Changes to minimum income rule for partners and children where there are “exceptional circumstances.”

The Home Office must now consider whether additional  sources of income , financial support or funds should be taken in to account when deciding whether to allow partners and children to enter or remain in the UK under “ Appendix FM “ of the immigration rules. Third party financial support could now be regarded as relevant , and so could future earnings from employment or self- employment. This long-awaited softening of the rules will be welcome to many but there is a lot of detail to consider before an application is made.

Are there “exceptional circumstances”?

Is an offer of financial support “credible and guaranteed”?

Is the prospect of employment or self-employment credible and sustainable”?

 

Leave granted under the new rules will mean an applicant waiting for ten years to settle rather than five years as normal and  it would be wise to  take legal advice before making an application.