On July 8, 2012, the UK Border Agency (UKBA) instituted strict immigration laws that have made it extremely difficult for UK citizens to bring to the UK their foreign-born spouses. If the sponsor (the British citizen) is outside the UK, then they must have had employment for the past 6 months earning at least 18,600 pounds, and also must have employment lined up in the UK as well earning that much. Their spouse cannot be the one to have work in the UK. In fact, if the foreign spouse has a job waiting in the UK, but the sponsor does not, then technically under the new immigration law the visa application will be denied.
However, if the couple does not have employment waiting for them in the UK, then they must have accumulated at least 62,500 pounds, and they must have had that amount in a bank account for at least 6 months. If the couple do have jobs in the UK, but earn less than 18600, then they may make up for this discrepancy in savings. You must take the discrepancy and multiply that amount by 2.5, and then add that total to 16,000. So, if the couple earn 16,000 pounds, then there will be a 2600 pound discrepancy. Multiply 2600 by 2.5, and you will get 6500 pounds. Add 6500 to 16000, and the couple will need to have 22500 pounds in savings.
This will most certainly curb immigration to the UK substantially. Another rule change is that no longer can a couple be sponsored by a family member in or outside of the UK. No longer may young couples use their parents for support- something that so many LEGAL UK citizens do on a daily basis. It seems that these rules will meet their desired goal, but at what cost? How many talented young people will the UK lose due to the fact that they cannot use their parents as sponsors in order to begin their careers, not to mention the heinous savings expectations that very few young people will be able to meet.
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| A long lasting friendship that could be severed for future generations due to harsh immigration changes in the UK. |
I am certainly aware that the UK does have some immigration issues, and certainly there was long overdue need for tighter measures. But why did the UK target such young people that could potentially provide a boost to the workforce and to the economy? With the large amount of illegal immigrants filtering through the UK each day, it is amazing that the UK did not crack down on those already in the country illegally, instead of unfairly targeting those who seek to enter legally and correctly. Will there be a backlash to these, quite frankly, ageist policies? I can imagine scores of young families being separated for extended periods of time, as well as young couples currently living outside of the country who will have no way to return to friends and loved ones. Indeed, if my wife (who is British) were to need to move back to the UK, under these new rules I would be unable to go with her, putting a strain on our young marriage. It is certainly a sad situation, and I can only hope that the UKBA will change its policies to address illegal, not legal immigration.
Rule #14 for Breaking into the Field of International Education: Be aware of immigration issues across the world.
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/zack-wright/49/b26/265
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