The Heartache Continues For Many

A few weeks ago I was immensely relieved to receive my spousal visa extension, knowing that my life here could continue for another two and a half years. Yet I am still devastated that the Supreme Court has today ruled in favour of the government’s income threshold for foreign spouses to join their British partners. The minimum income requirement of sponsors is £18 600, increases if there are children involved, has strict conditions for how it can be met and does not take into account the foreign spouse’s wage.

The Guardian published a few shocking statistics today. I suspected the rule’s effects, but they still cut deep. It is estimated that the financial threshold would exclude 41% of the British working population, including 55% of women, from being able to sponsor a foreign spouse. Even more terrible, is that it is believed up to 15 000 British children have been separated from one of their parents due to the rule.

None of this is accidental. Theresa May introduced these new measures in 2012 when she was home secretary, with the explicit intention of reducing net immigration. To tear apart families seems to me the cruellest possible way to win the political game of cutting immigration levels.

My heart breaks hearing the stories of those struggling to find a way to be together. I celebrate my good fortune; that circumstances have aligned to prevent any visa nightmares of my own. However, I am still deeply upset to hear of others experiencing what I fear most. I remember too well the pain of being separated by oceans. I will proclaim it again and again, to anyone who will listen: everyone deserves to be with the one they love.