ECJ rules against visa restrictions for non-EU nationals visiting family
Britain should not be allowed to prevent EU-residents who originated from outside Europe from entering the UK without a visa to visit family, according to European judges.
This is the ruling made on the McCarthy case most recently, where British/Irish national Sean McCarthy argued that his Colombian wife Patricia McCarthy Rodriguez should not have to re-apply for a British visa every six months to visit family members.
The BBC reported that Prime Minister David Cameron disagreed with the judges’ decision.
Arguing that their right to freedom of movement was being restricted, the couple appealed the European Court of Justice who claimed that Britain’s concern over abuse of rights and fraud fails to justify the measures.
Anti-EU campaigners have argued that this decision will encourage more immigration. UKIP MEP and immigration spokesman Steven Woolfe told the BBC: "This is yet more proof that Britain can never take back control of its borders as long as it remains in the European Union."