Sarah Mulley, Matt Cavanagh - IPPR 1) 17 Jan 2013: BritCits to Sarah, Matt Covering email: Hi Sarah, Matt I write

to you as the co-founder of BritCits - a group formed to unite those negatively impacted by the extremely ill-thought through rules brought in by the current (and unelected) government. I understand you have co-authored "Fair & Democratic Migration Policy" and therefore feel you may be interested in the viewpoint from the impact of the rules on 'ordinary' British citizens. I was especially interested in your arguments of why having a net migration target is not sensible - only hope this reaches the eyes of those advising the politicians! I'd be very keen on hearing your thoughts on family migration, particularly in light of any research you may have already carried out on this issue, and somehwat presumptuously, attach three documents I hope you will take the time to read through: a) a pack of case studies of British citizens being put in awful situations by a government that is supposed to represent us b) a letter more succinctly setting out where the rules are unfair and where the government's claims fall apart c) a letter from Lord Taylor to Lord Avebury If there is any further information we can provide, any advice you can give us, or anything you wish to discuss with us, we'd be more than happy to. Regards Sonel (BritCits) Attached: a) BritCits pack b) Lord Taylor letter to Lord Avebury, and c) letter as below Dear Sarah and Matt UKs current family immigration rules are unfair, ill-thought through and damaging to the lives, values, economy and culture, particularly in their application to British citizens. We are not advocating open-door immigration - but we should have a fair immigration policy; we should have hurdles that can be jumped over - without having to pole vault or have doors slammed shut on you. We should be allowed to live with respect with our family, in our own country - without interference from the government, particularly where this is without recourse to public funds! Non-EU spouses On spouses, the income threshold does not take into account varying average incomes and costs of living, in different regions of the UK. No allowance is made for the non-EU spouse's income or wealth. No allowance is made for the British citizen being a home owner, as the asset test involves cash savings, as high as 62,500! No value is placed on the British citizen or foreign spouse's skills, knowledge and education, be they qualified in an area where we are seeking overseas talent! (So the government is prepared to force into exile a skilled British citizen, just to replace them with a foreigner?!) Indeed, as a non-EU postgraduate student, you are allowed to have your spouse join you in the UK, without an income requirement (given the person coming in is a student). As a British postgraduate student, you still need a minimum income of 18,600. How is this even fair?

Non-EU adult dependants (especially parents) As a British citizen, the route to having your foreign (say Australian) parents this can be extended to other adult dependants such as siblings, but its most poignant for parents - join you in the UK is completely closed - whether the British citizen or their parents have money or not; whether the parents are healthy or not; whether the parents take out private healthcare cover to reduce the reliance on the NHS or not; whether the British citizen is prepared to provide an undertaking or bond as guarantee or not. This is regardless of the British citizen being a higher rate tax payer and never having claimed benefits. The govt is telling those who have invested their life here to now abandon our parents or bugger off, despite up until 9th July, our being told we could sponsor our parents once they reached age 65 (with discretion applicable for parents younger than that). However, a basic grasp of English makes it clear on reading of the rules that they are designed to not let anyone in. The attached letter shows that under the new rules, since 9th July, only ONE adult dependant visa has been issued worldwide. I am suspicious of the circumstances of even this one issue. If youre able to obtain any information around the circumstances of this and indeed, whether the person in receipt of this visa is actually physically in a position whereby they can travel to the UK. that would be appreciated. Indeed, to date, we have not been able to obtain even one, let alone the three requested, examples of situations where an adult dependant would satisfy the criteria (without it being this person will satisfy the criteria if they also satisfy this other element of the criteria!). EU citizens Whatever your view on UK's position or role in the EU is, at the moment we are part of the EU. Many British citizens have used the EU Freedom of Movement treaty rights to make, what for them, is a better life elsewhere in the EU. It is however to say we shouldn't have less rights in our country than others. Under EU rules, an EU citizen who is not British can move to the UK with their spouse and children, without the 18,600+ income threshold which this government has imposed on our own citizens. There are no language requirements as imposed on the spouses of our own citizens, with the application being free. Under EU rules, an EU citizen can have join them in the UK, not only their spouse and children, but stepchildren, parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters and even cousins. No income criteria, no language tests, nothing. And the application fee is nil. What makes it even more bizarre is that under EU rules, even the non-EU spouse of an EU citizen can have join them in the UK, their parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters and even cousins. No income criteria, no language tests, nothing. And the application fee is nil. To set it out with examples for ease of understanding: a) A British citizen earning 18,500 can't have their Australian spouse and children join them in the UK. However, an Italian earning 12,000 can have their spouse, children, entire family and extended family, and their spouses extended family (wherever in the world they are from) join them in the UK. b) A British citizen earning 100,000 can't have their Australian parents join them in the UK, while being willing to provide guarantees, a bond etc. However, an Australian who is married to (say) an Italian earning 12,000, can have their entire immediate and extended family join them in the UK, even without the guarantees the above British citizen is willing to provide. Substitute Indian, Russian, American, Indonesian for Australian. Substitute Irish, French, Greek, Polish for Italian. Same result. (see: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20207357 ) Does this seem fair to you? This is not to say let's leave the EU. We appreciate that's something that may be decided via a referendum (but then let's also be prepared for eviction of Brits from other EU countries

along with ramifications on our economy and trade). It's to say, please, let's not give our citizens less rights than foreigners, be they from the EU, or simply married to an EU citizen, especially on this scale. On a recent BBC broadcast, Mark Harper made some erroneous statements. We counter those with the following and would be grateful for a response you may be able to obtain on our behalf: Mark Harper: People are welcome if sponsor pays for their family without expecting taxpayers to pay BritCits comment: Why is the immediate family of those willing to provide guarantee/bond/private insurance cover denied this right? The MAC report the govt uses to justify the 18,600 threshold also specified an income threshold for dependants (such as parents) which the govt has ignored. WHY? Mark Harper: Changes to family route are to clamp down on benefit abuse, not to reach immigration target of tens of thousands. British people welcome those coming here to contribute, not claim benefits BritCits comments: a) Non-EU migrants cant claim benefits for over 5 years clamp down on those abusing the system, not law-abiding citizens b) Why is spouses/ parents income/wealth not allowed for? Mark Harper: ..18,600 is broadly what you need to not claim income related benefits. BritCits comments: a) Why is an income threshold not applied to parents of British citizens? b) Sneaky use of 'broadly'. Our understanding is those with earnings of c12k or savings of c16k cant claim benefits - why then is the threshold for spouses an income of 18,600 or savings of 62,500 in cash!! Various MPs claim the brightest and best are welcome; our family members are welcome as long as they are not a burden on taxpayers. This doesnt correspond with the governments policies, as they ignore the value of the skills, income and wealth of our non-EU spouses and parents. The government is prepared to even see British professionals whose occupations are on the Skills Shortage List forcibly exiled (often replaced by skilled workers from other countries and their families!) by putting in place rules which mean wed otherwise be apart from our family in some cases, regardless of how high our income is, and the financial bond and undertakings we are prepared to provide. Very happy to discuss. Sonel (BritCits: britcits@gmail.com)