The Home Office says a system is in place to help families negatively affected by the minimum income requirement, but migrant charities argue that caseworkers don’t have the experience needed to process the claims.
The rules state that non-EEA spouses of British citizens can join their partners in the UK if they collectively earn at least £18,600 per year. The minimum income increases by £3,800 for the first child, and £2,400 for each one thereafter. Even before the outbreak of COVID-19, the rule attracted criticism from migrant charities, who argued that a fluctuation in a family’s financial circumstances could lead to disastrous consequences.
The rule can make immigration to the UK hugely difficult, as earnings outside the UK and future job offers are not taken into consideration when a Spouse Visa application is processed. The Covid-19 crisis has really brought the issue into focus, though, because of the widespread effect on the economy and its effect on the lowest paid in society. Many families have now suffered severe losses of income because of the Coronavirus lockdowns and have dropped below the earnings threshold.
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