 For example, applications for 2.5-year leave to remain as a spouse under the Immigration Rules are in excess of £1000 for a 2.5 year period, with an additional NHS surcharge of £250; the applicant must have passed an English language test; the sponsor needs to show a minimum income requirement of around £18,000 per annum; and there is no access to public funds like unemployment benefits.In contrast, an application under the EEA Regulations currently costs £65 and is valid for 5 years, and the applicant has recourse to public funds as long as their sponsor continues to exercise free movement rights.The primary situations where British citizens are considered as EU citizens for the purpose of settlement are defined in Regulation 9, the most prevalent situation is known as the Surinder Singh route to citizenship, which is where the British Citizen has lived and exercised Free-movement rights in another EU state before returning to the UK.