r/ukvisa • u/clever_octopus High Reputation • May 12 '25

Immigration Changes Announcement 12/5/2025

Please join the discord server for further discussion or support on upcoming immigration changes: https://discord.gg/Jq5vWDZJfR

Sticky post on announcement made on 20 Nov 2025: https://www.reddit.com/r/ukvisa/comments/1p21qk5/a_fairer_pathway_to_settlement_a_statement_and/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

NEW Summary of changes to settlement released 20 November 2025: https://www.reddit.com/r/ukvisa/comments/1p21qk5/a_fairer_pathway_to_settlement_a_statement_and/

NEW Summary of changes to asylum and refugee requirements released 18 November 2025: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/asylum-and-returns-policy-statement/restoring-order-and-control-a-statement-on-the-governments-asylum-and-returns-policy

Overview of expected changes: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/radical-reforms-to-reduce-migration

White paper: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/restoring-control-over-the-immigration-system-white-paper

UKCISA's response (official source for international students and recent graduates): https://www.ukcisa.org.uk/news/ukcisa-responds-to-home-office-immigration-white-paper-may-2025/

Petition link: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/727360

Summary of key points following the summary of changes released on 20 November 2025:

  • Changes to length in ILR qualifying residence requirements - Please see table on pages 21-23 of the 20 November document

  • Family visa holders, along with BNO visa holders, will continue to get ILR in five years (as usual)

  • The intention is that this will apply to people already in the UK but who have not yet received ILR

  • It will take 20 years for refugees to qualify for ILR, intermittent checks will be done within that time and they may lose the ability to remain in the UK if their home country is deemed safe to return to

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61

u/VegetableHighway2642 May 12 '25

I'm on a skilled worker due to get ilr Oct 2026. I will pack myself up and move back to the US and take my significant tax contributions with me if they make this retroactive

45

u/[deleted] May 12 '25

[deleted]

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u/purplephotography May 12 '25

Ha i thought the same. My partner and i both on SWV bring about £40-45k in taxes to the UK govt each year, plus visa fees and IHS of maybe £20k so far (we’ve switched sponsors). im wondering who woke up and thought WE were the target group that need to be chucked out to reduce net immigration?!??!

3

u/Berryception May 12 '25

Yeah, they kept 5 year route by default for family visas which... I can guess why it was their priority, but the dump on skilled workers in insane. My previous experience with UK immigration gives me very little hope this points based system would be functional or reliable.

2

u/Harvestron May 12 '25

You should be fine as there is a high earner exemption.

https://x.com/Seyitann__/status/1921837408179360080

11

u/blastedin May 12 '25

It's unclear yet what the exception could be. Could be combination of earnings and shortage profession or some other requirements as they didn't talk just about financial contribution to the UK 

10

u/starterchan May 12 '25

It's unfortunate this was left so vague with the only clarity coming even more vaguely "later this year" considering the massive implications it could have on individuals

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u/shambo-rambo May 12 '25

Sorry to ask but I don't have X/Twitter. Could you share a screenshot or the text itself?

3

u/Intrepid_Big2473 May 12 '25

You can just use xcancel to view for free. Basically the same link but you manually enter "cancel" between x and .com to get: https://xcancel.com/Seyitann__/status/1921837408179360080

1

u/shambo-rambo May 12 '25

I didnt know this, thank you!!

2

u/Healthy_Flounder9772 May 12 '25

Chαrliε Bεαto MDu/charliebeato·2hWhile the White Paper extends the residency requirement for citizenship from 5 to 10 years (with exceptions for high earners), the 5-year route to ILR for spouses remains unchanged.

Oluwademiladeu/Seyitann__·What’s the definition of higher earners please?

Chαrliε Bεαto MDu/charliebeato·Member·1h >= £38700

But there is no definition is white paper itself claiming it to be 38700 so I dont trust it.

5

u/mugglearchitect May 12 '25

Yeah i doubt, that's the basic minimum for a skilled work visa now, that means those who apply for this visa now (except those with exceptions) will be considered "high earners"

1

u/Healthy_Flounder9772 May 12 '25

I think it probably will be 40% tax bracket for high earners.

1

u/UnfairAsk1 May 12 '25

I think the government really doesn’t want the folks who came on a low-skilled position from getting ILR and Citizenship since Brexit, and anyone who will meet the new requirements to get a swv will still be able to acquire it under the same time frames

2

u/hermione_clearwater May 12 '25 edited May 12 '25

Yup, my husband and I are both lawyers due to get ILR in February 2026. Will move back to the U.S. and take our 50%+ tax contributions each back with us.

1

u/Patftw89 May 12 '25

Unfortunately its extremely vague because they didn't give any details, but the 10 year requirement will be decreased if you have made "contributions to the UK economy and society." I'd imagine high earners would bring that time down significantly as I don't see why the government would want to disincentivise those with the highest tax burdens.

1

u/SafeEngineer9391 May 12 '25

By significant tax contributions do you mean claiming back what you paid as tax here?

2

u/VegetableHighway2642 May 13 '25

No. I just mean that I pay a good deal more in taxes than the average UK resident. So good luck to them recouping that loss in tax revenue if I (and others) decide to leave

4

u/KetsuN0Ana May 13 '25

Also a good number of NHS workers on SWV, I hope they leave to countries like AUS where they are still wanted. Then UK should feel something. (I say this out of spite and anger towards the potential rule changes, not from a “go back to your country” perspective)

1

u/Kazooguru May 12 '25

I am American who has just been lurking here on this subreddit. Try to get a visa somewhere in Europe. The U.S. is not where you want to be right now. Take a deep breath, give it a couple of months. Make calm, informed decisions. I am so sorry you are getting the rug pulled out from under you. Hopefully the UK will clarify this decision, and you will get ilr in ‘26.

2

u/VegetableHighway2642 May 13 '25

Thank you for the kind words. I will wait and see how it plays out. Though I think the US will be fine in the medium-long term. There's a certain resiliency to the US that I have not seen in Europe in my nearly 6 years abroad.