As Britain prepares to welcome the world to the Olympic Games the Government will today slam the door on the poor relations of immigrants. So says Birmingham immigration expert Sejal Karavadra of DBS Law.

The government has today implemented changes to the Immigration Rules for non EEA Nationals applying to enter or remain in the UK on the family migration route. The new Rules will define the basis upon which a person can enter or remain in the UK on the basis of their family or private life.

The changes include the introduction of a new minimum income threshold of £18,600 for sponsoring a spouse, partner, fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner to settle in the UK. If children are also being sponsored the threshold rises to £22400 for one child and an additional £2400 for each further child. There will also be an extension to the minimum probationary period for settlement for non-EEA spouses and partners from 2 years to 5 years.

Most of the new changes will apply to applicants from today - 9th July 2012, less the three weeks before the Olympics opening ceremony. Ms Karavadra predicts these changes will affect hundreds of individuals in the UK who are hoping to make applications in the coming weeks to bring loved ones to live with them in the city.

Sejal Karavadra said “The values of the Olympics games, equality, fair play and friendship, are completely lost on this Government. Family is not important to them either only money. The changes will result in many immigrant families being permanently separated.”

For more information, please look at the DBS Law website: dbslaw.co.uk/immigration