According to the home secretary, a British citizen who wishes to bring a family member into the country must earn at least £38,700 annually.
The UK Home Secretary, James Cleverly, recently announced new family visa regulations, which have caused concern among international families. It is anticipated that the proposed changes, which are scheduled to go into effect in the spring of next year, will make it more difficult for people in the UK to live with their foreign partners.
Currently, regulations from the Home Office state that anyone bringing a spouse, partner, or child from abroad needs to prove they have the resources to support them. As of right now, the first child costs £3,800, and each additional child costs £2,400. The minimum gross annual income requirement is £18,600. Savings of more than £16,000 in cash can also count towards fulfilling these requirements.
In contrast, a 2020 evaluation of 56 nations found that the UK had the second-most restrictive policies, only behind Denmark. According to estimates from the Children’s Commissioner for England, 15,000 or so British children are growing up in “Skype families” because their parents are unable to live together.
The impending shift is due to the minimum earnings threshold—which was established in 2012—jumping significantly from the current £18,600 to £38,700. The new threshold is higher than the full-time median average salary. Though it’s unclear why the same amount applies to families and couples, it’s interesting that it’s the same as the bar required for skilled workers to obtain a visa.
The fact that foreign nationals’ income is only taken into account if it is earned within the UK—a requirement that is not satisfied by employment abroad—is one noteworthy feature of the current immigration regulations.
These modifications have a significant potential impact. In the year that concluded in September 2023, 82,395 family-related visas were granted, with the US, Pakistan, and India being the most popular countries of origin. Most of these visas were for partners, but some were for children as well. Based on an analysis by The Guardian, it is possible that over 60% of applicants will be affected by the new threshold due to their inability to meet the increased income requirement. 75% of UK citizens meet the criteria to bring family members from abroad below the current threshold.
As international families struggle against these stringent regulations, the wider effects on family dynamics and reunification remain a topic of discussion and concern.
