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Man to be deported after ruling UK wife's salary too low | Man to be deported after ruling UK wife's salary too low |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A man faces deportation from the UK after a court ruled his British wife's salary was not high enough. | A man faces deportation from the UK after a court ruled his British wife's salary was not high enough. |
Michael Engel, from South Africa, said the "bizarre" immigration system rules were "attacking British citizens". | Michael Engel, from South Africa, said the "bizarre" immigration system rules were "attacking British citizens". |
Mr Engel, a 31-year-old yacht engineer living in Cornwall, said he and wife Natalie plan to go back to South Africa with 18-month-old daughter Nyana. | Mr Engel, a 31-year-old yacht engineer living in Cornwall, said he and wife Natalie plan to go back to South Africa with 18-month-old daughter Nyana. |
A Home Office spokesman said the rules were designed to stop foreign spouses becoming reliant on UK taxpayers. | A Home Office spokesman said the rules were designed to stop foreign spouses becoming reliant on UK taxpayers. |
The couple were told of the immigration tribunal's ruling after they had appealed on the grounds of a right to family life. | The couple were told of the immigration tribunal's ruling after they had appealed on the grounds of a right to family life. |
'I'm gobsmacked' | 'I'm gobsmacked' |
But under rules introduced in 2012, British citizens who want to bring a foreign spouse to the UK must earn £18,600 a year and a further £3,800 - a total of £22,400 - if the couple have a child. | But under rules introduced in 2012, British citizens who want to bring a foreign spouse to the UK must earn £18,600 a year and a further £3,800 - a total of £22,400 - if the couple have a child. |
Mrs Engel's business made £19,786 in 2014 which was deemed not enough by the tribunal panel, which met on 3 December. | Mrs Engel's business made £19,786 in 2014 which was deemed not enough by the tribunal panel, which met on 3 December. |
She said the decision made her feel like her family was being "kicked out" of the country. | She said the decision made her feel like her family was being "kicked out" of the country. |
She said: "I'm gobsmacked, lost for words, angry and deflated. I'm not so proud to be British right now." | She said: "I'm gobsmacked, lost for words, angry and deflated. I'm not so proud to be British right now." |
But Judge Michael Wilson, who heard the appeal, said UK taxpayers "should not be expected to have to financially support the appellant in the event of him not obtaining work". | But Judge Michael Wilson, who heard the appeal, said UK taxpayers "should not be expected to have to financially support the appellant in the event of him not obtaining work". |
The couple are now awaiting a deportation date. | The couple are now awaiting a deportation date. |
Mr Engel said: "We did everything in our power to tick all the boxes. | Mr Engel said: "We did everything in our power to tick all the boxes. |
"They are just attacking the wrong people - they are attacking British citizens." | "They are just attacking the wrong people - they are attacking British citizens." |
'Fair to public' | 'Fair to public' |
The couple met in 2009 working on a cruise ship and lived in South Africa for four years. | The couple met in 2009 working on a cruise ship and lived in South Africa for four years. |
They moved to the UK in January 2013 with Mr Engel on a holiday visa, living first in Yorkshire and then in Cornwall. | They moved to the UK in January 2013 with Mr Engel on a holiday visa, living first in Yorkshire and then in Cornwall. |
In a statement the Home Office said: "Our family rules were brought in to make sure that spouses coming to the UK do not become reliant on the taxpayer for financial support. | In a statement the Home Office said: "Our family rules were brought in to make sure that spouses coming to the UK do not become reliant on the taxpayer for financial support. |
"This is fair to applicants and to the rest of the public, and has been upheld by the Court of Appeal." | "This is fair to applicants and to the rest of the public, and has been upheld by the Court of Appeal." |
Average gross full time pay in Cornwall was £23,305 for the year ending April 2014, compared with £27,195 for the UK, according to the Office for National Statistics.. | |
North Cornwall Liberal Democrat MP, Dan Rogerson, said in October: "It's absolutely right that anyone who comes to settle in this country has the resources to do that and is not going to claim benefits straight away. | |
"But I think it's also important that we get the thresholds right, so that in low income areas like Cornwall, we are not disadvantaging people. | |
"We need to keep families together who want to settle here." |