Background
Since 2012, the UK government has put strict conditions, such as financial requirements, on spouses of British Nationals who wish to move to the UK. However, Surinder Singh (see previous blog posts here and here) has effectively opened up an alternative route for those British Nationals and their spouses who do not meet the strict requirements for a Spouse Visa but are willing to relocate to live in another EEA country, with the option of coming back to the UK in the future.
UK Spouse Visa Financial Requirement and Supplement Savings Calculator
As most of you may know by now, the government has introduced a new income requirement for British and settled people wishing to sponsor their non-EU spouse/partner since 2012. This brought the requirement for the British national (sponsor) up to an earning of at least £18,600 per annum, with no third-party sponsorship allowed (you can’t get your rich uncle to stand in for you like old times).
These rules have had a disastrous effect on Brits who are not earning a high income but never less play very important roles contributing to this nation; people such as teaching assistants, care workers, etc., who would not be able to meet this threshold, in fact it is reported that up to 40% of the UK population do not earn this level of money. Continue Reading →
For many, a key step in deciding to visit or move to the UK is to obtain a visa. Unfortunately however, people frequently fail in this quest. Being a knowledgeable and experienced UK immigration solicitor, I have good knowledge of the most common errors that many people make when filing their visa application with the UK immigration authority (UKBA), especially when they decide not to choose reliable assistance (which includes suitability qualified Immigration Lawyers in the UK, or a specialist Human Rights Solicitors). Continue Reading →
Several people have asked me the following questions
“Do you think there will be changes to the rules[Family Immigration Rules on financial Threshold] following the court case. If so, what will happen?”
Well this is my honest opinion. Simple answer is YES! and NO!
Yes! the secretary of state will have to responds, they already have by saying you can still apply even if you don’t meet the finical threshold (see home office website) if the secretary of state failed to consider this courts recommendation then they risk having most of they refusals overturned on appeal on the bases of Article 8 European Conventions on Human Rights . Continue Reading →
High Court has rules on UK family Immigration Rules: Not unlawful but could be Disproportionate.
(MM & Ors v Secretary of State for the Home Department(2013)) – 5 July 2013
Unfortunately the High court in a landmark appeal challenging the new rules as unlawful has in decision by Justice Blake, to the disappointment of many, concluded that the rules were not unlawful.
He, however, he did find that the earnings threshold would amount to a disproportionate interference with family life if combined with one of the four other requirements in the rules – e.g. an inability to supplement a shortfall in income with savings, unless the savings were over £16,000. Continue Reading →