I don't like the Visa fees but if you don't agree with them use the democratic process and vote agaisnt the parties which want them.
That or like most of us debated between their loved one and themself move to phill or a third country where it would be easier and cheaper for the two of you to settle.

Having gone though the process and had to make sure that the bank balance looked decent. I thought it was outragous but now i see it makes sense, having a 2k surplus to support a person who needs to bulid a new life in the UK is probably on the low side. Not to have that money would be unfair on the two of you.

Although i know the uk citzen/resident spouse can claim but the visa holding spouse can't, i wouldn't want to have to rely on what i might be able to claim to support three people. For those planning to apply make sure you have decent savings, jobs will be far harder next year to find so less likely the visa older walking into a job unless highly qualified.

Also snatcher who like all polticians i have very little time for is side by side bliar/brown comedy duo who will at least equal if not exceed their idol in policies which will make your life worse the Crash when it happens remeber the govement is printing money to pay its way out of crisis and northern rock is about to take out a few members of browns cabinet when the 1000 pound for each british person paid to them can't be paid back in full. Plus the small issue of two wars with no end site plus random inspired al queada attacks for the forseeable future due to his policies which are costing us billions.

Joe the reason you and I paid so much in visa fees is partly due to recent goverments of both colours doing nothing about various visa issues for a long time and now realising they need to bring in new procedures like checking people in and out of the country. Why can't they pay out of the taxes we all pay, well due to no one earning under 27k iirc actually paying a surplus to what they need if they claim all they are entitled to.
I would think for the plans they would have they might have to add an extra penny on to the tax rate which would not do well for Brown.

Peace to all whoever they are