Tough new UK immigration law creates wedding frenzy in Pakistan

London, July 11 (ANI): New immigration laws imposed by the British government have forced frantic British Pakistanis to hold last minute weddings.

Hundreds of Pakistani families flew back to Pakistan as they were compelled to plead and complete the paperwork before the imposition of tougher immigration laws, reports the Daily Times.

The controversial new laws state that a Briton has to earn a minimum 18,600 pounds to bring his/her overseas partner into the UK. From July 9, if a foreign-born spouse already has children, their British partner has to earn 22,400 pounds or more depending on how many children they have. Spouses from overseas also have to pass the 'life in the UK test' and their probation period will be extended from two to five years.

A leading lawyer, Syed Rashid Masood, said: "A lot of people who were planning to get married later, have already gone to India and Pakistan to do so, gave up their big budget wedding to get married in a simple ceremony so they can apply. In the rush, people tried to get their overseas spouses to clear the ESOL or IELTS in a record-breaking time and are also collecting their paperwork with great speed. To suddenly introduce a measure like this is unfair of the British government. People have been given less than a month to get married and apply for their spouses."

If a person is earning 15,000 pounds, they will now have to show at least 25,000 pounds in savings, which must have been in their accounts for six months. The Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants, a lobby group, has said the new laws could affect about 20,000 families in Britain.We foresee a big impact on family life in Britain for Pakistani community. It will have a disproportionate affect on poorer families. It will split families until they can join them. Unless they have a family business which can pay them more, they don't have control on the climate, so families can't put pressure on them to earn more," said Pakistan Forum chairman Raja Javed Iqbal.

British Home Secretary Theresa May has said the family visa laws will save taxpayers 1.5 billion pounds in 10 years and cut the number of visas issued by around a third to 18,500 a year. (ANI)