My wife is Russian, yes it may have been climbing however the average salary in Russia even prior to the sanctions was nowhere near enough to meet Western financial entry requirements. Only those on above average salary or with financial backing (be it corporate, educational or sponsorship from a citizen of the country they want to travel to) can afford it.He's dual citizenship, but your statement is only partially correct.
"most" sure they can't travel internationally. But the % of those able to travel internationally had been climbing steadily over the past 20 years. Now, it has been greatly set back, not just by financial constraints (sanctions), but by practical constraints (nearly no one is flying into/out of Russia).
The entry requirements for UK when my wife moved here were way beyond her means in 2016, they’ve only increased each year. Keep in mind official average salary figures are skewed due to the massive difference between the haves and the have nots. No shop worker, mechanic, cleaner, nurse (ie working class) person in Russia is anywhere near the requirements after they have paid for accommodatio, food (prices not that far removed from UK prices), bills etc. Her grandmothers pension after a full working life is roughly £100 …… per month, the only way she feeds herself and her disabled husband is growing her own veg etc in her (state provided) allotment (think more like a small holding), she pickles and preserves for use in winter.
The fee’s in 2016 for a fiance visa were in the region of £5k plus I had to show I was able to financially support her for the 6mths it was valid for (iirc I had to have £18.5k income minimum). The visa fees are similar for a visitor visa plus they have to show enough funds to cover their stay. She now has indefinite leave to remain but the visa fees over that initial 6yrs have been just shy of £20k.
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