<sod >He had previously been refused the right to stay in the country because his pregnant wife did not earn the Â£20,600-a-year needed under 2013 rules, aimed at preventing foreign spouses from becoming dependent on UK taxpayers.< eod>< sod > He claimed that he had previously been refused the right to stay in the country because his then-pregnant wife did not earn the Â£18,600 a year needed under 2012 rules, aimed at preventing foreign spouses from becoming dependent on UK taxpayers.< eod>