Written questions published on 11 November reveal fresh parliamentary scrutiny of the Minimum Income Requirement (MIR) for family visas. Conservative back-bencher Blake Stephenson asked when the Home Secretary will respond to the Migration Advisory Committee’s (MAC) review of the MIR and whether ministers intend to change the threshold that spouses and partners must meet to settle in the UK. The question comes just days after the Home Office confirmed plans for a ten-year standard settlement track, fuelling speculation that the MIR – currently £29,000 for sponsoring a partner and rising with dependants – could increase again to align with new settlement principles on contribution and self-sufficiency. Employer groups fear that ratcheting up the MIR would make it harder for mid-level international assignees to reunite with family in the UK, undermining attractiveness in globally mobile sectors such as fintech and life sciences. Migrant-rights charities argue the current level already excludes an estimated 40 % of UK employees from sponsoring overseas spouses. While a written answer is pending, immigration lawyers advise sponsors to act before any further rise. Past changes have included short grace periods but no grandfathering for in-flight applications. Companies operating domestic-transfer policies should model the impact on total reward packages and relocation budgets. The MAC report, delivered in September, recommended indexing the MIR to 37.5 hours at the National Living Wage, which would produce a lower figure than the current threshold. The government’s response will indicate whether the new “earned settlement” philosophy also extends to family migration routes.
