The recent increase in the minimum income threshold for UK family visa has sparked widespread concern among campaigners, families and MPs alike. As of April 2024, British citizens or settled residents must now earn at least £29,000 to sponsor their partner’s visa, a significant jump from the previous requirement of £18,600. Critics argue that this “tax on love” is creating a barrier for families seeking to build their lives in the UK, leaving children and couples facing prolonged separation.
Families and Children: The Emotional Toll
Campaigners, including Bristol-based activist Caroline Coombs, highlight the devastating emotional impact this policy has on children. Describing the situation as “cruel,” Ms Coombs notes that children separated from one parent due to these rules often experience stress, anxiety and loneliness.
Reunite Families UK, an organisation advocating for more accessible family migration pathways, has shared findings from interviews with children directly affected by the policy. These children are reportedly bearing the brunt of a system that prioritises financial thresholds over family unity.
Voices from the Community
Kayleigh Thys, a trainee science teacher from Bristol, and her Belgian husband, Sander, offer a personal perspective on the challenges posed by these rules. Despite Sander securing a job offer in the UK, he was unable to qualify for a Skilled Worker Visa due to salary requirements. The couple rushed to marry and apply for a family visa before the income threshold rose, transforming what should have been a joyous occasion into a stressful race against policy changes.
Kayleigh argues that the system unfairly restricts individuals in certain professions, such as teaching and charity work, where salaries may not meet the new requirements. Furthermore, the policy does not allow couples to combine their incomes, even if both partners are employed. “The policy overlooks accomplished and hardworking individuals who enrich British society,” she said.
The Political Debate
The issue has gained attention in Parliament, with over 100,000 people signing a petition against the increased income threshold. Bristol Central MP and Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer called for the income requirements to be scrapped entirely. “This is a tax on love, a policy that discriminates against people based on who they love and how much money they make,” she stated.
On Monday, 20 January 2025, MPs debated the petition, which had more than 101,000 signatures, calling for the Government not to increase the threshold further to £38,700. Irene Campbell MP, a member of the Petitions Committee, opened the debate, allowing MPs from all parties to participate. While petition debates do not conclude with a vote, they provided an important opportunity for MPs to put concerns to Government Ministers and demand answers.
The Labour government has commissioned an independent review of the minimum income requirement for UK family visa, and campaigners like Caroline Coombs hope it will bring much needed change to a system often described as one of the most restrictive in the world.
Critics argue that prioritising economic metrics over family unity disregards the emotional and social toll of separation. Ultimately, the true cost of these rules is not measured in pounds and pence, but in the lives of families kept apart, an issue that continues to draw both national and international attention.
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