Originally Posted by
Terpe
Aiden,
It's not so much about gross salary.
There really isn't any actual amount stated in the 'immigration rules' that indicate just how much is considered as 'sufficient'. It's up to the sponsor and applicant to prove there is sufficient funding for them to maintain themselves.
Basically, the UKBA will be looking at the amount of money left after any regular non-discretionary expenditure (such as rent or mortgage payments, council tax and secured loans etc)
Just as we all have different levels of salary, everyone also has different levels of non-discretionary expenditure. (eg payments of Child Support would also be considered a non-discretionary expenditure)
Various Immigration Tribunal's have concluded that it would not be appropriate to have immigrant families existing on resources that were less than the 'Income Support Level'.
In principle this means that if it is more likely than not that the total amount of money that the applicant and sponsor will have to live on will be below what the income support level would be for a British family of that size, then it may be appropriate to refuse the application on maintenance and accommodation grounds.
The 'Income Support' rates do vary each tax year - amounts for UK tax year 2011/2012 are £105.95 per week for a couple and £62.33 pounds per week for each dependent child.
Maintenance (sufficient funding) can be proven by reference to both savings and/or regular income. However, most of those who have gone though the Fiance(e) Visa process would advise on also having some savings. It clearly costs quite a bit to cover the costs of Visa Applications, Air fares and supporting settlement in UK. The actual amount of savings should ideally be enough to cover those costs and also to cater for any emergencies.
Your bank statements will normally show your income and your outgoing expenditure. ECO's are not accountants but, if you are generally living within your means and can afford the cost of other consumers joining the household, this should be immediately obvious.
Generally only those people with a salary level that regularly leaves them at a discretionary income close or equal to the equivalent of means-tested benefit might feel the need to make a budget plan to 'signpost' how they can afford to maintain other consumers in the house.
Hope this answers some of your concerns.
At least you can actually start to make some principle calculations.
