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New Diversity, Equity and Inclusion changes to the Actuaries’ Code and Guidance
Jenny Higgins
On 30 January 2023, a ministerial statement was made which confirms the dates that some of the changes will start.
For employers the key date is 4 April 2024. This is when the new salary rules for Skilled Worker visas will come into force.
Set out here is an update on where we stand with each of the changes to ‘legal’ migration routes being implemented by the government in 2024.
The Home Office intends to publish the new rules for most of the changes on 14 March 2024. We will run a webinar on the new rules the following week. Look out for the webinar invitation which will be coming soon.
|
Change |
Reminder of what is changing |
New rules to be |
New rules to |
|---|---|---|---|
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Skilled Worker salary increases
|
Skilled Workers must be paid the higher of the general salary threshold; the going rate for the role; and £10.75 hour. For new hires The general salary threshold is increasing from £26,200 to £38,700. The going rates are also increasing and will be set at the 50th percentile (median) of the salary range for the role, rather the 25th percentile as has been the case to date. Our recent blog explains how the going rates will be calculated and predicts what the new amounts could be. For existing (pre-4 April 2024) Skilled Workers We expect the general salary threshold will remain at £26,200 for existing pre-4 April 2024 Skilled Workers who apply to extend, change employer or settle. The going rates will increase but not by as much as for new hires. Existing Skilled Workers will need to meet the updated (likely higher) going rates but only at the same 25th percentile, not the median. Again, our recent blog has more details. |
14 March 2024 |
4 April 2024 |
|
Skilled Worker shortage occupation list review
|
The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has been asked by the government to quickly review which jobs should be on the shortage occupation list by 23 February 2024. The list will be renamed the Immigration Salary List and the current 20% discount on going rates will be removed. Jobs on the Immigration Salary List will still benefit from a lower general threshold – possibly 80% of the new higher £38,700 general threshold, which would make the lower general threshold £30,960. But in many cases the lower threshold will be irrelevant because the new going rates will be much higher than this. |
14 March 2024 |
“Early April 2024” (exact date currently unknown) |
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Care workers cannot being dependent family members
|
Where someone is sponsored to work in a qualifying health profession, the application will be considered for a Health and Care Worker visa, rather than Skilled Worker. This means the Immigration Health Surcharge does not need to be paid and there is a lower UKVI application fee. The government has said that the new changes will mean that where a care worker or senior care worker is sponsored in a Health and Care Worker application, they will not be able to bring any dependent family members with them to the UK. This change will be significant for care homes and other healthcare providers. A further change is that care providers in England will only be able to sponsor workers if they are undertaking activities regulated by the Care Quality Commission. |
19 February 2024 |
11 March 2024 |
|
Family visa income requirements increase to £29,000 |
New family visa applicants The minimum income requirement will first increase from the current level of £18,600 to £29,000. It will increase again at some point (the government has not said when) to around £34,500 and then finally to around £38,700 “by early 2025”. Existing pre-11 April 2024 family visa holders The current £18,600 minimum income requirement will continue to apply to existing family visa holders. |
14 March 2024 (for the first increase to £29,000) |
11 April 2024 (for the first increase to £29,000) |
|
Review of the Graduate visa route
|
Overseas students who complete a degree course in the UK can apply to the Graduate route for a 2-year visa (or 3 years if they are studying for a PhD). The government said that in January 2024 it will ask the Migration Advisory Committee to review the Graduate route to “prevent abuse, protect the integrity and quality of UK higher education and ensure it works in the best interests of the UK.” |
Migration Advisory Committee review to last until late 2024
|
Unknown but presumably in 2025 |
Submission of applications before the rule changes
Given the rule changes above you may wish to submit any Skilled Worker or family visa applications before the rule changes to avoid the salary increases.
For Skilled Worker applications please bear in mind the timescales to receive a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) explained in our alert of 18 January 2024 and here.
further information
If you have any questions about this or any other immigration matter please contact a member of the immigration team.
We welcome views and opinions about the issues raised in this blog. Should you require specific advice in relation to personal circumstances, please use the form on the contact page.
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