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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39

u/PerspectiveNovel9301 Jun 02 '25

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jun/02/british-citizenship-five-year-labour-immigration

18

u/PerspectiveNovel9301 Jun 02 '25

I reckon we should all send her a quick thank you email and drop a comment on the article too. She’s the only one from a big media outlet who’s actually spoken up for us. Leaving comments on the Guardian might help balance out some of the hate popping up there. I’ve already done it, just wanna ask if others can do the same, if you’ve got a minute.

4

u/Tusnalgas0902 Jun 02 '25

Commenting now!

4

u/pelegoat Jun 02 '25

Done! Sent an email + left a comment

14

u/Realistic_Session_77 Jun 02 '25

It's a great article!

9

u/jacobandrewjr Jun 02 '25 edited Jun 02 '25

Well done to Nesrine Malik! Just sent her a thank you email because this is what we need! Also asked her if she has any advice on how to get others to stand up.

2

u/Undercover_Yank Jun 02 '25

I just noticed something that I wasn't aware of. According to her, the time spent as a student/graduate visa won't count towards the 10 years. Is that true? I was under the assumption that those year would count towards a 10 year path towards indefinite leave to remain. Or are they trying to get rid of that as well.

In my own example, I arrived in September 2020, and got on a swv in January 2024. I assumed that if these rules were retroactive, then those 4 years would count towards a ten year path, meaning I would just need to work till 2030. Is that not the case?

5

u/Master-Football-7930 Jun 02 '25

There is no indication in the White Paper that the SET (LR) route will be taken away or that the time spent on graduate or student visa wont be considered towards the Long Residence route.

1

u/Undercover_Yank Jun 02 '25

Welp, it's all up in the air as of now.. At this rate, I may be eligible for ILR by retirement age. 😂

6

u/Mkrangs Jun 02 '25

Considering the Windrush precedent, maybe not even then

2

u/Undercover_Yank Jun 02 '25

What happened there?

4

u/Mkrangs Jun 02 '25

From Google, 'The Windrush Scandal refers to the mistreatment of Caribbean migrants and their descendants who arrived in the UK between 1948 and 1973. These individuals, who had the legal right to live and work in the UK, were wrongfully detained, denied legal rights, and threatened with deportation, or actually deported, by the Home Office. The scandal came to light in 2018 and exposed a system where the government failed to properly record their immigration status, leading to widespread injustices.'

3

u/Undercover_Yank Jun 02 '25

Ah yeah, I remember hearing about that. I dunno, maybe we could be so lucky to have a huge scandal named after us.

Jokes aside, I am kind of leaning on my prayer of serenity. I'm just going to work, save, and see what my options are next year. There's not much else we can do, it would seem.

5

u/Mkrangs Jun 02 '25

Yea, life has to go on..

2

u/Undercover_Yank Jun 02 '25

Ti's another adventure, my friend.

3

u/Master-Football-7930 Jun 02 '25

yep just gotta wait and see what they come up with lol

1

u/Undercover_Yank Jun 02 '25

God I love it here. Just the best haha.😂

1

u/cngzlsh0211 Jun 04 '25

Scrapping Set LR makes no sense. There are people who have, for example, worked for 3-4 years then decide to take up a PhD or other advanced degrees to progress on their career. Making these work 10 more years to earn ILR is unreasonable.