{"id":26716,"date":"2023-12-06T08:57:26","date_gmt":"2023-12-06T13:57:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/?p=26716"},"modified":"2023-12-06T08:57:26","modified_gmt":"2023-12-06T13:57:26","slug":"couples-devastated-by-migration-visa-rule-changes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/2023\/12\/06\/couples-devastated-by-migration-visa-rule-changes\/","title":{"rendered":"Couples ‘devastated’ by migration visa rule changes"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n

Couples planning a new life in the UK have been left heartbroken by changes restricting who can apply to live here.<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

From April 2024, British citizens or people already settled in the UK will need to show they earn \u00a338,700 before their overseas partner can live here with them – a sharp jump from the current threshold of \u00a318,600.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

They also still need to show they are in a marriage or civil partnership when they apply for a family visa, intend to be within six months, or that they have been living together for at least two years.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

Ministers say the increased income threshold will help cut immigration levels, which have\u00a0reached record highs in recent years<\/a>, and ensure families can support themselves.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

Lee, 24, from Belfast, told BBC Radio 5 Live: “This policy means that the girl I want to marry, the girl I love…I cannot live with her and it’s destroyed me.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

He had planned to propose to his girlfriend Sarah, who lives in Malaysia, in the coming months. They met in Leeds three years ago, where he was studying engineering and she was studying law.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
\"Lee<\/picture><\/span><\/div>
\n
Lee was planning to pop the question in February next year<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n

 <\/p>\n

The couple were planning a new chapter together in the UK, but Lee said their plans for a family life are “basically destroyed by this”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

Lee earns \u00a326,000 as a researcher in Belfast, and said his chances of earning much more than that at his age and experience level are remote.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

He continued: “I just hate this, all this planning we’ve had and it’s just now all crashing down. Now basically if I want to be with someone I love, I can’t be in this country anymore.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

“My mind has kind of went everywhere, to some very dark places I’ll be honest.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

British citizen Josie lives with her Italian husband in Ancona, Italy. The couple – both scientists – married in December 2020 and were planning on moving to the UK to settle.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

But Josie said the prospect of earning \u00a338,700 as a lab assistant at a British university is highly unlikely, with going-rate salaries routinely below that level.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

Asked what her family’s plan was now, the 33-year-old told 5 Live: “I don’t know, not come back? That would break my mum’s heart. I don’t know, I really don’t know.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

“Basically it’s forcing us into a position that will make it very, very difficult – if not impossible – to come to the UK.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
\"Josie<\/picture><\/span><\/div>
\n
Josie says the new threshold is a ‘crazy’ amount<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n

 <\/p>\n

Cam, 28, told the BBC how he is already looking for a new home in London where his American wife can come and join him after four years of long-distance relationship.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

They were planning to apply for a family visa in March, by which time Cam would have been in his new job long enough to show he has a stable income – but with the new threshold due to come into force from April, they are facing uncertainty over whether their application will make it through in time.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

He told BBC News: “There’s a huge amount of anxiety. This is going to cause a lot of hurt and pain to a lot of people.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

On Tuesday, Rishi Sunak’s spokesman said the new minimum threshold could be disapplied in “exceptional circumstances where there would be unjustifiably harsh consequences for the applicant, their partner, a relevant child or another family member”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

Personal savings and benefits can also be taken into consideration when applicants have to demonstrate how they would be able to support their family, No 10 said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

The government argues the new \u00a338,700 threshold – which is also being introduced as a minimum salary for many migrants seeking work visas – brings it into line with average earnings.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n