UK citizen with American wife

[Bachgen_o_Gymru]

I am a British Citizen living in the UK. I am hoping to get my American wife and our son into the UK. We are currently applying for our son’s British passport. I can’t possibly make the new £18,600 minimum income threshold to get my wife into the country. I personally think this new maintenance threshold is outrageous and terribly unfair. My heart goes out to others affected by it. I am currently unemployed due to disability, and am in receipt of disability benefits (ESA and DLA/PIP). I have heard that disabled sponsors are exempt from the £18,600 maintenance threshold. Is this true? What amount of savings will my wife and I still need to get her through immigration? Thanks for you answers!

[Lucapooka]

I am currently unemployed due to disability, and am in receipt of disability benefits. I have heard that disabled sponsors are exempt from the £18,600 maintenance threshold. Is this true?

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/polic ... a-partner/

E-ECP.3.3. The requirements to be met under this paragraph are-

(a) the applicant's partner must be receiving one or more of the following -

(i) disability living allowance;
(ii) severe disablement allowance;
(iii) industrial injury disablement benefit;
(iv) attendance allowance;
(v) carer's allowance; or
(vi) personal independence payment; and

(b) the applicant must provide evidence that their partner is able to maintain and accommodate themselves, the applicant and any dependants adequately in the UK without recourse to public funds.

[Bachgen_o_Gymru]

Thanks for your reply. It seems I will be exempt from the normal financial requirements due to having a disability. Do you have an idea of how much money I will still need in savings to meet the financial requirements for a disabled sponsor?

[Lucapooka]

Having a disability is not sufficient; you need to be in receipt of any of those benefits listed. I assume that is what you meant.

So, if that is the case, you will need to have a disposable income (after your accommodation costs have been paid or accounted for) that is the equivalent of means-tested benefit for an adult couple. That would be something in the region of 767 pounds per month.

[Bachgen_o_Gymru]

Thanks for giving me this information. Do you know if income in the form of disability benefits (ESA and PIP) can count towards this figure of £767 per month? I assume that money coming in through child benefits is not taken into account, as this is separate and is for the child.

[gdl]

Hello All,

Hope all of us support for this petition to be considered by showing support and frustration caused by UKBA.

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/34835

Please ask your friends and families...as many people as you possibly can...email this link to one and all... as huge numbers are still required for this petition to be considered.

Major numbers will come at this stage from others rather than actual applicants- and they should assist assuming someday in future they could be directly affected by this in action.

Regards

[Bachgen_o_Gymru]

I signed the petition you gave me the link to. I hope very much that this petition can make a difference. These new immigration reforms are appalling and so clearly wrong.
Regarding my last post, if somebody is able to tell me whether or not income in the form of disability benefits can count towards the figure of £767 per month that Lucapooka quoted, it would be much appreciated. Thanks.