Minister admits that rules for spouse migration are not fair to UK citizens

James Brokenshire the minister of the home office has confirmed that citizens born in the UK who wished to have their spouses brought into the UK from outside the European Union are facing difficulties.

Since 2012, the people who can sponsor the visa of their non-European spouse to reduce the expenses on migration to taxpayers are those who are earning not less than £18,600 annually.

However, this rule is not applicable to other EU countries’ citizens that have settled in the United Kingdom.

Mr Brokenshire stated that an effort to have the loophole closed would be made by him.

Since July 2012 when requirements for minimum earnings were introduced a huge number of Britons have not been able to bring a spouse who is not from the EU to the UK.

At the launch of the policy, the government stated that only citizens of Britain, or those with the status of refugees who were earning not less than £18,600 annually could sponsor the visa of their non-European spouse.

For families with a child it increases to £22,400, and for each additional child an extra £2,400.

However, Keith Vaz the chairman of the Home Affairs Committee stated that a constituent of his in Leicester East highlighted a loophole.

During a meeting on Tuesday, he stated that two people who were residing next to one another in houses which are identical- one who has an indefinite leave or a British born attempted to get someone brought from India, they would both have to display their £18,600.

However, the neighbor next door who hails from Slovakia, and has made Leicester his settlement and desires to get her spouse brought in is not expected to have that income shown. It was not fair.

The Labour MP according to Mr. Brokenshire had the right to have the issue highlighted and he intended to bring it up with EU partners of Britain.

The minister stated that it was something that needed to be addressed because he did not find it acceptable.