Spouse visa "maintenance funds" please help..

[Arthur Little]

hello, im planning to bring my filipino wife here to the UK with me on a spouse visa.. i work full time as a care assistant it is a low income though i have no debts and i have current savings of £3000.. my wife will also have around that same amount 3-4k.. would that be sufficient enough for the visa to be approved.. would appreciate your help, thanks

I believe that the government are to introduce a new minimum income requirement for anyone sponsoring their loved one to join them in the UK.. I believe the figure is around £18-£25k a year.. surely this will exclude the majority of applicants and must be a breach of human rights..

, Robert ... to the filipino/uk forum. I have merged your second thread with your introductory one - since BOTH relate to the same subject - and the respective responses to each follow in sequence.

[Arthur Little]

is this just guidelines or will these new regulations come into force? nothing but a disgrace.

Yes ... as of NOW, that is exactly what they ARE ... proposed guidelines - no more ... no less - but it would be naive of me - or anyone else - to believe the Government won't do its utmost to introduce SOME form of legislation (however unpopular it might be with the likes of people like US) as a means of curbing *immigration levels while (forgive my cynicism) simultaneously using it as a ploy to gain the kudos [and hence votes] of a MASSIVE majority of the British electorate who are keen to see *these drastically controlled.

Having said that, it IS a disgrace!

..how can the government possibly do this, surely this is a breach of peoples human rights

... so you would THINK! But successive governments have proved themselves more than capable of making it increasingly difficult for those of us who've been in your position in the past. And as for Human Rights ... ... well ... you've read what's already been mentioned on that score!

yes ive done that.. just can't believe this is happening, very upset and has added more stress.

I'm glad you've signed the petition. Whether this is likely to "cut much ice" with a determined government remains to be seen ... but it's worth a damned good try!

[Robert86]

hello and thanks for your reply Arthur, much appreciated... at the moment i think the threshold is at just over 5k a year, if they were to double that to 10k i think the majority of us all would be ok.. but 18-25k is just ridiculous..

[Arthur Little]

hello and thanks for your reply Arthur, much appreciated...

... it's MY pleasure Robert. I have a great deal of admiration for careworkers like yourself who put so much time and energy into a damned difficult and demanding job! And for precious little (financially) in return ... when compared to say, glorified penpushers. Just wish my reply could've been more positive.

at the moment i think the threshold is at just over 5k a year, if they were to double that to 10k i think the majority of us all would be ok.. but 18-25k is just ridiculous..

I'd be inclined to go along with your calculations as things stand. But 18-25k IS downright OUTRAGEOUS! Being a State Pensioner, there are few on here better aware of that than I !

try NOT to allow yourself to become over~stressed by it all; the majority of us have been "through the mill" and are always on hand to give support wherever we can.

[Arthur Little]

Oh ... and these savings of yours will be a definite boost to your cause ... believe me!

[grahamw48]

Arthur, I've given you rep because you are such a kind gentleman.

[Arthur Little]

Arthur, I've given you rep because you are such a kind gentleman.

That's really nice of you to say so, Graham ... , for your kind & thoughtful gesture, which - as always - is very much appreciated.

[grahamw48]

Trouble is.....it says I have to give somebody else rep first.

Volunteers ?

[Arthur Little]

Trouble is.....it says I have to give somebody else rep first.

Ah ... I realised what had happened when scouting around [in vain] looking for that elusive fifth light green blob. But the thought was there, Graham ... and it's the THOUGHT that counts! I'd remembered you'd previously given me rep as recently as last month - which was WHY you would've received the pop~up message worded to the effect that 'you needed to spread reputation around before giving it to me again'. Sincere thanks, anyway.

Plans of MINE to award someone rep have been thwarted a few times in the past for this same reason.

[Arthur Little]

Volunteers ?

INDEED ... all "donations" graciously accepted!!!

[grahamw48]

Thanks Arthur...will repay you at the first opportunity mate.

[lastlid]

Also another potential change in the pipeline is a raising of the level required on the English Language Test to level B1 from A1. And maybe a more stringent requirement on evidence to prove that ones marriage is genuine:

" : defining more clearly what constitutes a genuine and continuing marriage, to help identify sham and forced marriages;

: introducing a new minimum income threshold for sponsors of partners and dependents, to ensure that family migrants are adequately supported as a basis for integration;

: extending the probationary period before partners can apply for settlement in the UK from 2 years to 5 years, to test that relationships are genuine and to encourage integration into British life;

: requiring partners and adult dependents aged under 65 to demonstrate that they can understand everyday English (B1 level on the Common European Framework for Languages) when they apply for settlement; "

[grahamw48]

Other than language, I fail to see what any of the other requirements have to do with 'integrating'.
What a lot of bull.

[Robert86]

thats nice of you, you sound like a gentleman.. thank you for you advice and support !

[Robert86]

the majority of filipinos can speak better english than the majority of europeans for sure!!

[grahamw48]

That is soooo true !

[Arthur Little]

the majority of filipinos can speak better english than the majority of europeans for sure!!

... speak AND write!

[Arthur Little]

That's what really "gets MY goat" ... our Government applying these inane tests to a people who've grown up in a country where ALL schools - from the Elementary grades upwards - use the English Language as their medium of instruction!

[grahamw48]

Exactly what I was saying....tarring everyone with the same brush.

In other words assuming that the average Filipino immigrant has the same grasp of English as a 60 year-old grandma from a mud hut in Pakistan.

[lastlid]

That's what really "gets MY goat" ... our Government applying these inane tests to a people who've grown up in a country where ALL schools - from the Elementary grades upwards - use the English Language as their medium of instruction!

Yep. My wife's 4 year old nephew is taught in English at his school in Cavite.

[Robert86]

Hello guys, got some good news.. I emailed Prof Metcalfe (Chairman of the MAC Migration Committee) i told him in my email my concerns that this could affect me greatly.. i got a reply just today from his secretary, this is what it read, Dr Mr Mcclure,

Professor Metcalf has asked me to reply on his behalf. The MAC report related to a specific economic question. It also acknowledged that there are moral, social and legal dimensions to family migration. The MAC is an advisory body only. The Government is free to decide whether or not to implement the range set out by the MAC, and to date there has been no announcement of a decision...

so that is some good news, that maybe it might not be implemented and that there is other factors.. not just economics .

[stevie c]

Hi Rob at least that is some encouraging news.

[Robert86]

actually im surprised i even got a reply lol.. like it said in their reply, it is only an advisory body, they understand that there is other issues such moral, social and legal issues to consider.. so fingers crossed we will all be ok and this doesn't affect us.

[stevie c]

Thanks for the info Rob i have my fingers crossed already.

[Robert86]

ive got my legs crossed, balls n all lol

[Robert86]

Stevie you are already married? how long have you been married for? when do uz plan to apply for the spouse visa?

[stevie c]

Rob yes im already married my wife is here in the uk on a spouse visa since november 2010.

My wife will be applying for ILR in october.

[stevie c]

ive got my legs crossed, balls n all lol

[Robert86]

happy days! where abouts in the UK you from? how does your wife find living here? im going to the Philippines on the 16th march.. can't wait.. will be there for 3 weeks and 4 days..

[stevie c]

happy days! where abouts in the UK you from? how does your wife find living here? im going to the Philippines on the 16th march.. can't wait.. will be there for 3 weeks and 4 days..

Im from Essex.

Florsel finds life in the uk great she settled in very quickly & certainly surprised me in how quickly she settled in.

Good luck with your wedding im sure everything will go according to plan.

Me & Florsel will be going back to the phils in june for 3 1/2 weeks.