BritCits

Rhys & Natacha

“All we want is the opportunity to live permanently together; we are a family, even if it is just the two of us.”

Rhys is a British citizen; his common law partner, Natacha, is a Canadian citizen.

They met whilst Natacha was studying in England as part of her undergraduate university degree. They live together in Canada.

Four years later, they are trying to figure out a way they can live together in the UK to be close to Rhys’s family, who are desperate for them to move back here.

Rhys has a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts and is working full time in Canada, whilst Natacha is
completing a Masters degree in Sociology from Queen’s University.

Of the two of them, Natacha has the greater earning potential; however, under the new rules, Rhys must be earning £18,600 for at least six months before his wife can join him, regardless of the fact that Natacha might earn much more.

Indeed, Natacha was accepted by the University of Birmingham with a full fees bursary worth $20,000. If a leading British university sees Natacha as someone worth paying to have her in
the UK, why does the British government see her as a burden?

It strikes them as bizarre that Natacha’s earnings in the UK, and hence her taxes, are completely
discounted, as is any help from their family. If the aim of the policy is to reduce the burden on the state, why not let Natacha’s earnings be counted too? Why not let them show they won’t be a burden on the state? Why not have requirements such as mandating private healthcare cover from migrants? This would boost the healthcare system and UK companies, whilst reducing the reliance on the NHS. Their view is that if the issue is about migrants being a burden on the system, then restrictions should be placed on work permits, rather than on British citizens wishing to live with their family.

Rhys and Natacha are pleading with this government to understand and appreciate the difficulties these new rules are producing.

All they want is the opportunity to live permanently together; they are a family, even if it is just the two of them.