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Family migration
In June 2012, Theresa May announced that new restrictions would be introduced to reduce the number of non-
European Economic Area family migrants. The changes were mostly intended to apply to new applicants after 9 July 2012.
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The newly introduced rules came into effect on 9 July 2012 allowing only those British citizens earning more than £18,600 to bring their spouses or their children to live with them in the UK. This figure would rise significantly in cases where visa applications are also made for children. They also increased the current two-year probationary period for partners to 5 years. The rules also prevent any adult and elderly dependents from settling in the UK unless they can demonstrate that, as a result of age,
illness or
disability, they require a level of long-term personal care that can only be provided by a relative in the UK.
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The
House of Lords was concerned about the immegration (sic) issue and therefore addressed the PM in the Parliament as to whether she had examined the impact on communities and families on modest incomes, but it received no direct response.
[86] The human rights group
Liberty concluded that the new rules showed scant regard to the impact they would have on genuine families.
[87] The
All-Party Parliamentary Group on Migration conducted an evidence based inquiry into the impact of the rules and concluded in their report that the rules were causing very young children to be separated from their parents and could exile
British citizens from the UK.
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