LONDON, March1 2012(AP, Bloomberg): Britain’s government says migrant workers will in the future need to earn at least £35,000 ($56,000) to qualify for a visa permitting them to settle in the United Kingdom.Immigration Minister Damian Green announced on 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.The new rule, to apply from April 2016, will affect those coming to the UK under tier 2 of the country’s points-based migration system, which is for skilled workers with a job offer. The threshold will be waived for people in occupations where there’s a designated shortage of workers and for scientists and researchers. Tier 2 workers will only otherwise be able to stay a maximum of six years in Britain.
