To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the minimum income requirement on the integration of non-EEA partners of British citizens.
Answered on
11 March 2019
The Supreme Court has upheld the lawfulness of the minimum income requirement, which prevents burdens on the taxpayer and promotes integration, ruling that it strikes a fair balance between the interests of those wishing to sponsor a partner to settle in the UK and of the community in general. The Court found that the minimum income requirement is not a breach of the right to respect for private and family life under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights and is not discriminatory.
We continue to keep the family Immigration Rules under review and make adjustments in light of feedback on their operation and impact. Our overall assessment is that the family Immigration Rules are having the right impact and are helping to ensure public confidence in the immigration system.