The Government has responded to a public (paper) petition calling for the withdrawal of the minimum income threshold for partner/family visas. The petition was presented to the House of Commons by Imran Hussain MP on behalf of residents of the constituency of Bradford East.
The petition asks the House of Commons to urge the Government to take a compassionate approach to partner/family visas, withdraw the previous Government’s changes to the minimum income threshold, and ensure that any future threshold be accessible and no higher than the National Living Wage.
In response to the petition's request, the Government stated that if British citizens and those settled in the UK wish to establish their family life in the UK, it is appropriate they should do so on the basis they can support themselves financially without recourse to public funds. In September 2024, the Government commissioned the Migration Advisory Committee to undertake a 9-month review of the financial requirements. There will be no changes to the current threshold of £29,000 until it is complete.
The response set out that where there are exceptional circumstances which would render a visa refusal a breach of article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, because it would result in unjustifiably harsh consequences for the applicant or their family, a person can still be granted permission and placed on a 10-year route to settlement.
What are public (paper) petitions?
A public (paper) petition is a petition to the House of Commons presented by an MP.
Get involved in the work of the UK Parliament
You can also sign up to the UK Parliament newsletter for the latest information on how to get involved and make a difference.