Briton in Spain says dream of moving home ‘smashed’ by new spouse visa rule
MADRID – A British journalist who had hoped to move home from Spain with his Spanish partner said his dreams have been “smashed” by the UK Government increasing the salary threshold for foreign dependents.
Paul Giblin, 58, a sports reporter, has been with his partner Karmele Sanz, a hospital administrator, for 30 years.
“We were getting to that stage when we were thinking about maybe going back to Britain in the summer then returning to Madrid during the winter when the days are shorter,” he told i.
However, these hopes were dashed after the British government announced on Monday that any UK resident hoping to sponsor a foreign spouse will need to earn at least £38,700 per year under rules coming into force in the spring.
“It is very hard to describe the fury and loathing that I felt towards a Government which is only doing this to win a few votes at the next election. It is clearly an electoral tactic,” Mr Giblin said.
He said there was no way that he could hope to earn the kind of money required by the Government’s new earning threshold – up from £18,600.
There are other ways to meet the threshold – including using income such as savings and pensions, or bringing a partner to the UK on another visa initially until you can reach the threshold as a couple – but the pair say these would not apply in their case.
Mr Giblin owns a couple of homes in Britain which he inherited from his mother and an aunt. He had hoped to live in Hull where “nobody earns £38,000” per year. However, he said this would now be impossible.
“Just because you live in another country, it doesn’t mean you don’t care about it. To see those hopes smashed is hugely cruel,” Mr Giblin said.
“Before Brexit, I could work anywhere. After Brexit, I can only work in Britain and Spain and after this I can only work in Spain.”
Mr Giblin, who moved to Spain 34 years ago, lives in Madrid with Ms Sanz.
