The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has published a report on the economic factors relating to sponsoring partners or dependents for UK citizenship. The report suggests, based solely on economic factors, that the minimum salary threshold should be raised by anything between 35-88%.
The suggested threshold would be set between £18,600 and £25,700 (before tax) for a sole applicant. For those wishing to bring in a wife and two children, the minimum threshold would be set between £24,800 and £47,600.
The new threshold will apply to any UK resident or citizen who wishes to sponsor a dependent or partner to come to the UK. This includes British-born citizens.
It is estimated that a salary threshold of £18,600 would reduce settlement through the family route by 45 per cent. A minimum of £25,700 would reduce it by 63 per cent.
The new threshold was suggested in response to the government requesting analysis of the economic issues of burdens on the state benefit system.
In the introduction to the report the MAC are clear to state that ’family migration regulations are not determined by economic factors alone. But it is an economic issue – required family income – that we have been asked to address. On this basis, the present income stipulation is too low. The MAC suggests, instead, a minimum gross income figure to support a two-adult family of between £18,600 and £25,700. We estimate that nearly two thirds of sponsors would not have sufficient gross income to meet the higher of these thresholds. But our analysis suggests that, based on only economic criteria, there is a case for such a benchmark.’
The recommendations contained in this report will proved proscriptive for any a very large number of people looking to bring family members and loved ones to the UK. This will clearly prove very useful for the Conservatives, who are faced with the seemingly impossible target of ‘reducing net migration to the tens of thousands’.
It is significant to note that every recent report by the MAC has been welcomed by the UKBA and all associated recommendations have been accepted. This has lead to the Shortage Occupation List being updated with an estimated 40,000 available places being removed.
As such it would be prudent to assume that the recommendations in the report will be approved in due course and that a new threshold, likely towards the higher end of the proposed range, will be brought into effect.
They announced a change in Family migration policies over this last winter, they were supposed to set the financial minimum this April! We were set to be married Friday the 13th on April but had to reschedule our wedding to the end of march to make the possible deadline. Then they announced that the minimum would be 25,000 GBP, and would be enacted by June. The first announcement was made in Dec. 2011. They also will be removing external sponsorship completely, as they want to crack down on migration numbers by the thousands, since England is going through a recession. Your best chance is getting the Fiancé Visa sooner rather than later, I would recommend even marrying in the states, and a Fiancé Visa + Spousal Visa together will cost you at least 2,700 USD in just fees alone. If you need any more advice, please don’t hesitate to ask me.
Thank you so much! When did you guys apply? I wish you the best of luck as the waiting can just be hell! Just stay positive and stay busy!
So many things have happened in the past..nearly two weeks now. But one thing that did happen is that the last hurdle between the physical distance of me and Sanjay is over. I can breathe now, I can sleep now, I can go home now. I have spend maddening nights without sleep worrying about my spouse visa, and it was horrible always thinking ’ these 6 months are going to be the last few 6 months physically together for years ’ but NO! Our case was approved! My visa was issued! I have full entry clearance in and out of the UK, I don’t have to ever worry about the time limit or anything like that anymore! I officially live in the UK! I don’t have to ever be away from my husband! I am so happy. This is the last hurdle for any couples going through international long distance relationships.
So to any International Long distance couples, please don’t hesitate to ask me about visa questions, I can help you with whatever I can, and if not I can for sure, point you in the direction of someone who can. No matter what the movies tell you, you can’t gain multiple entry clearance on love alone, or if you just have an ordinary 9-5 job. You need to get everything done properly, and it takes a long time and even more money, but it is so worth it. So Please, don’t hesitate to ask me any questions, no matter how simple or complicated.
Aaaand, To the couples that are long distance within the same country. Please remember you will never have to go through with immigration in airports, worrying about being rejected by immigration officers, sent back home after 12 hours of flying, visas, paying consulates thousands of USD$’s, getting your fingerprints taken at some random town 4 hours away, wait 4 days for an ECO to send back your passport, and most importantly, if you want to move in with your significant other, you have no legal force trying to keep you apart. DO NOT TAKE THAT FOR GRANTED. I know someone who is 8-9 hours away is still at a long distance, but remember even when it gets really difficult, someone out there has it even tougher, and be strong.
Sometimes I find it really hard to stay positive when the weight of my own heavy fearful thoughts consume me. I get anxious, worried and overwhelmed when I shouldn’t be, I have this absurd fear that everything that makes me happy is limited, and I am too fucking full of myself to reach out for comfort. I want to be strong so I keep it all to myself, I am the cause of my own anxiety because of the way I worry too much, so it’s my problem to deal with, and it is selfish of me to spread my negative thinking to others, so I keep it to myself. I am happy, but in the back of my head I am fearful that my happiness can be taken from me. I could let go, relax, and just enjoy myself, but if things don’t turn out as I’d hope them to and I’m left waiting, I would be unprepared. I have to brace myself, in case of the worst news, yet savour every moment I’ve got and stay strong and positive. It’s sometimes hard to keep a balance, and I teeter to one side of the scale when more weight is added. I seem to sometimes wind up feeling defeated and overwhelmed, and then just keeping it to myself, it’s just so stupid and petty of me to get negative. What I need most right now is just to lift this heavy feeling of worry off my shoulders, and be patient, because I will know how the next year of my life will be spent, based on the decision of one immigration officer. It’s an absolutely frightening prospect, I want this to all be over so I can finally be at peace and go home. I have finally found where I belong and want to be, and who I belong and want to be with. I have done everything I possibly can to influence our case to our favour, but I still can’t help but constantly fear the worst results. I wish that someone could just relate to my situation, but not many people could relate to it. I just want to go home in April, and with my husband. I don’t want to be away from him and my home. I just want to be happy. But I should be happy with knowing that this is the final hurdle, and once it’s over, let it be in 5 weeks or 5 months, it will be overcome, and crying and franticly worried about it is no use, but I just can’t help it sometimes.
Fuck immigration laws.
A M O R V I N C I T O M N I A
Since the day I have met you, I have known you are the one for me. Since that first night when I fell asleep next to that adorable boy’s breathing through my headphones, welcoming sleep, where I could dream of what it would be like to lay next to you, and the deep longing, and pining for your touch was all I had, to now, not even being able to imagine what it would be like to not have my man’s arms around me, or going a day without kissing him, seeing those eyes in front of me and holding your hands. We have come so far from those moments, where everything was just a wish, and a dream, a longing, something that seemed so far away. In all of my life nobody has ever understood me, and you do. Through every frustrating day or happy day, you were there with me, as close as I could have you. Always just a simple message away, always eager to respond. Through all the bad days where I missed you so badly, all I could do was just cry. You were there to comfort me, and I knew you were missing me just as much. No matter when it was, or whatever hour of the day or night, you were there. Always there. Always giving me nothing but love and reassurance, never any doubt or despondency. You were and still, are such a strong and powerful person to me. My enduring anchor, always constant, stable, and secure. Never straying, and always constant. You helped me realize how I am strong, as well. We had once ached for each other so much, happy hearts with heavy weights on tangled strings. And no matter what we needed to do and how long we had to wait, together we overcame our distance, closed the gap, and made our once “dream” into something real. No matter what anyone did or said, we ended up in each others arms where we belonged. Those first days of being with you was like the clouds leaving the sky after a hurricane. Everything in it’s right place. It just reassured me how much I needed you in my life, and how you fit with me, in every way. I wanted everyone to know how much I love you. I wanted to express it in every way. Seeing you go, was the hardest thing I’ve done. You and Alex were right though, it was never a goodbye, it was just a ’ See you Later ’ I will hate airports forever now because of this. When you left, you took my heart back to England with you. It belonged to you. But it was okay, because you left all your love with me in Boston to keep with me. Spending months without you was so difficult, and painful, but I never once doubted you. Because I know who you are to me. My best friend, my lover, the most handsome man I’ve ever laid eyes on. You are my soulmate. The love of my life, and everything I have ever wanted. You complete me. You make me happy. I love you. So I waited, with you, through all those months and we fought hard to figure out how to overcome the obstacles of us having to be together. We fought the world, the odds, other people, but never once each other. Having you back, and being able to be enveloped in your arms was a moment I will never forget. Yes, I’ll admit I was a bit scared of picking up my life and going off to England and first, only because fear of the unknown is mans biggest fear. But you always reassured me and made sure I was okay, and I knew I’d be fine as long as I was with you. So by the time our lane landed in Paris, any worries I had were gone. Since then you and I have been able to forge our lives together, live, and be happy, this has been the best year of my entire life. It’s the year I got to you. Every moment we share is so absolutely precious to me. I have only loved you more and more each day that passes. From that day so long ago where we stumbled into each other, blundering through our lives looking for something we thought we could never find, to now, where we’ve found everything we’ve ever wanted, and the future has never been more clear..I have loved you. My heart has always loved you. Our love will always be stronger than anything that could ever come our way. That’s what I know is more true than anything.
Love Overcomes All.
I love you, Sanjay.
I’m glad it gives you hope! It’s so hard especially dealing with different countries. But it’s a definitely doable and reasonable thing to maintain. There’s people like me, who are always there to help and support you. :) LDR’s are hard but Transatlantic LDR’s are generally the most difficult to sort out. ( Legally, and fiscally ) But It’s been done and can be done! I really wish you the best, and keep you chin up and stay strong, and if you ever need support I’m always here!
It has alot to do with trust. To be able to trust someone completely and never worry or be jealous while you’re apart is important. If you don’t have that trust between two people it won’t work if you’re 5 miles away or 5,000 Miles away.
