Last Updated on: 8th December 2023, 10:32 am
Renowned London law firm Osbourne Pinner has articulated its stance on the recent visa regulations designed to curb UK migration. With a notable record of assisting over 1000 businesses in overseas employee recruitment through its effective Skilled Worker Visa and Sponsor Licence service, the firm boasts a perfect success rate in Sponsor Licence applications, marking its prominence in the London legal sector.
The firm’s response comes in the wake of Home Secretary James Cleverly’s announcement of measures to reduce immigration, including a significant salary increase for foreign skilled workers to £38,700, up from £26,200, excluding the healthcare sector.
Osbourne Pinner’s Senior Immigration Solicitor, Richard Young, stated: “These new regulations are going to have a significant impact on UK businesses seeking to recruit skilled workers from overseas. The raised minimum salary is a large jump and will mean that some UK companies can no longer afford to recruit workers from overseas. We strongly advise companies who are looking to recruit foreign skilled workers to enlist the support of a legal expert to establish what effect the new regulations will have on the process.”
The firm anticipates that the new regulations will reduce annual migration by 300,000, making it more challenging for companies to hire overseas workers and for the workers to secure skilled worker visas. Successful sponsor licence applications enable firms to employ skilled individuals from outside the UK, including the EEA, under the Skilled Worker rule for Tier 2 and Tier 5 visas.
Adding to this, Richard Young remarked: “Anyone seeking to employ overseas workers should be mindful of the record-keeping, reporting and monitoring that is required by the Home Office to ensure that your company complies with the regulations. We can assist with this, but an in-house HR team is highly beneficial. Since the legislation changed in April 2023 to the points-based immigration system, the legalities around recruiting overseas workers now has added complexity. The updated regulations will add further complications to the process, so having legal aid to guide you through the process is strongly recommended. Time will tell as to what the impact the new rules will have, but our team has a 100% success rate in this field so we will be able to assist companies as they navigate the regulations and understand what is now required of them to ensure compliance.”
Furthermore, the minimum income requirement for spouse or family visas has been increased from £18,600 to £38,700, affecting UK-born individuals’ ability to bring foreign-born spouses to the UK.
Senior Associate Yee Han at Osbourne Pinner commented: “The raised salary requirement for a spouse visa will mean that some UK citizens will be unable to bring their spouse to live with them, unless they are able to get a higher-paid job that meets the £38,700 threshold. We are working with clients on the changes to check their eligibility. Even prior to these new regulations being introduced, obtaining a partner visa can be a complicated and long process. It is essential to consider your circumstances carefully and seek professional advice before applying for a spouse visa in the UK. Applying for a visa may be time-consuming. If you make mistakes in your application, you risk delays, rejection, or even being denied entry to the UK. Our team can assist you in avoiding these mistakes and improving your chances of having your application accepted.”
For individuals and businesses affected by the new rules, Osbourne Pinner provides free consultations, bookable through their website.
Discover more about Osbourne Pinner here.
