When Raquel Roberts Dos Santos’ son Jaime was referred for emotional support at school, experts said he was “grieving” for his father.
Jaime’s dad, Manoel, is very much alive. But because of a tightening of cruel spousal visa rules introduced under Rishi Sunak, the teacher and builder cannot join his young family in Portsmouth.
Needing a “minimum income” for people who want to bring loved ones to the UK was first introduced by the Tories in 2012. Back then, under Theresa May’s “hostile environment”, it was £18,600 a year.
Since April, anyone applying for a visa to bring a spouse from overseas must earn at least £29,000 a year, gradually rising to an eye-watering £38,700 by next year.
The sudden change has seen thousands of families like Raquel’s torn apart – and Manoel’s eight-year-old son left painting pictures of broken hearts.
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The family had been living together in Brazil, but after repeatedly being a victim of crime, Raquel came to the UK with Jaime and his brother, Emanoel, six, to set up a new life here – only to find the draconian new rules mean Manoel can’t join them.
Manoel is snapped saying goodbye to his kids at the airport (Jonathan Buckmaster)
Christopher Livings says he feels like he and Italian wife Marilena 'are not welcome in the UK' so they reside in her country (Collect)“It’s just politics to them, but this is our life. The visa rules mean you have to be in the top 25% of earners in the UK. It’s out of reach for any single parent, and anyone juggling childcare and a full-time job,” Raquel said.
“It’s destroying families. The Government is basically saying, ‘you can’t fall in love with a foreigner unless you’re rich’.” Now the new changes – which were hastily introduced by Home Secretary James Cleverly – are being challenged in the High Court on the grounds they are separating children from their parents and discriminate against women and minorities.
Reunite Families UK says thousands of families are affected, and that the rules are contrary to the UN convention on the rights of the child.
Law firm Leigh Day represents the group, and partner Tessa Gregory, says: “Our client, RFUK, is appalled that a decision of such importance appears to have been taken by the Home Secretary in such a cavalier manner.”
Alix Sato says the callous rule has sent her and her family “into exile”. The 30-year-old met her Japanese husband, Takashi, 33, when they were both working in Thailand. They married in Japan but decided to settle in the UK when they started a family.
Now they are being forced to relocate to Japan because they won’t have enough to meet the new requirements. Alix says she and her two-month-old daughter – a British citizen – are being exiled and that the visa requirements penalise relationships where the female partner is British.
She started working as soon as she arrived back in the UK, doing a £30,000-a-year administrative job until a few weeks before giving birth, but it wasn’t the permanent role required by the Home Office.
Takashi joined her for the birth of their child on a six-month tourist visa. The couple say they will have to leave their home in Eastbourne, East Sussex, when it runsout.
“I’m not being separated from my husband and our family, so I have no choice. I’m being exiled, possibly for ever,” Alix says. “Where we live should be our choice, not Rishi Sunak’s.
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“It doesn’t make sense. My husband speaks English and could get work very easily here, we could be an asset to the economy. We can get a spousal visa in Japan so I will have to learn Japanese and start again there.
“If I want to stay in my own country I’ll need to do so without my husband, as a single parent. I wouldn’t have childcare so I wouldn’t be able to work, I’d be reliant on state benefits.
“The people they are hurting are British citizens. My child is a British citizen and will no longer be growing up with English as a first language.
“It’s affected us mentally. We know of other parents who can’t even be together – dads having to speak to their children on FaceTime. Most affected by this are women and children. It makes me ashamed to be British.”
Alix and Takashi Sato are being forced to relocate to Japan (Andrew Hasson)The Home Office said it is unable to comment because of purdah rules in the weeks leading up to a general election. Previously, Mr Cleverly said the plans were part of his plan to produce the “biggest ever reduction in net migration”.
Christopher Livings, 33, is currently in Southern Italy with his Italian wife, Marilena, 32, an online language teacher. The pair met in Spain six years ago and married in November 2023.
Originally from Chesterfield, Derbyshire, Christopher, a graphic designer, wants to return to the UK where his extended family are based.
“But the UK feels like such a hostile place right now, I feel like me and my wife are not welcome,” he says. "Workwise, I’d be much better off in the UK but as a freelancer I can’t generate that kind of income or get the permanent contracts they are asking for. The amount is so high – above what a lot of people earn, even in good jobs. In Italy, I’ve got a residency visa that will be renewed after a year and that’s all there is to it really.” According to the Migration Observatory, 70% of UK employees earn less than £38,700, and around 50% earn less than £29,000.
“It’s so short-sighted. If my husband was here, I’d have childcare so could earn more,” Raquel explains. “Without him here, I’m on Universal Credit.
“I’m stressed beyond belief, and my children are suffering. Research shows 91% of children in this situation are suffering mental-health issues. I’m determined to find a job that pays enough but I just don’t know how.”
The family keep in touch via WhatsApp, but the four-hour time difference makes it hard to share things like bedtimes. Meanwhile, Raquel says: “My son is painting pictures of broken hearts.”
* Crowdfunder: goodlawproject.org/crowdfunder/help-reunite-families-uk
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