roaringmouse

When were you planning on moving to the UK?

brissybee

Start of 2014 was the plan.

roaringmouse

Not looking good then. Start of 2013 you could do under current rules, but not much later than that.

ozzieeagle

Whats the rules on your long term partners getting UK passports, especially considering their kids are automatically UK citiziens ?

I was considering spending about 4/5months of the year, each year if possible on retirement in the UK does this ruling affect that option ?.... Well Europe somewhere at least. ?

My knee jerk reaction at present, and I've only seen this news for 30 mins, is to try and renounce. UK citizenship..... Stuff erm. I'll probably get over that though. Cheeky buggers having a dig at my Wife.



They're probably doing you a hidden favour Brissy

brissybee

But I don't want to get divorced.

ozzieeagle

LOL.... I meant having to stay with your partner in Aus.

I'm confused, I think it comes down to the individual circumstances upon reflection. Are they going to take my Australian Assets into account.... If so I probably wont have a problem. You probably wont either if it's based on your current assets ?

For instance....The Aus Pension isnt that far short of 25K for a couple. I think that would be payable in the UK.

Best prepare your ole man to become a UK citizen, then you wont have to worry about this crap.

Have fun doing that

ozzieeagle

At current rates the Aus Pension pays 18,900 pounds plus for a couple. So you would only have to find 8K maximum out of your private super.

So not anywhere near as bad as first reads. Most Aus retirement couples can find that.... Easiest way out is to have your partner take out UK citizenship and negate these rules.

If you think about it, you wouldnt want to live in the UK on anything less than 25K.... otherwise you'd be taking a major hit in living standards.

I'm pretty miffed about the attack on my wifes and I status though.

I guess the Aussies and other Countries will reciprocate now.

roaringmouse

Currently visitors who don't require visas can stay in the UK for up to 6 months as a tourist as long as they can show they have financial provision for their intended stay. Might be an option for you & your wife, although you may get questioned a bit at border control if/when they notice.

brissybee

Don't know if it's that easy, is it?

He's got a pommy wife and a masters n all but I don't think that means he can just get citizenship, does it?

roaringmouse

Someone married to a British citizen currently needs to be resident for the 3 years immediately before applying, including being in the UK on the day 3 years before applying. There's also a maximum absence from the UK of 270 days, and they need to have ILR on the day they apply.

For those not married to a British citizen the residency requirement for citizenship is 5 years with a higher allowable absence, and they need to have ILR for a period of time (1 year? maybe, not sure).

civilservant

That's total crap. Perhaps in London, but down here in the South West the average wage is around 18k, and the prices reflect that. Pretty typical of this government to think that we all earn London wages.

ozzieeagle

Isn't this legislation aimed at couples and thereby joint minimum incomes ?

Is it possible to live as a couple in the SW on 18K ?

You would really struggle anywhere in Aus on that amount of money..... I've been out of the UK for 30 years plus so I really dont know the UK financial needs.

dunroving

These questions are very difficult to answer. It depends on whether you are mortgage-free, how many children you have, and what standard of living you expect.

Much was made recently about a suggestion that no family on benefits should earn more than the average wage - which I think was reported as being somewhere in the mid-20k's. I was surprised at the outrage in response to this.

There are plenty of people living on 18k a year, though I'd guess that most of these are retirees who are mortgage-free.

civilservant

I don't have a mortgage, but I do have rent to pay and all the associated bills. I earn 23,500 in the SW. With that I rent a 2 bedroom house, cover all bills and money left over to do things. I could easily support my wife not working - but I wouldn't be eligible under the new rules. I agree with raised the threshold, but it needs to be regional. We dont all live in ultra expensive areas.

Im not arguing for 18k, because I do think it would be a struggle. But 25k is too high.

just_jenn

My parents live in Lincolnshire on around 16-18K. They have a mortgage (though it's nearly complete so the price of the house wasn't as high as today's standards) and while they're not rolling in spare cash, they do have a good life; They have a new car every three years, go on holiday twice a year and enjoy spoiling their grandkids

One of my biggest arguments with the Immigration Minister was that there should be some sort of regional weighting. Don't know what it's like in London but in Lincoln I've seen graduate jobs advertised starting as low as 18,000 with the average being around 21-22,000...which is a long way off Theresa May's thresholds! I think I pointed out previously that DH and I will live well in Lincoln on my salary but we'd be a lot worse off if we'd had to move to London and get a job that met the thresholds but got eaten up in increased living costs.