The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has published a report on the economic factors relating to sponsoring partners or dependents for UK citizenship. The report suggests, based solely on economic factors, that the minimum salary threshold should be raised by anything between 35-88%.
The suggested threshold would be set between £18,600 and £25,700 (before tax) for a sole applicant. For those wishing to bring in a wife and two children, the minimum threshold would be set between £24,800 and £47,600.
The new threshold will apply to any UK resident or citizen who wishes to sponsor a dependent or partner to come to the UK. This includes British-born citizens.
It is estimated that a salary threshold of £18,600 would reduce settlement through the family route by 45 per cent. A minimum of £25,700 would reduce it by 63 per cent.
The new threshold was suggested in response to the government requesting analysis of the economic issues of burdens on the state benefit system.
In the introduction to the report the MAC are clear to state that 'family migration regulations are not determined by economic factors alone. But it is an economic issue – required family income – that we have been asked to address. On this basis, the present income stipulation is too low. The MAC suggests, instead, a minimum gross income figure to support a two-adult family of between £18,600 and £25,700. We estimate that nearly two thirds of sponsors would not have sufficient gross income to meet the higher of these thresholds. But our analysis suggests that, based on only economic criteria, there is a case for such a benchmark.'
The recommendations contained in this report will proved proscriptive for any a very large number of people looking to bring family members and loved ones to the UK. This will clearly prove very useful for the Conservatives, who are faced with the seemingly impossible target of 'reducing net migration to the tens of thousands'.
It is significant to note that every recent report by the MAC has been welcomed by the UKBA and all associated recommendations have been accepted. This has lead to the Shortage Occupation List being updated with an estimated 40,000 available places being removed.
As such it would be prudent to assume that the recommendations in the report will be approved in due course and that a new threshold, likely towards the higher end of the proposed range, will be brought into effect.
