Controversial immigration rules threaten to split families and loved ones apart

Thousands of couples are at risk of being separated due to new Conservative immigration rules set to be implemented in the UK this Spring. These rules will significantly raise the income threshold required for a UK visa, jumping from £18,600 to £29,000, with a further increase to £37,000 in 2025.

Approximately 70% of overseas workers, including professionals like nurses, teachers, and police officers, could be affected by these changes, preventing them from bringing their families to live with them in the UK. This policy has been dubbed the ‘Cost of Loving Crisis’.

To raise awareness, a campaign called the ‘Cost of Loving’ has been launched, featuring billboards across London with QR codes linking to an online calculator. This calculator allows couples to determine if they will be impacted by the new rules. A petition is also circulating, urging the government to reconsider the income threshold changes.

Joe Wade, Founding Partner at Don’t Panic, the agency behind the campaign, criticized the government for putting a financial barrier on love and potentially breaking up families. The UK currently ranks poorly on the Migrant Integration Policy Index in terms of family reunification policies.

The Home Office defended the changes, stating that they aim to reduce overall migration and ensure that families are financially self-sufficient to integrate into British society