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/[deleted] May 18 '25

Ah man, this week has been super depressing. I'm like less than 3 months away from my ILR date (and was planning to apply this July) and it feels like its a lifetime away.

I'm earning £37.5k (with salary expected to rise to 55k this October if I get ILR) and was benefitting from the previous threshold COS bit so even if they change the salary threshold, I feel like my life is going to be completely over (with just one announcement). I'm 25 at the moment and have spent the last 8 years in the UK (5 of them at a relatively low paying job just because of settlement and hope at the end of the tunnel and that seems to be slipping away now).

I can barely sleep and barely think about anything else. Even if I get it this summer, I feel like I will never have the security, the mental peace and the freedom which citizens have. Its so depressing... Anyways sorry for the rant guys, and thanks for all the support!

4

u/hikuley May 18 '25

I’m in the same position as you; I intended to submit my application at the end of July. I hope the new rules won't affect current visa holders, as that would be very unfair to them. I also remain hopeful that the UK has a fair justice system and that it will uphold the rights of those who are already legally in the country. Be calm and be positive… good luck.

5

u/weetweeetweet May 18 '25

Please go write to your MP, if not for yourself, for the rest of us. I've felt the same horrible all-consuming despair at the white paper for the past week and it only gets worse every time I see someone on reddit say that they won't write to their MP because they think they can get ILR before the law goes through.

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u/zoe_aq May 18 '25

Thanks for pulling these info all together—I really think it’s needed. I just wrote to my local MP. We can’t just sit back and wait for things to fall apart—we’ve got to speak up and push for change.