Via email - armed forces

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-immigration-rules-for-armed-forces-families-announced

Quote:

There will be more flexibility and the rules will take into account the realities of life in the Armed Forces ...ensuring family members are able to integrate into British society and are supported by their sponsor

Scary to see how the official PR machine is continuing

Also interesting to compare to http://www.armedforces.co.uk/armypayscales.htm
where the first few levels of both NCOs (up to middle ranks 2nd Lt.) and "normal recruits" will not be permitted to marry foreigners.

I have to say, using weasel words such as 'flexibility', 'insuring integration' and , astonishingly, the title 'New rules have been announced to ensure Armed Forces personnel are not disadvantaged by immigration rules and family members can integrate into society.' - to refer to something which disadvantages people who may not be able to bring their families in - I'm almost speechless. Frankly, this is among the most egregious examples of doublespeak which I think I've seen in my life. I'm amazed (which takes some doing).

It's only when you get onto the bit about 'Aligning Armed Forces families to Family Migration Policy' that one may smell a rat....

More :

Armed forces to face family visa restrictions.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23179439

British soldiers with partners or children from outside the European Union are to face the same visa restrictions as other families.

Servicemen and women will have to reach a minimum income threshold in order to sponsor a non-EU spouse's visa.

The rules, which have applied to most families since 2012, will come into force from 1 December.

From http://www.armedforces.co.uk/armypayscales.htm :

The following are affected by the £18,600 requirement, the income required to bring in a partner :
 Officers
          2nd Lt Gap Year Level 2                 £17,441
           Officer Cadet   Level 1                      £15,981
Ranks
         Private          Level 1                £17,689
         Private          Level 2                £18,165 (min. earnings)
         All University Cadet Entrants            £18,149 (max. earnings)

The following are affected by the £22,400 requirement, the income required to bring in a partner and one child :
Officers
         2nd Lt Gap Year Level 3        £19,009
Ranks
        Private Level 3            £18,641 (min.)
        Private Level 4            £20,229 (min.)
        Lance Cpl Level 5        £21,292 (min.)
        Lance Cpl Level 6        £21,656 (min.)

The following are affected by the £24,800 requirement, the income required to bring in a partner and two children :
 All Ranks below Corporal
        Lance Cpl Level 7    £22,582 (min.)
        Lance Cpl Level 8    £23,616 (min.)
        Lance Cpl Level 9    £24,472 (min.)

Postscript : Doublespeak is language that deliberately disguises, distorts, or reverses the meaning of words. Doublespeak may take the form of euphemisms (e.g., "downsizing" for layoffs, "servicing the target" for bombing [1]), in which case it is primarily meant to make the truth sound more palatable. It may also refer to intentional ambiguity in language or to actual inversions of meaning (for example, naming a state of war "peace"). In such cases, doublespeak disguises the nature of the truth. Doublespeak is most closely associated with political language. (source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doublespeak )