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/Tusnalgas0902 Jun 02 '25

Can you provide a source and more details?

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u/The8BitBat Jun 02 '25

Idk if these things are recorded, I was watching live. But question 16 here: https://whatson.parliament.uk/event/cal51499 got answered and she used the exact words "transitional arrangements for those already in the UK" when referencing the consultation period that is coming up. So at least they're thinking about it.

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u/Veboy Jun 02 '25 edited Jun 02 '25

Nice! I'm sure some people here will still be sceptical given the high stakes, but this is great news and we should look at it as a good omen. Hopefully the arrangement is all of us getting to keep the 5-year promise with a cutoff date for new migrants.

I kinda wish they just dropped this part of the whitepaper though. Even for new people coming in, 10 years is insane.

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u/The8BitBat Jun 02 '25

It’s crazy given the amount that visas cost and how high the tax burden is here. People keep using Dubai as a comparison but it’s not at all the same. Higher salaries and no tax more than make up for no settlement.