BritCits

Sierra

“ The message we are getting from the UK government is that we are not rich enough to love... ”

Sierra is a British citizen, married to a US citizen, and they are aged 21 and 25 respectively.

They got married after two years together, in the UK, and then the world of immigration horror opened up to them.

They foolishly believed that, being married, they would not be kept apart whilst arranging her husband’s work visa.

They were wrong.

Sierra’s husband became an overstayer at the start of July 2012. They learnt that they would have to spend £1,500 on application forms, and on a lawyer's fees, to help them through this maze, applying for his Discretionary Leave to Remain.

As a legal secretary, Sierra earns £12,500.00 a year, with her savings having been spent flying back and forth between the USA and the UK, and for the visa process.

Sierra has never claimed benefits.

As her husband is an overstayer, any potential application is likely to be declined. What however is this couple supposed to do? They saved up £1,500 for the application only now to be told, ‘No, it’s not good enough, you’re not rich enough to be in love.’

They are however lucky to have family members who have always been willing to help, monetarily, but now the rules even disallow co-sponsorship.

They have nowhere to turn!

Sierra is terrified that she is going to get a knock on the door in the middle of the night and be forced to spend months or even years apart until she is able to earn £18,600, or whatever the new higher income threshold might be.

She feels desperate and that she is being punished for being in love, for daring to get married whilst being young and poor, despite not being on benefits.

These new laws put a price on love and they are disgusting; they are inhuman and carry no respect for the sanctity of marriage.

Theresa May should be thoroughly ashamed of herself for abusing her power and misrepresenting
British citizens.