am i being cynical?

[bigmac]

with the july 2012 rules----i need an income of £18600 a year to sponsor my partner to join me here on a fiancee visa. that figure being the level at which potential state benefits cease. but she is barred from applying for state benefits anyway !!!!! go figure that one!

then--if we marry--she needs to apply for FLR TWICE and then ILR before she COULD apply for benefits. in that time we would have paid £HOW MUCH ?? in visa fees to get to that point.

even worse--consider the real world of marriages in this country--how many SURVIVE 5 years??.

seems to me the govt has found the perfect cash cow to pay for the cost of running the UKBA===YOU and ME

[grahamw48]

I don't think you'll find many on here disagreeing with you.

[raynaputi]

that's a sad fact for new couples who want to live here together in UK..

[bigmac]

that's a sad fact f

the sad fact is a lot of foreign nationals coming here to marry have got to make sure it lasts the 5 years.

[andy222]

Not europeans though they have freedom of movement.

[raynaputi]

Not europeans though they have freedom of movement.

You're right there andy

[bigmac]

Not europeans though they have freedom of movement.

true--but that works both ways

i just wonder how many marriages in the next 5 years--involving non--EEA immigrants--will fail--and the unlucky partner gets the boot out of the country. but the govt gets to keep all those fat fees.

[andy222]

Thats the point the european would not get booted out of the country.

[andy222]

Not europeans though they have freedom of movement.

true--but that works both ways

i just wonder how many marriages in the next 5 years--involving non--EEA immigrants--will fail--and the unlucky partner gets the boot out of the country. but the govt gets to keep all those fat fees.

I dont know if a survey has been done on failed no eu marriages. But you are right they do keep the fees.

[bigmac]

i just see situations where non EEA partners really do have to make sure their UK partners are kept totally happy with the relationship for those 5 years.
somewhat different to the situation where both partners are Brits.
who needs to divorce--just dont fill out--or PAY FOR the next FLR application.

[lastlid]

i just see situations where non EEA partners really do have to make sure their UK partners are kept totally happy with the relationship for those 5 years.
somewhat different to the situation where both partners are Brits.
who needs to divorce--just dont fill out--or PAY FOR the next FLR application.

An interesting point that you raise.

[Iani]

I completely agree with all........but..........the bit about "having to make sure the relationship lasts the 5 years".
Surely if it's a loving relationship for life - which is what everyone hopes a marriage is - then this having to make it last 5 years bit is no big deal?

If anything, wouldn't we be a bit off if some people used the rules to get someone into the country, then dumped them, and that person got to stay?

Of course, there is the other side of it - the having this uncertainty hanging over you for those 5 years, knowing your stay in the country is "only temporary", and that you eventually have to still fulfil whatever requirements the government of the day decides to throw at you.

The other thing I can see (many others have said this) how someone - lets say the women - ends up in a violent relationship, and she knows she can't leave the scumbag because she may be deported, and it's not maybe as easy as saying "oh just go back then, you'll be free" because she may have left behind and burned her bridges with her homeland - and of course, not every country has laws where previously married women can start their lives again.

But just making a relationship last 5 years - can't see the issue, or am I missing the point?

[Iani]

Oh, sorry I'm shattered after work today - I've just re-read your post and seen this is the point you're making. It covers the abusive relationship bit. Arrrgh need caffeine - or bed - or both.........

[bigmac]

well--my last marriage lasted less than 12 months--bit i'm still counting the cost

[joebloggs]

Thats the point the european would not get booted out of the country.

none European spouse could if the marriage to a European in the UK doesn't last 3yrs ( i think its 3yrs), that was one disadvantage of going the EU route if you could compared to the 2yrs b4 you could get ILR on the spouse visa (before the rule change) as its now 5yrs i dont think there is an advantage going the spouse visa route compared to the EU route.