New rules for UK family migration

United Kingdom, 18th July: The UK has announced new rules becoming effective from 9th July onwards.

These new UK immigration rules will have a direct effect on those wanting to come to the UK under family migration category and hailing from non-EEA (European Economic Area).

Changed UK family migration rules—So, let us discuss in detail about the changes with regard to UK family immigration category. These are mentioned below—

• New income threshold for sponsorship—New rules mean a new income threshold for offering sponsorship of any non-EEA partner, fiancé or spouse in the UK. New income threshold has been fixed at £18,600.

For those wanting to offer sponsorship to a child, the minimum income criteria now has been raised from £18,600 to £22,400. And sponsorship to each additional child will mean an additional expense of £2,400.

For those having the leave to remain or enter the UK as a partner or spouse of a person already settled in the UK, they will have to meet the requirements effective before 9th July 2012.

• UK’s new immigration rules have also increased the minimum probationary period from two years to five years as a requirement for settlement of partners and spouses from non-EEA. This is aimed to check the genuineness of their relationships, the UK government maintains.

• The UK has also announced ending the ability of immediate settlement available to migrant partners and migrant spouses where any couple has been staying together for a minimum of four years duration.

• The UK has laid down several factors regarding non-genuine and genuine relationships for equipping the UKBA (UK Border Agency) with better decision making.

• Another interesting feature of latest changes includes restricting UK family visitor visa appeals with effect from 19th July 2012. New rules bring a change in the right of UK family visit visa applicants to make an appeal.

From now onwards, all such applicants will have a limited right of appeal on the basis of racial discrimination and human rights.

• Elderly and adult dependants wanting to settle in the UK will now have to show that they need long-term personal care due to their disability, age or any illness and that such care can be offered only by any relative staying in the UK.

Rules will further make it mandatory for them to make an application from abroad than by simply switching to other UK immigration category from within the UK.