I came here before 2011 so these rules, they don't apply to me. Actually, I'll tell you my story. I came here on a regular old passport, as America is part of some ''deal'' with UK where you can enter as a ''visitor'' for up to 6 months before you need to leave. Well, I had no home to go back to, so I stayed. I became an overstayer, and stayed an overstayer for 2 years. Home Office was aware I was an overstayer, they did nothing. I read all the stories online, saying how I'd be thrown out like rubbish, deported and banned for 10 years entry. I had met my husband and we married while I was an overstayer. Yep, went through the marriage interviews and everything, still nobody deported me. I was not allowed to work, or get any benefits of course, so I had to work under the table to save up. I did not want to be an illegal immigrant in a country I had a lot of respect for that I considered my home now. I applied for limited leave to remain, and my husband who sponsored me at the time was not making the money that was required for a spouse to be sponsored for that particular visa. I also was not making enough, and was scared to report to the home office on the fact I was even working. However, I was granted it anyways. So to anyone, and this may be kind of shitty me...Anyone caught between a rock and a hard place, could technically become an overstayer, then apply for LTR or IDLR through that. I really also, don't think that the Home Office is going to forcefully go out on a rampage, finding everyone and deporting them because they don't make the allocated amount. That's the sensationalist part that bother's me. If anyone would know the fear of impending deporation, it'd be me. If Brexit happens, people will be OK. The UK has thousands of foreign workers from all over the globe. But I know this income threshold mostly applies to those on a Tier 2, last I knew you had to have a Bachelor's Degree or higher to get on a Tier 2, and I don't know many people who have one of those that would make less than what's allowed on the Shortage Occupation List. There are a lot of loopholes in the immigration system, hell if you have to ..take advantage of them.