“Mike, your question that you sent us is far from strange. The Home Office Guidance for spousal visas are extremely confusing. Let us assist you to understand your situation.
If you look up the Guidance, which is called : “Immigration Directorate Instruction Family Migration- Appendix FM”, you shall see that there are categories of income that can be accumulated together, and sources of income that unfortunately cannot be considered as one.
The minimum income threshold for a Partner or Spouse who is applying under Appendix FM from 9 July 2012, without dependent children, is £18,600. An additional gross annual income of £3,800 is required for the first child sponsored in addition to the partner and an additional £2,400 for each further child
The onus is on the applicant to demonstrate that the financial requirement is met in their case. Promises of support from a third party cannot be counted towards the financial requirement. So unfortunately, dad cannot help out by promising that he will sponsor your wife in the future.
The following table shows how these sources can and cannot be combined with each other. See the relevant section of this guidance for further information: