There are fears that more people will be separated by the introduction of a minimum salary level for those wanting UK family visas.

Families living in the UK and abroad have raised concerns about what new rules will mean for them as they try to reunite with foreign spouses.

In December, the Home Office, which says migration to the UK is too high, announced a package of measures to reduce net migration, following a spike in arrival numbers.

As of 11 April this year, anyone applying for a visa to bring a loved one from overseas must earn at least £29,000 per year.

A family visa is required for a British citizen or settled resident wanting to bring a foreign partner or spouse, and potentially children, to live in the UK together.

The minimum income required to sponsor a foreign spouse coming to the UK via the Family Visa scheme has now increased from £18,600 to £29,000.

The Government plans to increase this further, in stages, to £38,700 by next spring.

The minimum income requirement applies to the spouse already living in the UK.

In 2020, the UK was placed second from bottom among 56 countries for ease of family reunion, ranking only above Denmark, according to the Migrant Integration Policy Index.

Caroline Coombs, who lives in Bristol, co-founded Reunite Families UK - a non-profit organisation supporting families navigating the visa process.

The group started on Facebook in 2017 and has grown to almost 4,500 members.

Ms Coombs` husband, who is from Ecuador, faced being deported to his home country shortly after the couple - already married at the time - welcomed their first child.

Eight years on, Caroline`s husband Carlos is still in the process of gaining indefinite leave to remain, which would secure his future in the UK.

Another family struggling to come to terms with the new rules are Gary Pepperd and `the love of [his] life`, Shayenne.

Mr Pepperd was living in

Bristol when he met Shayenne. She is Brazilian and was living in Brazil when they connected through social media.

`After a while, we started developing feelings until it got to a point where we wanted to be together,` said Mr Pepperd.

Shayenne came to the UK on a visitor visa and the couple`s relationship flourished. They got married in December 2017.

The pair had planned to live together in the city, but the option to apply for a family visa wasn`t available to them, as Mr Pepperd earned below the previous minimum income requirement of £18,600.

As a result, Mr Pepperd said he decided to move to Brazil so the couple could be together.

`I still have a house in Bristol that I would love to live in with my wife,` he said.

`But the [visa] application process is very expensive and it would mean being separated for a long time.

`I would need to leave my wife, find a job there, collect six months of payslips before I`d be allowed to apply and potentially wait another six months to get an answer.

`Now, it just got even harder,` he added.
Migration `too high`

As highlighted in a recent BBC Panorama episode `Immigration - the UK`s Record High`, last year, the Government issued 1.44 million visas. Only around 5.6% of those were family-related.

In response, a Home Office spokesperson said in a statement: `The current levels of migration to the UK are far too high.

`That is why the government announced a plan to cut the number of migrants coming to the UK by 300,000 a year â€` the largest reduction ever.

“By tethering the minimum income requirement to the general salary threshold for skilled workers, it ensures migration policy is supportive of the wider ambition for the UK to be a high-wage, high-productivity, high-skill economy.” V.5318

`Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber says a security guard at the Randburg office has been ‘removed’ from his post after he allegedly pepper sprayed angry citizens this week.A video showing irate members of the public has since gone viral on social media, wherein a security guard is seen waving a pepper spray as he demands members of the public to go outside. This occurred as frustrations came to a head at the Home Affairs Randburg branch when the system went offline, causing undue frustration for the members of the public. Taking to X, Schreiber said he was horrified when he learnt about the video on Thursday morning and that action had since been taken against the security guard involved. “I was appalled upon receiving this video at 10:50 this morning. An investigation was launched immediately, and by 17:00 the individual in question was removed. ` V.5990
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`Amendments made to the Refugees Act in 2023 are unconstitutional because they allow asylum seekers to be deported before they are able to access the asylum system. This puts them in danger and at risk of persecution. This was the main argument made by the Scalabrini Centre of Cape Town, an immigration rights organisation, in the Western Cape High Court before a full bench on Thursday. The amendments, which Scalabrini wants the court to declare unconstitutional, allow for asylum seekers who have entered the country unlawfully and do not have a valid visa, to be denied full access to the asylum system after an initial “filtering” interview with an immigration officer.` V.5985
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`Leon Schreiber’s department has been celebrated for bold moves, but too often its officials remain ill-informed or indifferent. Throughout the second half of 2024 Leon Schreiber was one of the most observed and often praised GNU ministers. An expert on public sector reform, Schreiber could be the antidote to the institutional entropy from which the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has suffered for decades, or “dry rot” as a renowned organisational theorist called it.Schreiber has not been shy in adopting a proactive approach to the implementation of change within the department he heads. Nevertheless, the reality he will have to contend with internally in 2025 and beyond is that DHA remains systematically wanting of the necessary competency to perform its duties. ` V.5986
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`Certainly! The question “What is the investment amount that is required for a South African business visa application?” pertains to the financial requirements for obtaining a business visa in South Africa. This visa is designed for foreign nationals who wish to establish or invest in a business in South Africa. Below is a detailed explanation of the investment amount and related considerations:1. Purpose of the Business VisaThe South African business visa is intended to attract foreign investment and stimulate economic growth by allowing foreign entrepreneurs to establish or invest in businesses that will benefit the country. The visa is granted based on the applicant`s ability to contribute to the local economy, create jobs, and transfer skills.` V.5987
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`Registering a business in South Africa involves several steps, primarily handled through the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC), the South African Revenue Service (SARS), and other regulatory bodies. Below is a step-by-step guide:Step 1: Choose a Business StructureBefore registering, you need to decide on the type of business entity. The common structures in South Africa include:1.Private Company (Pty) Ltd - Most common for entrepreneurs and small businesses. Limited liability for owners.2.Public Company (Ltd) - For businesses that plan to list on the stock exchange.3.Sole Proprietorship - Owned by one person, personally liable for debts.4.Partnership - Two or more people share ownership and liability.5.Co-operative (Co-op) - Member-owned business.6.Non-Profit Company (NPC) - Used for charities and social organizations.` V.5988
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`Investing into the Book Value of a Business for South African Immigration PurposesFor South African business visa and business-related residency applications, the term ``investing into the book value of the business`` refers to the financial commitment a foreign investor makes into a South African company. This investment is assessed based on the book value of the business, which represents its total assets minus liabilities, as recorded in its financial statements.1. Understanding ``Book Value``The book value of a business is the net worth of the company, calculated as:Book Value=Total Assetsâˆ`Total Liabilities\text{Book Value} = \text{Total Assets} - \text{Total Liabilities}Book Value=Total Assetsâˆ`Total LiabilitiesThis means that if a business owns R10 million in assets but has R2 million in liabilities, its book value is R8 million.For immigration purposes, an investor must inject capital that increases this book value, either by adding cash, assets, or investments into the business.` V.5989
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`Home Affairs Minister Dr Leon Schreiber has welcomed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s endorsement of the department’s digital transformation agenda. This initiative aims to digitise and automate all services, making them accessible to South Africans from the comfort of their homes.In his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on 6 February 2025, President Ramaphosa highlighted the importance of investing in digital public infrastructure. He announced plans to implement a digital identity system within the next 12 months to eliminate identity fraud, expand social and financial inclusion, and ensure seamless access to government services. The President also mentioned the launch of a modern Electronic Travel Authorisation system, driven by artificial intelligence, to automate tourist and short-stay visas. ` V.5991
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`A Bloemfontein man, Vuyo Liphoko, has been struggling with the Department of Home Affairs for over 15 years, facing ongoing issues with his identity documents that have severely impacted his life.Liphoko’s ordeal began in 2003 when he was in Grade 10 in Botshabelo and applied for an identity document (ID) both privately and through his school. Despite repeated applications, he never received his ID before matriculating in 2006, which prevented him from pursuing tertiary education.“My birth certificate was an old handwritten one with just my birth date. I applied in Botshabelo and Welkom, where my family lives, but nothing happened,” said Liphoko.He was later advised to apply in Brandfort, his place of birth, yet still had no success. With no ID, he had to abandon his dreams of becoming a medical doctor and take on informal jobs. Liphoko eventually received his ID in 2007. However, another challenge arose in 2009 when his family attempted to amend their surname to his father’s. While his parents and siblings successfully changed theirs, Liphoko’s surname remained unchanged.` V.5992
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`A senior official in the department of home affairs, who allegedly demanded kickbacks from service providers to approve their invoices, has been suspended.On Friday, Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber confirmed in an X post that Percy Tshabane, the department`s acting chief of director of employee engagement, had been suspended pending a thorough investigation into allegations that he solicited bribes to approve the payment of service providers. The official in question has been suspended and a full investigation is underway.Home affairs minister Leon Schreiber on Friday confirmed that Percy Tshabane has been suspended pending a thorough investigation.Noko Mashilo/Daily Sun City Press reported on 9 February that one lawyer, who identified himself as Mareng Mareng, had alleged that lawyers were being frustrated by the department`s chief director responsible for legal.` V.5993
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`Shortly after taking office in January, US President Donald Trump ordered a 90-day pause on foreign aid. - and asylum seekers in South Africa have received notices from the United States terminating their funding. - This comes after US President Donald Trump initially ordered a 90-day pause in foreign aid in January. - A human rights lawyer has said the cessation of this sort of funding will have a devastating impact. Just weeks after the United States invited Afrikaners to become refugees, the US Department of State`s Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration has cut off funding to civil society organisations providing services to refugees and asylum seekers in South Africa.Shortly after taking office in January, US President Donald Trump ordered a 90-day pause on foreign aid. A month later, and despite pending litigation, the Trump administration has started terminating most US foreign aid contracts and grants, Reuters reported. Organisations in South Africa that provide services to assist refugees and asylum seekers who migrated to the southern tip of Africa have not been spared. ` V.5994
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