What I’m about to write almost feels like a plea for help.
Begging whoever reads this to miraculously come up with an answer to my problem
and the problem of so many others who choose to live in a different country to
the one they were born in. The problem is with the visa requirements. I am currently
living and working in London on a Tier 5 (youth
mobility) visa which allows me to
live and work in the UK for 24 months. Sure, two years in great when all you
want to do is travel and make some money, but what about those of us who want
to stay? Those of us who have partners and friends and jobs which we have to
leave behind with no foreseeable opportunity to return to live in the UK because
the visa laws are so strict. Some of the most skilled workers, and people whom
contribute most to society and the economy cannot remain here because we aren’t
married to someone who has residency in the UK. It’s now 2016, the ideal of
marriage is outdated. Creating these restrictions and forcing young people to marry
one another before they are ready, assuming they want to marry in the first
place, is only contributing to higher divorce rates.
But if you have a partner, why not
apply for a partner visa you say? Sorry but no. You can currently only apply
for a partner visa if you can prove that you have lived together for more than
two years. Hang on a second, doesn’t the Tier
5 visa only entitle you to 24 months at which point you must return to your
‘home’ country? Right you are. Even if I had met my partner the day after I got
to the UK and we immediately began living together, I still would not qualify
for a partner visa. These are ridiculous and unrealistic standards, which are
impossible to meet. I know people who have been together for shorter amounts of
time that already have a child together. Why does the government not recognise
a relationship as credible if you haven’t lived together for 24 months?
I am also aware of the new visa
laws which mandate how much money you must earn to be able to remain in the United
Kingdom. Whilst this is not a primary concern of mine, it is for many others
living in the UK now and in the future. The amount of Australians, New
Zealanders and Canadians coming to the United Kingdom is going to significantly
drop and considering the amount of visas issued to people from these countries,
who are currently working and paying taxes in the UK, must be cause for concern
in the government. The UK is no longer
as desirable a destination and its reputation as being one the most sought out
destinations for Australians is being harmed. In fact the number of Australians
heading the UK to work has dropped by 50% in the past 2-3 years.
We need to see a change.
Australia, New Zealand and Canada, to name a few, are all part of the
Commonwealth, yet we are still held under these strict visa laws which are
separating loved ones and creating tensions between these countries. As part of
the Commonwealth we should be working together to allow our citizens the right
to work and live where they please rather than forcing them to leave.
Please click here to sign a petition promoting the free movement of citizens between the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
