The government’s proposed IHS increase was initially set to come into effect on the 16^th of January 2024, however, it was not debated in the House of Commons until the 10^th of January 2024. As the increase may only be implemented 21 days after it becomes law it therefore will now take effect from the 31^st of January 2024 at the earliest.

The UK government recently announced changes to the minimum income threshold required to sponsor a spouse/partner for a family migration visa. The government has now provided much-needed clarification on how the new rules will be implemented and announced that the rise will happen in stages, perhaps in response to an outcry in the media.

Minimum income threshold rise for spouse visas to be incremental.

According to the House of Commons Library, the minimum income currently required to sponsor someone for a spouse/partner visa will rise in stages from £18,600 to £29,000 in spring 2024 to around £34,500 at an unspecified time (likely later in 2024), and finally to around £38,700 in early 2025.

As yet another year is coming to a close, which once again seems to have happened ridiculously quickly, we at Cross Border Legal Solicitors would like to send our best wishes for the festive season to you and your families. We hope 2024 brings success and good fortune in all endeavours you pursue. It has been a pleasure getting to know and assisting all our clients and their families this year. 

It hasn’t been long since the visa fees increased in many categories, and the IHS is also set to rise in January, but on the 4^th of December 2023, the government announced a further raft of changes to the Immigration Laws. This is due to them not meeting their targets for bringing migration down and net migration reaching a record high of 745,000 last year.

Following our earlier articles on the application fee and IHS rises, and the new application fees that came into effect in October 2023, the government have recently announced that the IHS fees will rise no earlier than the 16^th of January 2024.