UK visas: new Rules from April 2024

By 1st 4Immigration - #1 UK Immigration Experts -

1. Income £29,000 for spouses, partners and families of UK citizens:

From 11 April 2024, the minimum income threshold is £29,000 per year, up from the old figure of £18,600. Then to £34,500 later in 2024, and eventually £38,700 in early 2025.


2. However, these changes won’t affect those who currently have a visa in this category. The category is a Partner visa of a UK citizen, of a person with a settled status in the UK (PR, ILR, settled under EUSS) or of an EEA citizen with a pre-settled status in the UK. So, if you already have this visa now, you can “carry on” to settlement under the £18,600 rules, even after the change.


For example, if you applied for a Partner visa on 1 April 2024, the Rules still require £18,600 income. The new threshold £29,000 comes in force, from 11 April 2024. Your application is decided in May 2024 – but you can still “carry on” under £18,600 old Rules until settlement 5 years later. Same if it’s refused but you win the appeal.


3. If you are planning to switch from a Student or another visa – apply as soon as possible to avoid further increases. If you are planning to move to the UK from another country – better to do it sooner than later to avoid even more increases: later in 2024 it will go up to £34,500 and eventually to £38,700 in early 2025. 


4. Salary £38,700 for work visas: 

From 4 April 2024 the minimum salary for a Skilled Worker visa is £38,700, up from the old figure of £26,200. Again, the changes will only affect those applying under Skilled Worker for the 1st time.


5. Those who applied by 3 April 2024 can “carry on” under the old rules even after the change. The crucial date is the date when your Certificate of Sponsorship (COS) was assigned to you, not the date of visa application, not date of decision.  So, if your COS was assigned on 3 April 2024, the rules changed on 4 April 2024, you submitted your visa application within 3 months of the COS, such as in June 2024, your application is decided in August 2024 – you remain under the old rules and don’t need a new salary of £38,700. 


6. If you did apply on time and “carry on” under the old rules, there is still a change. At the time of your next application your salary has to be minimum £29,000, and not £26,200. Your employer doesn’t need to increase it immediately but at the time of your next application, extension or change of Employer; or before ILR, depending on your next application type.


7. Book a visa consultation with our UK immigration lawyers: https://www.1st4immigration.com/book-a-consultation/ A consultation costs £150 and it counts towards our professional fees if you hire us for an application.


8. Schengen visas – apply now for summer travels. 

You can apply within 6 months before your travel date and your visa would usually start from then (not from date of decision). Upcoming bank holidays are 27 May and 26 August 2024. Contact info@multitravelvisas.co.uk


1st 4Immigration Ltd is one of the most experienced UK immigration law companies, OISC – accredited at the highest Level 3. We have been in business for over 15 years, our OISC reference is 200800152, in which 2008 stands for the year accreditation. Office: Tower 42, 25 Old Broad Street, London, EC2N 1HN. Website: https://www.1st4immigration.com

 

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