Q: Can you please tell me what the new changes to the family migration route entails and when it will be imposed?
A: Yes, the UK Home Office has announced changes to the UK immigration rules that will affect non-EEA nationals applying to enter or remain in the UK on the family migration route.
The changes will apply to new applicants from 9 July 2012 and include inter alia the following;
A new minimum income threshold of £18,600 will be introduced to sponsor the settlement of a non-EEA spouse, partner, fiancé, proposed civil partner. This threshold will increase for any children sponsored, to the amount of £22,400 for one child and an additional £2,400 for each further child.
The minimum probationary period for settlement for non-EEA spouses and partners will be increased from the current two years to five years in order to test the genuineness of the relationship.
The route to immediate settlement, for migrant spouses and partners where a couple have been living together overseas for at least four years, will be abolished.
In the light of these stringent new measures that are coming into effect soon, BIC would like to advise all clients who want to make use of the family migration route, to do so as soon as possible in order to avoid these stringent new immigration measures.
JP Breytenbach
Director of Breytenbachs Immigration Consultants Limited
www.bic-immigration.com or info@bic-immigration.com