The story made the front page of Londra Gazete’s English edition this week
Court ruling means members of the Turkish-speaking community on low salaries cannot bring a husband or wife to Britain
Low earners hoping their husband or wife will join them from Turkey were dealt a blow by the Court of Appeals on Friday.
A Home Office rule introducing a minimum income threshold for sponsoring a foreign spouse was reinstated by the court after being described as “unjustified” by the High Court last year.
The ruling means anyone earning less than £18,600 will not be able to bring a husband or wife from Turkey or any other non-EU country to live with them in Britain.
The government said it was “delighted” by the ruling, which threw out arguments that the policy interfered with Article 8 of the Human Rights Act, the right to a private and family life.
The Home Office added that it was now preparing to reject 4,000 applications that were awaiting the outcome of the court case.
‘DEVASTATING FOR FAMILIES’
“This judgment will be devastating for the families who continue to be needlessly separated across borders,” Migrants’ Rights Network policy director Ruth Grove-White said.
“Many UK residents and British citizens have had their lives put on hold for over a year, often with no chance of seeing their loved husbands, wives or children during that time.”
Immigration Minister James Brokenshire said he was “delighted” at the ruling, which was made last Friday.
‘HARD WORKERS WELCOME’
He added: “We welcome those who wish to make a life in the UK with their family, work hard and make a contribution, but family life must not be established in the UK at the taxpayer’s expense and family migrants must be able to integrate.
“The minimum income threshold to sponsor family migrants is delivering these objectives and this judgment recognises the important public interest it serves.”
A Home Office spokesman said that 4,000 people whose applications have been on hold would now receive a decision from 28 July.
He said: “These are cases which met all the requirements apart from the minimum income threshold and now stand to be refused.”
The Home Office had estimated in an impact assessment document from June 2012 that the chosen income threshold would prevent 17,800 family visas being granted every year.
Paul Blomfield MP, who sits on the all-party parliamentary group on migration, said the ruling would come as a disappointment for thousands of families across the UK who remained apart as a result of these rules.
He said: “A year ago, a cross-party group of MPs recognised the anguish they have caused and urged the government to review the family migration rules.
“That concern was highlighted again this week in a packed meeting in the House of Commons. On behalf of our constituents, we will continue to press the government to think again.”
