In December 2023, the UK Government led by Rishi Sunak, raised the income threshold for sponsoring the visa of a foreign-born spouse to £38,700 per annum. If Rishi Sunak had not already brought his wife to live in the UK, he could have. So why can't you?

According to the ONS, the average annual income for a 25-30 year old is £26,800, rising to £34,200 for adults between 30-39. So this means that this government is effectively curtailing the civil liberties of 75% of young adults, by making it financially impossible for them to choose a foreign-born spouse.

As a passionate advocate for human rights, I am deeply concerned at the impact that this may have on family life, a right that is enshrined in Article 8 of Human Rights Act 1998.

As it also applies to visa renewals, it could mean that  those who have already joined their partner in the UK, could have their visa renewal refused and be threatened with removal from the UK, away from their spouse and any British-born children they might have had.

It has the potential to disproportionately affect lower-income households, exacerbating social inequality. We believe that love should not be measured by one's ability to meet arbitrary income thresholds.

We urge our government officials and policymakers to reconsider this policy and lower the salary threshold so it becomes accessible for an average person aged between 25-30 years old. Please sign this petition if you believe in equal rights and opportunities regardless of income level.