My GF is Chinese and has worked and studied here for 5 years on and off, her current visa is set to expire and from what I read you cant apply for one this year unless you earn 35k +, or are marrying a UK resident etc. She currently earns 18k as she works for a small local landcape company but is educated to master level and is applying to do an extension in her field of work (not 100% sure what that is exactly, but it raises her salary band to around 24k or thereabouts).

I've looked on the governments site and to be honest its over my head, before i start packing my suitcases, does anyone know of loopholes or extensions that can be applied to the current new rules?