5.2. Category B: Less than 6 months with current employer or variable salary
5.2.1. This category is used where the applicant’s partner (and/or the applicant if they are in the UK with permission to work) is in salaried employment at the point of application and has not been with the same employer and earning the salary level relied upon for at least the last 6 months. It can therefore be used by those who have been with their current employer for less than 6 months, or who have been with their current employer for at least 6 months but earning a variable salary and wish to be considered in this category rather than under Category A.
5.2.2.Under Category B, the financial requirement must be met and evidenced in two parts.
5.2.3. First, where the applicant’s partner and/or the applicant (if they are in the UK with permission to work) is in salaried employment at the date of application and has been with the same employer or earning the amount relied upon for less than the last 6 months, the applicant can count the gross annual salary at the date of application towards the financial requirement.
5.2.4.If necessary to meet the level of the financial requirement applicable to the application, the applicant can add to this:
- The gross amount of any specified non-employment income received by the applicant’s partner, the applicant or both jointly in the 12 months prior to the application, provided they continue to own the relevant asset (e.g. property, interest from shares) at the date of application;
- An amount based on the cash savings above £16,000 held by the applicant’s partner, the applicant or both jointly for at least the 6 months prior to the application and under their control. At the entry clearance/initial leave to remain stage and the further leave stage, the amount above £16,000 must be divided by 2.5 (to reflect the 2.5 year or 30-month period before the applicant will have to make a further application) to give the amount which can be added to income. At the indefinite leave to remain stage, the whole of the amount above £16,000 can be added to income; and/or
- The gross annual income from any State (UK or foreign) or private pension received by the applicant’s partner or the applicant.
5.2.5.Second, the couple must in addition have received in the 12 months prior to the application the level of income required to meet the financial requirement applicable to them, based on:
- The gross salaried employment income of the applicant’s partner (in the UK or overseas) and/or the applicant (if they are in the UK with permission to work);
- The gross amount of any specified non-employment income received by the applicant’s partner, the applicant or both jointly; and/or
The gross amount of any State (UK or foreign) or private pension received by the applicant’s partner or the applicant.
5.2.6.The assessment of the financial requirement will therefore be based on:
(1) The gross annual salary from salaried employment at the date of application. This source can be combined with Category C: non-employment income, Category D: cash savings and Category E: pension; and
(2) The actual gross income received from all salaried employment in the 12 months prior to the application. This can be combined with the actual gross income received from Category C: non-employment income and Category E: pension over the same 12-month period. Cash savings cannot be used for (2).