Ahead of an impending change to immigration laws, British citizens who have foreign partners have hurried to apply for visas so their significant other can remain in the country, according to top attorneys. Starting on Thursday, a UK citizen must earn at least £29,000 per year in order to sponsor a family member's visa, up from the previous minimum of £18,600. The amount is expected to increase to £38,700 over the course of the upcoming year as a component of a set of policies intended to reduce net migration from the recently reached record level. Ministers argue that the measure will ensure foreigners who settle in Britain are always able to support themselves financially. But a number of leading immigration lawyers told i the change had prompted confusion among Britons hoping to bring their partners to the UK as well as pushing up the number of applications in the short term. “We have definitely noticed an increase in inquiries,” said Katie Newbury of legal firm Kingsley Napley. “What we have been saying to clients is, even if you are over the threshold now, it may be worth putting in an application in case your circumstances change.” The rules require applicants to show they have consistently met the minimum requirements over a set period of time – meaning that people could move into and out of eligibility at various points. Zeena Luchowa, a partner at law firm Laura Devine, warned of the uncertainty created by this change and multiple other tweaks to the visa requirements made by the Home Office in recent months. She said: “We have noticed a surge in activity in terms of the inquiries coming in, and the nature of the inquiries. Quite concerningly, we have received a number of queries from those who are already in the family route worried that the changes affect them – which they do not.” Labour has suggested it is not planning to reverse the salary threshold changes but some aspects of the Opposition’s migration policy remain unclear.