Are Initial Leave to Enter/FLR/ILR getting easier?
 

I have followed this forum for 10 years now and found it of huge help when my wife was going through all the formalities leading up to Indefinite Leave to Remain, which she acquired five years ago.

I have noticed that recently (certainly starting last year, if not before) there seems to have been a huge decrease in posts and questions about the whole process of bringing a spouse or partner to the UK, with a corresponding increase in the volume of discussion about citizenship by descent and related matters.

I am just wondering out of curiosity if this indicates that the spouse procedures are becoming more user friendly and streamlined, it seems curious that there are so few questions on the subject these days.

Re: Are Initial Leave to Enter/FLR/ILR getting easier?
 

I think that immigration and sponsoring of spouses, families has become more difficult over the years, hence the drop off in applications.
Financial requirements have gone up (from 18,600GBP to a minimum of 29,000 for the sponsor) and also fees have increased.
There is now the push to extend getting ILR from 5 years to 10 years with more interim visa fees to pay.
Overall there is the desire to reduce immigration to the UK as much as possible - the low economic forecast for the UK does not help.

Re: Are Initial Leave to Enter/FLR/ILR getting easier?
 

Very interesting, I had never considered this aspect, and especially the extent to which people are just changing their life plans to avoid locating to the UK. Changed day from when my wife embarked on the journey to ILR back in 2016 !!

Re: Are Initial Leave to Enter/FLR/ILR getting easier?
 

Here's my experience....My OH first applied for a spousal visa back in 1992. The application (paper one back then) was very basic. Filled it in and sent it off with copies of my British passport. No Biometrics, no interview and no NHS contribution. We only had to prove we had £3000 in a bank account. That visa was for one year and after that he got Indefinite Leave to Remain. However circumstances changed and we returned to NZ.
Fast forward to 2023, and we did it all over again. Boy...lots more info required and plenty of ££. Have recently to renewed his visa, so even more ££ 😃

Re: Are Initial Leave to Enter/FLR/ILR getting easier?
 

I think its largely just indicative of the way the internet has changed.

Every country forum on BE is much quieter now, with fewer questions about visa applications. I can't think of any country that has made their immigration system easier or quicker, I'm afraid.
Visas are more expensive. Making the actual move is more expensive. Posters have moved to the likes of facebk groups.

Re: Are Initial Leave to Enter/FLR/ILR getting easier?
 

Had not thought about this.... but, yes, having done a quick search, there are LOTS of Facebook groups on immigration....

Re: Are Initial Leave to Enter/FLR/ILR getting easier?
 

Reddit as well.

Re: Are Initial Leave to Enter/FLR/ILR getting easier?
 

A bit OT, but I'm a member of a couple aimed at immigration to Australia. I find a lot of the content concerning, based on my years on BE. As you'll be aware, on here when people post answers which are misleading, or plain wrong, they are quickly corrected, along with official sources being quoted. The biggest issue I have with a lot of facebk groups is the lack of official links, and frequent posting of blatantly wrong info - which can have serious consequences for people I try and post the official stuff when I can, but many groups don't even allow the posting of links. And often people go with whatever answer gets posted the most - even when its wrong. Not like the good old days on here, at all.

Re: Are Initial Leave to Enter/FLR/ILR getting easier?
 

How worrying..... good that you try and correct their wrong info. The 'no posting of links' would make me think twice about accepting the advise.