Some Settlement Visa Applications put on hold

In July 2013, the High Court made a judgement that although the income requirements set by the Home Office were not illegal, they were unreasonably high and as the court stated, ‘unjustified and disproportionate’. The Home Office has challenged this verdict. The appeal is set to be  heard between the 3rd and 5th of March 2014.

The current financial requirement in place for UK partner, spouse and marriage visas under the settlement policy is an income of £18,600 per year for couples with no children. The main reason for the disapproval of the High Court was that this figure is approximately £5000 more than the average income of a UK resident. There are also additiional income requirements for those wishing to bring children and other dependents into the UK, which resulted in the UK marriage visa process being viewed as an impossible barrier to cross to bringing a foreign family member or partner to the UK.

As this is an ongoing legal issue, UK Border Agency (UK Visas & Immigration) has decided that those settlement visa applications which would otherwise be declined on account of the income threshold alone will be put on hold until the matter has been resolved. 

UK fiancee and marriage visa applications which attract a refusal on other non-income threshold related grounds will still be refused, while UK partner visa applications which meet all of the requirements will still be granted under the current UKBA policy.

Married to an European National?

The UKBA is clamping down on these marriages in the last couple months and ONE mistake on your application forms and the marriage can be viewed as FALSE and your visa/residence permit will be denied.

If you are married to an European national or getting married to an European national, we can assist and represent you in filing the correct papers for your spouse visa/residence permit.

Additionally, if you were married to a European national and have become divorced. New UKBA rules now allow husbands and wives of European nationals to live here permanently if you have lived with your European partner for at least one year.

Please schedule an appointment with us now so we can assist you in filling out the correct documents and represent on your behalf.

Email
britishvisas@gmail.com

Telephone
+44 794047 6082 - (text messages accepted)