UK: Workers face curb on bringing foreign-born spouses to UK

Workers face curb on bringing foreign-born spouses to UK

Matt Cavanagh, the associate director of the Institute of Public Policy Research, said the proposed changes were not aimed at those living on welfare benefits but could catch anyone on the average wage.

"It isn't unreasonable – particularly in the current economic climate – to ask whether, if someone is destitute or entirely dependent on benefits, they should be allowed to bring in a spouse or partner who is likely to end up in a similar position," he said.

"But introducing an income threshold at £25,700, the level of the national median income, would effectively bar half the population from bringing a spouse or partner from abroad."

Cavanagh said the development was another example of immigration policy being distorted by the net immigration target, adding: "As the MAC report shows, family migration has been falling. But ministers need it to fall faster if they are to hit their target – a target which is slipping further from their grasp because of their inability to control emigration and immigration from the EU.

"We're not talking about people who are destitute or living on benefits, we are talking about people who are working and getting an average wage. If the government goes ahead with this policy, it is likely to be challenged in the courts."

hi,this is confusing me sorry....how does this effect me and wife,wife is USC came to UK in 2010,due for ILR set m in april next year 2012,she is working,and i am disabled on benefits

hi,this is confusing me sorry....how does this effect me and wife,wife is USC came to UK in 2010,due for ILR set m in april next year 2012,she is working,and i am disabled on benefits

The article is about bringing family members in. No news on the ILR front. Might be worth looking at the UKBA site for more info.

It doesn't. It's part of the new proposals on family migration, which have just been consulted on and won't be passed any time soon, if at all.

It doesn't make a lot of sense that they have lowered the miniumum age for spouse visa back to 18, but they are talking about changing the salary requirements....what 18 year old has a salary that high? I'm sure its not impossible but not very likely.

This news has been worrying me a lot though, but thankfully if they did change it, it wouldn't effect me since my boyfriend just got a new job. I hate to say it, but for once, its good news for me.

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/newsarticles/2011/november/30-family-route

It doesn't make a lot of sense that they have lowered the miniumum age for spouse visa back to 18, but they are talking about changing the salary requirements....what 18 year old has a salary that high? I'm sure its not impossible but not very likely.

This news has been worrying me a lot though, but thankfully if they did change it, it wouldn't effect me since my boyfriend just got a new job. I hate to say it, but for once, its good news for me.

The age was lowered because of a lengthy court case, not out of the kindness of their hearts.

The whole point is to essentially discourage poor people from bringing in more poor people, despite whatever their arguments are about benefits usage and burdens on tax payers and blah blah blah. That and to get the migration numbers down before the next election so that the Tories can say "Look! We said we were going to do it and we did!"

Even though your BF may make enough money to meet those levels, it does still affect you. It very much affects you.

I really wish they wouldn't say "the current £5,500 after tax ".  Its 5,500 after tax PLUS HOUSING COSTS, not just 5,500.  It sends out completely the wrong message.

I really wish they wouldn't say "the current £5,500 after tax ".  Its 5,500 after tax PLUS HOUSING COSTS, not just 5,500.  It sends out completely the wrong message.

Agreed! They do say that that excludes housing costs, but the later quote "The current threshold of £5,500 seems low...." does, as you mentioned, send out the wrong message.

I'm engaged to six different women back in the states. To be honest, this rule sounds like a lifesaver.