Osbourne Pinner Reacts to Stricter Skilled Worker and Spouse Visa Rules

Osbourne Pinner, a prestigious London-based law firm, has addressed the recent stringent visa rules aimed at diminishing UK migration. Renowned for its proficiency, the firm has successfully facilitated over 1000 businesses in hiring overseas employees through its Skilled Worker Visa and Sponsor Licence service, maintaining a 100% success rate in Sponsor Licence applications, thereby establishing itself as a top solicitor in this domain within London.

Following the announcement by Home Secretary James Cleverly of various measures to restrict immigration, including the elevation of the minimum salary for foreign skilled workers to £38,700 from the previous £26,200 (healthcare sector excluded), Osbourne Pinner has voiced its perspective.

Richard Young, a Senior Immigration Solicitor at Osbourne Pinner, expressed: “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 these new rules could potentially curtail migration by about 300,000 per year, complicating the recruitment of overseas workers for companies and the acquisition of skilled worker visas for the workers themselves. Successful sponsor licence applications are pivotal for firms to hire skilled personnel from outside the UK and EEA under the Skilled Worker rule for Tier 2 and Tier 5 visas.

Richard further commented: “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.”

Moreover, the minimum income requirement for spouse or family visas has been raised from £18,600 to £38,700, creating additional hurdles for UK nationals wishing to bring their foreign-born spouses to the UK.

Yee Han, Senior Associate at Osbourne Pinner, noted: “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.”

Osbourne Pinner extends free consultations for those impacted by the new migration rules, with appointments available through the firm’s online contact form.

Learn more about Osbourne Pinner here.