MAC Review of the Immigration Salary List (ISL) and Immigration Rules update

Review of the Immigration Salary List (ISL)

• Following the Home Secretary’s announcements last December regarding increasing the salary threshold for the Skilled Worker Route, the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) was asked to complete a rapid review of the new Immigration Salary List (ISL) which is replacing the Shortage Occupation List (SOL)
• The MAC published their recommendations from their review on 23^rd February.
• 21 occupations currently on the SOL recommended to be included on the ISL.
• The 20% ‘going rate’ discount abolished
• General threshold will be raised from £26,200 to £38,700
• ISL occupations will have a lower threshold of £30,960
• The Home Secretary has responded to the review, accepting the MAC’s recommendations and also adding two fishing occupations (5119 and 9119) to the ISL. 

Update to the Immigration Rules

• On 14^th March, the Home Office laid an update to the Immigration Rules including:
• Skilled Worker route -  Changes to reduce net migration by raising the general salary threshold from £26,200 to £38,700, while bringing salary requirements for individual occupations in line with median pay for resident workers in those occupations and replacing the Shortage Occupation List with a new Immigration Salary List.
• Minimum Income Requirement under the partner routes - The minimum income requirement is being amended as it has not been increased for over a decade and no longer reflects the level of income required by a family to ensure they are self-sufficient and do not need to rely on public funds.
• EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) -  The changes expand the scope of the immediate settlement provisions in Appendix Victim of Domestic Abuse to include a spouse, civil partner or durable partner with pre-settled status under the EUSS (meaning that the relationship was formed before the end of the transition period on 31 December 2020), and their dependent children.
• Immigration Salary List and Asylum - Changes are being made relating to the right of asylum seekers to request permission to take up employment in line with the Home Secretary’s announcement on 4 December 2023 to replace the Shortage Occupation List (SOL) with the Immigration Salary List (ISL). This will be in line with the Skilled Workers changes being made at the same time.

For more details on any of the above please contact Tanya.