A veteran from Portland fears his family will remain apart due to plans for new visa rules.

Ben Geiran, 34, met his wife Cecilia, also 34, who is a Chinese national, through friends.

They have been married for eight years and have a four-year-old daughter together, who lives with Mr Geiran in Dorset.

Under the government's proposed new visa rules, households must earn a minimum of £38,700 to qualify for a family visa, a significant increase on the current figure of £18,600.

Under the reform, Mr Geiran fears being being split up from his wife as the family would not qualify for a visa with their current earnings.

He said: “I understand the government's stance on tackling the migration crisis.

"However, this will leave families, mine included, who have taken the legal channels to reunite with loved ones and received nothing but blocks and challenges, separated in the name of money."

Mr Geiran and his wife had lived in China for ten years. However, due to concerns China was becoming “too nationalistic” and “unsafe”, he decided to move back to the UK with his daughter.

Dorset Echo:

Even before the five-point plan was proposed, the family faced difficulties in getting a visa approved for his wife, with both a spousal visa and tourist visa being rejected.

In order to meet the original financial requirement of £18,600, Mr Geiran had to close his distillery business and find a minimum wage job.

Mr Geiran is shocked at such a significant increase in qualifying for a family visa, describing it as 'unachievable' for most white-collar workers.  

“I would like to hear and understand how the government have reached this blanket financial requirement, an increase of more than 20k. One size does not fit all. Each applicant should be evaluated on their individual circumstances.

“My daughter needs her mother and I need my wife. These are basic human rights that every single person is entitled to. This is what I served my country for.”

A Home Office spokesperson said the new visa rules have been announced in a bid to reduce migration to the UK.

They said: “The Prime Minister has made clear current levels of migration to the UK are far too high.

"That is why the Government announced a plan this week to decisively cut net migration and create a system that works for the British people.

“We have a longstanding principle that anyone bringing dependants to live in the UK must be able to financially support them.

"The Minimum Income Requirement ensures that families are self-sufficient instead of relying on public funds, with the ability to integrate if they are to play a full part in British life.”