By Samantha Jones-
The UK government’s newly proposed migration laws aimed at reducing the annual migrant intake by 300,000 people could result in the separation of families already living in the country, or put pressure on partners to raise their income.
According to No 10, British citizens might see their foreign partners instructed to leave the UK upon visa renewal if their household does not meet the income threshold of £38,700.
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This measure is part of a broader plan to curtail net migration, which reached nearly three-quarters of a million in 2022.
While Downing Street defends the policy, emphasizing the importance of supporting individuals brought into the country, experts argue that the planned crackdown is causing distress for many.
Under the proposed changes announced on Monday, those seeking to bring their spouses to the UK must now earn £38,700- a significant increase from the current threshold of £18,600. Critics have labeled this move as a “tax on love.”
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Former Tory minister Gavin Barwell criticized the policy, stating it was morally wrong and unconservative to imply that only the wealthiest could bring their partners to the UK.
The new income requirement is not only applicable to newcomers but also poses a risk to those already residing in the UK. No 10 clarified that the higher figure might affect individuals when renewing their visas in the future, but the change is not retrospective.
The prime minister’s spokesperson stated, “People always have a set length of time for their visas and will be aware at the conclusion of that visa time that they don’t have a guarantee that they will obviously remain in the country.” The income threshold, unchanged for a decade, is set to come into effect in spring.
There are exemptions to the rule, determined on a case-by-case basis, and No 10 emphasized that the income requirement could be spread across the household.
However, critics argue that these changes would make the UK an outlier among western nations.
Madeleine Sumption, the director of the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford, stated, “This is definitely completely different from what any other high-income country does.” Josephine Whitaker-Yilmaz from the migrant rights organization Praxis expressed concern for families facing “horrible decisions” due to the proposed changes.
The controversial measures are expected to come into effect in spring and will be applicable when existing visas for foreign spouses come up for renewal.
The government has mentioned that there are provisions for exceptional circumstances where refusing an application would lead to unjustifiably harsh consequences for the applicant and their family members.
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