Publisher's Synopsis
This book presents the outcome of a comparative study on family reunification policies in six EU Member States: Austria, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Portugal, and the UK. The study examines the way in which family reunification policies have developed over the past decade, as well as the positions governments have adopted regarding four main requirements: income, pre-entry test, age, and housing. Furthermore, it analyzes the application of these requirements in practice and how their application is perceived by the family members. Based on statistics and interviews, the book draws conclusions on the impact of the applicable requirements on migrants and their family members in the Member States. Considering the recognition at the EU level that family reunification is regarded as beneficial to the integration of migrants, the book clarifies whether or not national policies serve to promote or hinder family reunification, and it contributes to the integration of migrants and their family members.
