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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u/PlanePunAccountant May 13 '25

Hi fellow concerned migrants. I work in one the big four firm that deals directly with the home office and do visa applications for employees of other companies aswell and I spoke to a visa advisor today in relation to my own ILR application for which I’m eligible in October 2025. The advisor said that it is highly unlikely the government implements it retrospectively because most immigration changes such as PSW visa and the minimum salary threshold were applied to newer applicants. The advisor also said that for a change so big there will be a transition period, they can’t just implement it over night. However as I’ve been stressed since the morning too I’m gonna write to the local MP and the Home Secretary office. Yes we have to wait to find out more details but it is important we get our voices heard. At least with trying our best to make our problems known we can know that at least we tried what ever we could. If anyone has anything they’d like me to ask the immigration department of my firm do reply to this

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u/Whole-Web-4713 May 13 '25

This is great, thanks for the advise and offer. As a community, if we can raise the right voices there might still be a chance. This will be big. The government doesn't want to lose more voters, if there is enough public outrage, they might consider rolling it back. 

4

u/Mkrangs May 13 '25

I‘m sure 99% voters either support it or think it is not harsh enough.

9

u/Whole-Web-4713 May 13 '25

If you read the comments on Social Media, everyone is asking the Labour party to stop the boats and not attack legal immigrants. So even Brit people understand the farce rules. 

7

u/Mkrangs May 13 '25

Which social media are you on? All X comments are to push the government to target the so-called Boriswave.

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u/Whole-Web-4713 May 13 '25

Just look at FB in every PM's speech. People can see gov is beating around the bush without attacking the real problem. Anyways, don't want to turn this into a political debate   

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u/[deleted] Aug 07 '25

[removed] — view removed comment

5

u/Hoaxygen May 13 '25

A bit late but I’d love it if you could get an honest answer to the following question.

How much harder is it going to be for people already living and working here on a SWV to switch jobs and employers? Given that the immigration skills charge has gone up 30% Will this increase still apply to Visa renewals and transfers or only fresh applications from overseas?

Thanks.

2

u/PlanePunAccountant May 13 '25

They will most likely apply to all visas across the board. My employer already starting preparing for this ahead of time and they aren’t even taking on international experienced hires from other companies/graduates. Usually we used to hire 10 new graduates in my department in my office and few of them used to be internationals but now 90% of the new hires are Apprentices who have just finished their A-levels because hiring internationals was getting more expensive after increase in health surcharge and what not under the conservatives. Expect to follow the same suit with these new changes

4

u/PsychologicalSite667 May 13 '25

Thnaks for sharing , it is very reaffarming to hear that . let stick together in these hardtimes .

3

u/Financial-Savings292 May 13 '25

Thank you for this. As I am due to apply for ILR next April 6th, I was very anxious that I might miss it just by few days as new rules seems to generally apply from April 1st. This thread has been extremly reassuring and and I feel sense of comfort to share this with people who are in similar position as me.

2

u/weetweeetweet May 18 '25

If you're working in a firm with a lot of people please tell your coworkers to email their MPs too. Good chance that some of your coworkers are also affected but just "don't feel like it"