So yesterday the home office published the timeline for the implementation of the new income requirements for UK visas. One of the main changes I can see compared to the original plan is that if your partner is already on the 5 year route then extensions made after April 2024 will still be assessed against the current £18600.
My constituent will be extending their spouse/partner visa on or after 11 April – will the £29,000 threshold apply to them, or only to first-time visa applicants?
Only to first-time applicants. A Government spokesperson initially said the higher threshold would apply to visa extensions, but the Home Office announced on 21 December that it would not: “Those who already have a family visa within the five-year partner route, or who apply before the minimum income threshold is raised, will continue to have their applications assessed against the current income requirement and will not be required to meet the increased threshold”.