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New UK immigration regulations to hit Pakistanis hardest
New UK immigration regulations to hit Pakistanis hardest
| Published: | 10 Jul at 3 PM |
New UK immigration rules regarding marriages with overseas residents which came into force recently shows that Pakistani residents in the country would be the hardest hit.
Every year, roughly 40,000 people arrive in Britain on spouse on marriage visas. The amount of British Pakistanis travelling to Pakistan to marry has been rising. Most of the spouses – male and female – come from the Kotli and Mirpur districts in Pakistan, followed by those from the Punjab province.
The main changes in the immigration regulations have seen the minimum income threshold rise to £18,600 for those who want to sponsor a spouse of partner to settle in Britain. A higher threshold of £22,400 has been put in place for the sponsorship of a migrant child below the age of 18 in addition to the spouse and an extra £2,400 for each additional child sponsored before the parent reaches settlement.
In addition, the minimum probationary period has risen from two to five years before spouses or parents from non-European Economic Area (EEA) countries can apply for settlement in the UK. The migrant spouses will have to complete this five-year probationary period in Britain and it will be rejected if they have spent several years overseas together.
From this October, all settlement applicants will have to pass a Life in the UK test as well as obtain an English language qualification of B1 level or above.
Every year, roughly 40,000 people arrive in Britain on spouse on marriage visas. The amount of British Pakistanis travelling to Pakistan to marry has been rising. Most of the spouses – male and female – come from the Kotli and Mirpur districts in Pakistan, followed by those from the Punjab province.
The main changes in the immigration regulations have seen the minimum income threshold rise to £18,600 for those who want to sponsor a spouse of partner to settle in Britain. A higher threshold of £22,400 has been put in place for the sponsorship of a migrant child below the age of 18 in addition to the spouse and an extra £2,400 for each additional child sponsored before the parent reaches settlement.
In addition, the minimum probationary period has risen from two to five years before spouses or parents from non-European Economic Area (EEA) countries can apply for settlement in the UK. The migrant spouses will have to complete this five-year probationary period in Britain and it will be rejected if they have spent several years overseas together.
From this October, all settlement applicants will have to pass a Life in the UK test as well as obtain an English language qualification of B1 level or above.
