New Immigration Rules

[LulaPalooza]

I didn't know whether to put this in AIBU, chat, politics... but since it is in the news I put it here.

It's a rant. Feel free to ignore.

Through no fault of our own and entirely due to the continual changes in the immigration rules, the course of mine and Mr Palooza's relationship and our potential for a family life has continually been challenged over the years. It was bad enough that we now have to jump through enormous hoops to even bring his family over for a holiday.

The new immigration rules, insofar as I understand them (trying to actually get to the bottom of how they will be implemented is a challenge in itself... and I'm a lawyer, FFS) will affect our ability to have DSS (aged 12) here or at least the timing of that happening. This is a massive blow.

The new rules also affect my choices around my job - I was aiming to leave my current job in June next year, to coincide with DSS's planned arrival, to settle him in, build a family life, do the right thing. I will not be able to do that now as I am the higher earner. Blah blah blah I'm not going to bore you with detail...

In short, being in a relationship with a non-EU national is going to get more and more difficult, if you want to remain in the UK, lawfully.

It really and truly sucks.

I have ILR (and have for a few years), but I haven't gotten around to getting citizenship yet (it's damned expensive!). I think, however, due to this, I will be putting the citizenship expense close to the top of my list just to have that done. I worry that suddenly they will change the requirements of citizenship to include these types of financial limits, and with a disabled child, we are certainly not high earners, due to care issues.

Yes, that's the crazy thing dreamingbohemian - if I was to exercise my Treaty rights to live and work in another EU member state, Mr Palooza could automatically come with me, no fuss.

But I've built up a good career here and I don't want to leave it.

Triggles - probably a wise plan. Do you have to give up citizenship of your home country under their rules? That's a consideration for a few friends of mine.

lula
A lot of us yanks stuck with ILR for exactly that reason - but they (very quietly) changed the rules a couple of years back. At about the time that the price of UK naturalisation went though the roof. Funny that.

There are now very, very few countries that limit a valid second passport.

There are now very, very few countries that limit a valid second passport.

And sadly, DH's country is one of them! :(