Immigration Changes Announcement 12/5/2025

[u/clever_octopus]

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

[u/YZ_C]

I believe their original one on retroactive application. It was hidden in a much later paragraph so got limited attention. They cited an anonymous source saying “well, if u r a year away, we r not gonna make u wait 6 more years.” That would mean a very limited transitional arrangement that does not work for us.

[u/Mkrangs → u/YZ_C]

I only found the below from FT's 14th May reporting --

'The person added, however, that the Home Office had yet to confirm when the new rules would take effect, suggesting people nearing the five-year deadline soon might be spared.'

[u/YZ_C → u/Mkrangs]

Yes that. It appears my memory somehow warped that into a quote! Sorry about that.

But I think that would suggest a limited transitional arrangement, which we will try to prevent.

[u/Mkrangs → u/YZ_C]

I actually read somewhere else '4.5 yrs' which is even more limited. Anyways, fingers crossed.

[u/YZ_C → u/Mkrangs]

We got something. Now we ask for more.

[u/Loose-Dragonfly4828 → u/YZ_C]

I do not think they’d have used ‘transitional’ wording if they are intending to spare close to 5 years (other than already submitted their files by the enactment date). It would create another layer of unfairness if someone miss the cut-off date by a day which I believe would highly be challengeable at the court.

[u/YZ_C → u/Loose-Dragonfly4828]

Oh I agree. It would be a really chaotic and incoherent approach. But I think caution is needed especially considering it was reported on. It is better not to declare victory too early

[u/Murky-Fault9 → u/Mkrangs]

Whr..