Egon

That's a good point - thanks. We weren't really banking on it, just something were were considering as we put our application together.

formula

Do you realise that Britain has a minimum wage? I don't know anyone who isn't working in excess of 50 hours per week.

Workers can easily make the new income levels/savings and the disabled are exempt; so the new rules will only affect the other type.

nun

If it's so easy to fulfil the requirements why have them at all? Generally immigration restrictions are the signs of a shrinking economy and dying and fearful country. When those restrictions are extended to the immediate family of UK citizens it's a sign of even deeper issues. Immigration grows an economy it does not hurt it as many in the UK seem to think.

Giantaxe

People who are retired?

Anyway, from what I've read, over 50% of people who are working wouldn't meet the requirements.

formula

If you retire to the UK, your free NHS healthcare when you are old; free travel pass and any other pension benefits, will cost the UK taxpayers a lot more than they receive from those "tourist dollars" you are going spend in London on a few holidays.

TBH I see why you (and lots of others) want free healthcare when you retire if you come from a country where this is tied into employment or additional health cost are paid by you; but I don't understand why so many are happy to pay their working taxes to that country and then expect the UK taxpayer to pay for them when they retire?

If these new immigration laws make you come back and work and pay taxes in the UK before you retire, then that is good for the UK taxpayers.

formula

We have a minumin wage for the low skilled. Everyone can make the income levels; if they could be motivated to.

nun

I really just have a basic issue with restricting the ability of of UK citizens and their immediate family to reside in the UK. Any wage or income level is a direct attack on the tradition rights of UK citizens. On this one I'm with the true conservatives, not those in the Tory party that call themselves conservative, but still like to meddle in our private lives.

Egon

Workers can easily make the new income level can they? Well lots would disagree:

But £18,600 is half again as much as someone would make working 40 hours a week, 52 weeks a year, at the minimum wage. According to the Migration Observatory at Oxford University, 47% of British citizens in employment would not qualify to bring in a family member, nor would 58% of people 20-30 years old, or 61% of women of any age.

And the savings level - do you even know what it is? It's £52,500 if you're relying on savings. That's a figure you think people can get?

A lot of people wanting to bring a spouse back from overseas with them will have trouble lining up work from thousands of miles away no matter how good their chances when they actually get there. Whereas before they'd have offers of accommodation, third party sponsors or employment prospects evaluated as part of their case (along with savings if they had them) now they can only rely on that gargantuan sum. If you really think £52,500 is a figure 'most workers' can acquire them I'm not sure what else there is to say to you.

Egon

OK this is either trolling or idiocy. Either way the forum has a block function for a reason. Bye.

formula

To ensure the sponsor is willing to work and keep their partner, instead of just expecting the taxpayer to continue to keep them (as per the present rules). We have too many able bodied languishing on welfare at the moment. The welfare reform bill will sort those types, but that takes time.

The government made it quite clear that they were going to protect the UK taxpayers and make work pay.

Giantaxe

UK minimum wage is £6.19 per hour. That equates to approx £1050 a month for a 40 hour work week. Even with both partners working that comes to considerably less than the £25.5k needed for a couple with two children and less than that needed for a couple with one child. it's slightly highly than the income level needed for a childless couple. And of course with unemployment over 8% the idea that a intended-immigrant couple could have job offers for two jobs on hand to satisfy the requirements for a family visa is dubious, at best. Fortunately, this won't affect me if I choose to move back to the UK, but the reality is that this is going to trap a lot of UK citizens in a horrible situation.

No mention of retirees I see.

Giantaxe

I agree, which is why I think there should be a bar on means-tested benefits as opposed to a very high income requirement.

nun

Here ends the Daily Mail editorial.

Egon

It's amazing how often people like to say immigrants are sponging off the state when there are plenty of rules in place that stop you from claiming benefits - but nevermind, who needs facts when you can be swayed by the Tories and give them the popular outrage they need to get such vile measures passed.

nun

I agree, the legislation discriminates between UK citizens of differing income levels. A UK citizen should be welcomed back to the UK with their immediate family because they are British, that should be the only criterion. Whether they can or cannot meet an income level or find a job shouldn't be the issue, they are British and should be able to make their life with their family in the UK if they desire. The legislation is anti-British.