A fresh push has been made for changes to the UK’s family visa rules to help Scots reunite with their loved ones.
The Scottish Government has urged Westminster to lower the minimum income requirement, which currently stands at £29,000, for those wishing to bring an immediate family member from abroad to live in Scotland.
A newly published report highlights that the salary threshold disproportionately affects women and part-time workers, making it harder for many to meet the financial criteria.
Planned increases to the threshold were paused in July 2024, with the UK Government now reviewing whether the current rules should remain in place.
Equalities Minister Kaukab Stewart has called on the UK Government to take action, particularly on Valentine’s Day, to support families who are being kept apart.
She insists that those living in Scotland should have the right to build a life with their spouse and children, regardless of their nationality.
Allowing more people to bring their families to Scotland would strengthen communities, bolster public services and contribute to the economy, she added.
The Scottish Government is calling for the minimum income requirement to be lowered or removed entirely, making it easier for families to reunite.
Sarah Douglas, from the Scottish Borders, is one of many affected by the strict financial threshold.
Currently living in Perugia, Italy, with her husband and three children, Sarah wants to return to Scotland but cannot due to the income requirement.
She says the policy leaves her with an impossible choice between family separation or permanent exile.
As a mother of three, she finds it extremely difficult to meet the threshold while also raising her children and being separated from her husband.
She describes the rule as cruel and unnecessary, placing undue emotional and financial strain on families.
Demi Kara, from Edinburgh, also faces heartbreak due to the visa restrictions.
After marrying her husband from Adana, Turkey, in 2024, the couple are forced to live apart as Demi does not meet the income requirement.
She believes the policy is deeply unfair and claims it forces young couples to either pay a steep price or put their lives on hold indefinitely.
She has even had to pause her university degree in order to fight for her husband’s right to be by her side.
For Demi, the situation is agonising, as she feels torn between two countries while simply wanting to be with her husband.
Campaigners argue that the visa rules fail to consider the personal and economic benefits of allowing more families to settle in Scotland.
The Scottish Government is standing firm in its belief that change is needed, and fast.
With Westminster now reviewing the rules, families across Scotland are waiting in hope for a decision that could bring them back together.
