Victim of a rash immigration policy

[Arthur Little]

It's his fault..

Possibly. ... but even so, I sympathise because, unless people happen to be members of a site like ours, they're unlikely to give much thought to the seemingly endless updates on Immigration policy - the more especially in cases such as the one involving this unfortunate couple - where the husband's concentration had [understandably] been focussed on his doctoral studies (which, in time, would render him even more of an asset to his adopted country, don't forget!) while the wife (through no fault of hers) was required to temporarily relnquish her own job in order to deal with family illness ... itself a source of untold stress ... resulting in an unforeseen - yet significant - loss of household income.

[lastlid]

Possibly. ... but even so, I sympathise because, unless people happen to be members of a site like ours, they're unlikely to give much thought to the seemingly endless updates on Immigration policy - the more especially in cases such as the one involving this unfortunate couple - where the husband's concentration had [understandably] been focussed on his doctoral studies (which, in time, would render him even more of an asset to his adopted country, don't forget!) while the wife (through no fault of hers) was required to temporarily relnquish her own job in order to deal with family illness ... itself a source of untold stress ... resulting in an unforeseen - yet significant - loss of household income.

I think you are right. Many people don't use a forum such as this or use an Immigration agent either. They just go for it on their own. We have come across a good number of filipina Brit couples who have used neither. In some cases they have just gone on word of mouth amongst friends and relatives. In most cases they succeed.

My ex work colleague from Cuba used neither, but without any problems along the way. And this chap in the link has possibly been blissfully unaware of the changing requirements and got caught out.