Changing UK Immigration Policies on Couples-2024

A Closer Look at the Impact of Changing UK Immigration Policies on Couples in 2024

In April 2024, the UK government is increasing the minimum income requirement for British nationals and residents applying to live with an overseas spouse. The annual income threshold will rise sharply from £18,600 to £38,700. This significant change affects those applying for a spouse visa or family visa, making it more challenging for many couples to reunite or live together in the UK.

New Family Visa Requirements for Spouses and Civil Partners

Alongside the income increase, applicants must prove they are:

• Legally married or in a civil partnership
• Planning to live together within six months
• Or have lived together for at least two years

Ministers state that raising the income threshold aims to ensure families can support themselves financially and help reduce record-high immigration numbers.

Real Stories: How UK Immigration Policy Changes Affect Couples

The personal impact of these policy changes is already being felt by many couples across the UK:

• Lee, 24, from Belfast, earns £26,000 as a researcher but worries the new £38,700 rule will prevent him from bringing his Malaysian fiancée, Sarah, to the UK. He says, “This policy has ruined me… It’s breaking apart our dream of starting a family.”
• Josie, a British citizen living in Italy, fears that her husband, a lab assistant earning below £38,700, may never qualify to join her in the UK. She told BBC Radio 5 Live, “It’s pushing us into a situation where visiting the UK will be almost impossible.”
• Cam, 28, after four years of a long-distance marriage, worries that new criteria will block his American wife from joining him in London despite plans to apply for a family visa soon. He says, “Many people will suffer due to this.”

Government Response and Exceptions

A government spokesperson confirmed that the higher income requirement may not apply in exceptional cases where the new rules would cause unreasonably harsh effects for the applicant or their family. Personal resources and benefits may also be considered during the application process.

The government justifies the £38,700 threshold as aligning with average UK salaries and notes it is consistent with minimum income levels for many work visas.

According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the median annual salary for full-time UK employees in April 2023 was £34,963.

Immigration Policy Goals and Wider Impact

The government expects these family visa changes to reduce net migration by 10,000 people annually. Family visas made up 39,000 of net migration until June 2023. The broader immigration reforms aim to reduce net migration by 300,000 overall.

Dr Madeleine Sumption, Director of the Migration Observatory at Oxford University, warns the new income requirement will disproportionately affect:

• British nationals with lower incomes
• Women and younger people with typically lower wages
• Those living outside London and the South East, where salaries tend to be lower

Conclusion: How to Navigate the New UK Spouse Visa Rules

The rising income threshold for spouse visas represents a major barrier for many couples hoping to live together in the UK. The stories of those affected show the real human impact behind these policy changes.

If you need help with a spouse visa application or want to understand how these new immigration rules affect your family, contact Gordon and Thompson Solicitors today. Our experienced immigration team can guide you through the process and assist you in making an application before the new rules take effect.

📞 Call us now on 020 7183 6547
📧 Email: admin@gordonandthompson.com
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