Migrants' Rights Network: Response to family reunion consultation

 
We think that extending the period of insecurity for spouses in the UK would be counterproductive in terms of their integration. Rather than ensuring that people have the rights and security to be able to integrate, this proposal would have a negative impact on integration. It would risk increasing resentment and a feeling of alienation among families affected by the change. This rule change would compare negatively to other, comparable countries. The UK would have the longest route to settlement for spouses and partners in Europe, alongside Austria and the Netherlands. It would move the UK away from other liberal democracies 
including the US, Canada and Australia, which currently permit spouses to apply for settlement after just two years, moving them to a more secure situation much more quickly than is proposed here...
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