The UK government has unveiled a new five-point plan to curb immigration, featuring measures such as barring care workers from bringing family members and raising the minimum salary for skilled worker visas.
Home Secretary James Cleverly emphasized the plan’s robustness, targeting health and care visas, skilled worker visas, family visas, the shortage occupation list, and student visas.
The changes include stricter regulations for care firms sponsoring visa applications, a higher minimum salary threshold, revisions to the shortage occupation list, increased family visa thresholds, and a review of the graduate route for student visas.
Cleverly asserted that these measures would have prevented around 300,000 people from entering the UK last year.
The plan also includes raising the immigration health surcharge from £624 to £1,035.
Critics argue that the proposals, if implemented, could exacerbate shortages in sectors like hospitality, with concerns raised about the impact on visas for chefs and managers.