What Evidence is Needed to Prove I Meet the Spouse Visa Financial Requirement on Income?
How do I Appeal Against The Refusal of my Spouse Visa?
Using Pension Income to Meet the UK Spouse Visa Financial Requirement
Appendix FM and UK Spouse Visa Applications
OTS Solicitors Ranked And Ready For 2025 - OTS Solicitors
OTS Solicitors Celebrates its Inclusion in the 2024 Chambers Guide to the Legal Profession