£38,600

This will be a problem for the majority.

I might be able to do it but it's not good news.

Yes Rob, I posted the news article about this when it was announced and the comments there are mostly along the same.
Me personally I would qualify but this still creates huge doubt in my mind over the mindset of the UK government and whether more scrutiny will be on future visa applications.

I'd hate to sink even £10k into the visa applications and surcharges just to be told no because some posh suited **** with two houses decides we don't meet their new criteria.

1. i dont think this figure of £38600 applies to settlement visas. If it did--it would imply thats the income needed for a man to have a wife without support from social security. A lot of couples live on a lot less than that.

I have read that nothing is certain yet on whether this new figure will only apply to new applicants or those of us that are already in the 5 year process will remain under the old figure of 18,600 or have to provide evidence of the new income figure (whatever it is finally decided on being)

unfortunately I think it does apply to settlement. Although not confirmed yet. The government wants to increase the financial threshold to 38,700. Migrate solicitors are stating on their web site that they think even people applying for extension and ILR will have to evidence income of the new figure

in that case they might as well double the visa fees and IHS surcharges as well.

i think the 38600 income requirement is for working visa holders wanting to bring their family over--after all the visa fees for that is very small by comparison to the 5 years settlement fees a nd its an easy way to get in permanently without going through the 5 year route.

it’s definitely effecting spouse visa and settlement too, see attached

they have done several times since 2012

can you put up the whole page ?

Have attached the whole page in 4 screenshots

"The Home Secretary, on 4 December 2023, announced the government’s plans in Spring 2024 to increase the minimum income threshold for UK spouse and partner visas to £38,700 (from £18,600)."

we shall see. I bet there will be a few court cases first.

I read somewhere this is the first increase for financial income threshold since 2012

Yes it is PLAN, but that undoubtedly means that an increase is coming and as it has not risen since 2012, it is expected to be a hefty increase. The actual figure is not yet confirmed nor is it confirmed if only new applicants will be effected or if existing applicants will have to revert to the new figure

well--there hasnt been any change in the income requirement since then.

Dont forget--the £18600 was for spouse only...extra for each child.

Are you implying this has to go to vote in parliament ?

Bear in mind the bigger picture behind this is an inept government trying to do anything to show it can bring down immigration statistics. If that includes a few would be Filipino spouses, they're seen as fair game.

Hopefully we will soon get clarity as to whether this will apply to settlement visas for ordinary UK residents and their non-UK spouses. With all the furore over the past couple of days, you'd have hoped that the Home Office would have corrected "mistakes" that the BBC and others have made since the announcements with tales of woe of middle class young white people who suddenly can't settle with the love of their life in the UK. The silence is concerning and suggesting that the apocalyptic interpretation of the announcement has a degree of accuracy.

a greater worry is if this goverment can get away with this--given their overall majority --what else is coming down the pipe ?

by all account the government has the backing of Labour in this. No sure how far down the line it is but the final figure increase has not been confirmed yet