We are in a minority to have a non EU partner; immigration is such a big issue that I feel that to appease the uninformed masses, the government have to bring in measures that are seen to not make it easy for people to bring their partners to the UK.
One such way is to have a high visa fee; this should stop the chancers who, if the fee was lower, would consider it a gamble to apply for this visa. There has been a few times when I have seen the comment regarding applying for a visitor visa that, as it’s only a low fee then it’s worth applying.
Another reason is the abusers of the system; this is relevant to many areas of our lives, not just this topic. We all get looked at in the same way when, as many have said before, there are people from other areas of the world who abuse the system but we all suffer for it.
Having said that, my opinion is that as the fee is so high, it is only genuine people that now apply as is it a lot of money to lose if not successful.
But another view is that, for some, the amount that could possibly be claimed in benefits once they are here would soon pay for any visa fees. For example, since my wife, our son and her son have arrived here, I have been able to claim child benefit and tax credits, which over time will be be more than I paid in fees.
No one is forcing you to have a partner form the Philippines, it is your choice to bring them here, they will say that there are other options available, such as moving there, although we all know, in most cases, the salary there does not compare to here and would make the move there difficult.
As the recent petition (that only got about 130) votes has shown, we will never had massive public support on this issue and many would feel that we should not be allowed to bring them here at all.
