Petition Exempt couples who are already married from the new income requirements
Let couples who were already married before the new financial requirements for the spouse visa were announced to stay on the current threshold of £18,600. Don't penalise these couples who may be just weeks away from meeting the current criteria and allow them to apply under the existing rules.
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Married couples might have been separated from their partners for at least six months or even longer in order to gather and prepare their documents for the application. Given better information, they might have made different decisions, avoiding such prolonged distance. We believe this is part of their right to respect for family life that everyone is entitled to.
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Related activity
Income thresholds for spouse visas debated by MPs
MPs debated minimum income thresholds for partner and spousal visas on 23 April 2024.
The debate was led by Paul Blomfield MP.
The Minister for Legal Migration and the Border, Tom Pursglove MP, responded on behalf of the Government.
The debate was scheduled by the Backbench Business Committee and held in Westminster Hall.
What is a Westminster Hall debate?
Westminster Hall is the second chamber of the House of Commons. Westminster Hall debates give MPs an opportunity to raise local and national issues and receive a response from a government minister. Westminster Hall debates are general debates that do not end in a vote.
Visual explainer: Westminster Hall debates
What is the Backbench Business Committee?
The Backbench Business Committee is a group of MPs who can schedule debates for backbenchers (MPs who aren’t ministers or shadow ministers) either in the House of Commons Chamber or Westminster Hall.
MPs can make a request for a debate on a topic of their choice, to the Backbench Business Committee, which decides which debates to schedule.
Find out more about the Backbench Business Committee
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