Changes to the Covid-19 Minimum Income Requirement Concession

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the Home Office has operated a concession in regard to the level of income required to be eligible for a partner visa under Appendix FM. Applicants have been able to request that loss of income from 1 March 2020 onwards due to Covid-19 be disregarded and that their pre-pandemic income is taken into account instead.

However, the Home Office has recently updated its guidance to confirm that the concessions will not be extended beyond 31 October 2021. This means that income from 1 November onwards will be assessed based on what you actually earn, even if you or your partner continue to experience loss of income due to Covid-19.

Applicants will, however, still be able to rely on the concession for pandemic-related loss of income that occurred between 1 March 2020 and 31 October 2021 if this falls within the relevant period for their application. Any such period may be disregarded when assessing applications, provided that you can show you met the minimum income requirement for the six month period immediately prior to the loss of income.

This applies to lost income from employment, self-employment, and due to being furloughed on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

If you have experienced loss of income during the pandemic and would like advice on making an application for leave to remain based on your family or private life, please contact either our Edinburgh or Glasgow offices (Immigration@drummondmiller.co.uk) and one of our experienced solicitors will be able to assist you.