UK Spouse's visa need at least £18,600 a year

[Bristolian]

You can bypass all this if you have another EU passport (Irish for example) I believe.

I'm not sure if you still can. In the past it was certainly true and a friend of mine (Australian) applied for and was granted an Irish passport for exactly this reason. He moved to the UK with his Thai wife some 5 years ago.

[pharvey]

You can bypass all this if you have another EU passport (Irish for example) I believe.

So how does that one work.......?

I hold 2 passports, unfortunately both UK...... does that mean I need to earn over 37K??

[caller]

You can bypass all this if you have another EU passport (Irish for example) I believe.

So how does that one work.......?

I hold 2 passports, unfortunately both UK...... does that mean I need to earn over 37K??

There are strings attached, like needing to be resident in Ireland and then taking your wife there and then to the UK. Europeans don't have to go through the hoops you are having to. Great if you're a Brit wanting to live and work in Rumania...

[JimmyGreaves]

You can bypass all this if you have another EU passport (Irish for example) I believe.

So how does that one work.......?

I hold 2 passports, unfortunately both UK...... does that mean I need to earn over 37K??

Well any EU citizen can bring there wife into the UK much easier than going the UK route. To get to stay in the UK takes a few years longer than the UK route though. 2 UK passports? PH not sure but my friend went that route as it was much easier. This is two years ago.

[JimmyGreaves]

You can bypass all this if you have another EU passport (Irish for example) I believe.

So how does that one work.......?

I hold 2 passports, unfortunately both UK...... does that mean I need to earn over 37K??

There are strings attached, like needing to be resident in Ireland and then taking your wife there and then to the UK. Europeans don't have to go through the hoops you are having to. Great if you're a Brit wanting to live and work in Rumania...

This must be new as my friend lives in London has done so all his life, got his paperwork via a UK company and they both went direct to the UK.

[caller]

This must be new as my friend lives in London has done so all his life, got his paperwork via a UK company and they both went direct to the UK.

That could be right. I was more thinking of a UK passport holder being resident elsewhere in euroland, wifey joins him bypassing the UK regs and then travel to UK. I think there is a minimum requirement for residency.

[lindosfan1]

Caller you are right that is what I did. 3 years residency in Greece we both held Greek residency.

[JimmyGreaves]

Caller you are right that is what I did. 3 years residency in Greece we both held Greek residency.

My friend has never lived in Ireland, all his life in London, Got married here in 2009 to his Thai lady. Enquired about UK route to get his wife into the UK and found that it was much easier via an Irish passport. Got his Irish passport in 2009 (both parents Irish), filled out some documents to get her visa (Not sure Shengen has anything to do with it) she got her visa and they have been living in the UK since. Think she has to do 6 years via this route and it may be only 3 via UK route. They are visiting here next week so will ask him exactly what's what.

[caller]

Think she has to do 6 years via this route and it may be only 3 via UK route. They are visiting here next week so will ask him exactly what's what.

We're talking two different things here. One an Irish citizen, the other a UK Citizen. Its another reason for some to complain and personally speaking, demonstrates the nonsense of UK citizens almost becoming 2nd class in their own country. Can't wait till we get out.

But JG, I'm far from being an expert on this and will happily defer to others, but what is the 3/6 year thing?