UK restricts settlement visas for foreign workers

LONDON-The Associated Press

Hürriyet photo

Britain's government says migrant workers will in the future need to earn at least 35,000 pounds ($56,000) to qualify for a visa permitting them to settle in the U.K.

Immigration Minister Damian Green announced Wednesday the change in migration rules, aimed at cutting the number of foreign workers and their dependents granted settlement each year from 60,000 to 20,000.

Currently, no limit on earnings is imposed.
Britain has also imposed tougher limits on the number of non-Europeans allowed to work in the U.K. and slashed visas for overseas students.

It is attempting to cut net annual immigration, which includes students and the families of visa holders, to below 100,000 by 2015. Figures published last week showed net migration was 250,000 in the year to June.