Indonesia
Colin: the rules that decide who counts as family
Colin could satisfy the income requirement. What he could not do was persuade the rules that his wife's mother, who had raised their children, was family.
Read Colin’s story
In the news
What this actually looks like
Policy arguments are easier to dismiss than people. These are accounts BOVF members have shared with us, presented anonymously.
Japan
Edward: two years, three refusals, one family
Edward spent two years and three applications trying to bring his wife and daughter to the UK. None of the refusals were about whether his marriage was genuine.
Read Edward’s story
Netherlands
Jo: a life built in the Netherlands, and a vote that nearly vanished
Jo moved to the Netherlands before the referendum, built a career and a family there, and spent the following years discovering how many British doors quietly close behind you.
Read Jo’s story
Thailand
John: doing the sums twenty years too late
John planned his retirement to Thailand carefully. The one variable he could not plan for was the one nobody mentioned.
Read John’s story
Thailand
Anthony: the pension that stopped in 2011
Anthony retired to Thailand on a full contribution record. His state pension has been paid at the 2011 rate ever since, and nobody warned him.
Read Anthony’s story
Would you tell us yours?
Our arguments to MPs are considerably stronger for having real accounts behind them. If any of this is familiar, get in touch. We publish nothing without permission and we anonymise by default.