Minimum income threshold for UK visas under fire
31 July 2017 6:19 PM GMT
Campaigners have threatened a legal challenge against the UK government for failing to act on the Supreme Court's ruling to prevent hardship on children as a result of minimum income requirements for its citizens to bring in their foreign spouses from countries like India.
British citizens must earn more than £18,600 a year before a husband or wife from outside the European Economic Area (EEA), including countries like India, can settle in the UK. This figure rises to £22,400 for couples with a child and then £2,400 more for each additional child.
The rule had been introduced in 2012 to prevent foreign spouses becoming reliant on UK taxpayer supported public funds. A Supreme Court ruling earlier this year had held the rules to be broadly "legitimate" but concluded that the instructions require amendment in relation to the duty of care towards children who may suffer due to a missing parent.
The UK Home Office has now been accused of not doing enough to amend the rules as part of its Statement of Changes introduced earlier this month.
The changes announced by the UK Home Office, set to take effect from Aug 10, allow for consideration of other sources of income and recourse to public funds.
Next Story
