E-ECP.3.1 Financial Requirements

[cathiech]

Can anyone tell me what the rules were prior to July 2012? I consulted a specialist solicitor through CAB, back in May, and was told that I had to have an income of more than £60 per week, but no mention was made of savings?

[asim72]

The rules you are talking about are still in force. New rules come into effect on 9th July 2012.

If a solicitor really told you that according to rules you needed £60 per week income then I would say that that solicitor knows nothing about immigration rules.

[cathiech]

but what are the current rules?!
All I can find is info about what new rules (July 9th) are!!!

[asim72]

Well, the current rules are mentioned all over the UKBA website, right until this moment in time.

Consolidated version of new rules is not yet published on their website.

Why not ask what is relevant to your circumstances and someone might be able to point you in right direction.

[cathiech]

I am trying to find out what the current financial requirements are.
I can't find any mention of specific figures and no mention of savings being required.

[asim72]

You cannot find a figure but there does not exist a figure. But as a rough guide you should have £112 left over after paying rent and council tax. But this is not a magic figure. There are other things that are taken into consideration.

As I suggested earlier, best way is to mention your whole story and someone might be able to answer

[cathiech]

Thanks very much, that helps a lot!

The whole story... well...

Ahmed and I got married in November, we had known each other since about April 2010, chatted a lot on line, met a couple of times, didn't want to be apart so decided the only way was to get married.

I am a student, was full time until the end of June, will be going back again next year part time, but on a full time grant. I am also setting up a new business doing what I used to do before doing my degree, which was software support, training and consultancy. I am also an artist, which is what I am doing my degree in and will be showing my work in a couple of different places this summer, hoping to sell some stuff.

Bottom line is that everything is all over the place at the moment, so have decided to go for putting together a comprehensive business plan, based on Ahmed being here to support me. I'm a single parent and suffer from a couple of long term illnesses, but don't claim DLA.

I barely get by at the moment, but the reason for that is primarily down to the fact that any spare money has been used to visit Ahmed and for our wedding. In all I spent around £5000, which I could use this year to support Ahmed until he gets a job.

Hope that makes sense!

[MPH80]

Erm - I'm a bit confused - have you applied already?

The new rules will not allow either third party support or supposed future income.

You'll have to show 12 months income from self employment if that's the route you're going down.

[cathiech]

We got the application in on 8th July, one day before the new rules. We had already applied previously but Ahmed hadn't done his English test, so had to postpone and then reapply because application went over 30 days.

His interview is set for 7th August and his English test certificate is due the first week in august. The thing I'm worried about is if the certificate doesn't come through in time then we'll have to postpone the appointment again, in which case the application will be more than 30 days old and we'll have to reapply under the new rules.

Going back to the financial situation, are you saying that under the old rules a business plan based on Ahmed being here to support me is acceptable? The solicitor I consulted originally told me that as long as he was earning £60 a week, so didn't qualify for Income Support, then we would be OK. I'm just setting up a new business, but based on software consultancy which was my career previously (before I had a serious accident), so although I don't have 12 months accounts, I do have a sound CV and business plan, as well as bringing in around £24000 pa in part time work, student loans and grants, tax credits and maintenance.

I don't have any savings at all.