The Home Office has released the statement of changes to the Immigration Rules on 4 April 2024 stating the following:

• The general salary threshold under the Skilled Worker route is being increased from £26,200 to £38,700, except for the workers sponsored under the Health and Care visa.
• The general salary threshold for the Health and Care visas is being increased from £26,200 to £29,000.
• The updates apply to the Skilled Worker routes who have been granted prior to the rules taking effect, and who are making applications to extend, change employment or settle prior to 4 April 2030.
• The Shortage Occupation list is being removed and replaced with a new Immigration Salary List (ISL) as the Government considers sensible to offer discounted salary thresholds to particular job occupational codes. Occupations under the shortage occupation list have a 20% discount to the general threshold, however, the previous 20% discount to the going rate requirement is being removed.
• There are updates with regards to holders of relevant PhD qualifications, new entrants, and national pay scale occupations.
• The general salary threshold under the Senior or Specialist Workers in the Global Business Mobility routes is being increased from £45,800 to £48,500.
• The general salary threshold under the Graduate Trainees in the Global Business Mobility routes is being increased from £24,220 to £25,410.
• The general salary threshold under the Scale-up route is being increased from £34,600 to £36,300.
• The salary requirement for certain poultry workers in the Seasonal Workers route is being increased from £26,200 and £10.75 per hour to £38,700 and £15.88 per hour.
• Further changes are being made to update the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) from SOC 2010 to SOC 2020.
• This would mean that employers will need to ensure that any Certificate of Sponsorship being issued from 4 April 2024 uses the new coding system.
• The minimum income requirement for those under the 5-year partner and child route under Appendix FM is being increased to £29,000 for new applicants applying from 11 April 2024. There will no longer be separate child element to meet the minimum income requirement.
• There are arrangements for those who have applied before 11 April 2024 and once they have met the minimum income requirement (MIR), then this must be met until they apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK.
• The relationship requirements under Appendix Victim of Domestic Abuse (VDA) is being amended to include all partners with pre-settled status under the EUSS.
• Asylum seekers who have been granted permission to work in the UK will only be able to work in the roles on the Immigration Salary list from 4 April 2024.
• Applicants under the Hong Kong British National Overseas route will be able to access public funds whilst applying for permission to stay.
• The decision-makers will add 28 days onto the 30-month visa to assist with applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK without having to apply for a temporary application.
• Adult dependant relatives can apply under the BN(O) route should their situation change after the main applicant has already been granted leave in the UK.
• Partners and adult dependent relatives will not be required to apply for the same length of leave as the main applicant.
• There are a number of other changes to the Immigration Rules to Appendix Armed Forces, Appendix Electronic Travel Authorisation, Appendix Visitor: Permit Free Festival List and other minor changes.