Spouse visa- £18k needed for 6 months? What to do?

[kingbee]

Gutted with all these changes. If anyone could help, I'd appreciate massively.

I'm a UK national working in China and have been here for 4 years. My wife of one year (been going out for almost 4) was planning to move back with me to the UK this summer. Obviously these changes are pretty big and have changed our plans quite a bit.

I haven't earned anything close to 18k living in China, but as the rules say that you must have earned that amount for 6 months, it seems we're pretty screwed.

Unless:
- the wife comes over on a tourist visa for 6 months (she's been over 3 times on tourist visas and returned according to the rules)
- she waits around, not taking employment
- I hopefully get an 18k a year job
-she moves back to China after the tourist visa expires, applies for the spouse visa after a while as we now qualify

Is this a naive, silly idea, or illegal?

Or just desperate?

We have around £10k in savings.

Thanks in advance for any help- to say this has ruined our week is an understatement.

[Casa]

It's not illegal, but the ECO may doubt that she has strong ties with China if her husband is living in the UK and take the view that she's likely to overstay....even though she's followed the rules previously.
It's worth a try. No chance that you could apply before the 9th July?

[kingbee]

Unfortunately no chance- she's sitting the English test on the 13th.

[skstar]

Is it just the English test? Why don't you submit it anyway? At least you will still be considered under the current rules