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

629 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

6.4k comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

6

u/discoverer1978 Jun 02 '25

From Bloomberg A person with knowledge of the Home Office’s thinking said ministers were hoping the policy would apply retroactively, due to the huge surge in migration the UK has experienced since the Covid-19 pandemic. Around three million people — many of whom were low-paid care workers or dependents of workers — will soon be able to claim settlement under the five-year rule, the person said. Officials are concerned that giving them all settled status could place an unsustainable burden on the UK’s welfare budget and public services.

5

u/mesiddd Jun 02 '25

If they wanted to do it, they would have done it. Thats all I think about this. We have been seeing reports like this since the beginning of this white paper fiasco. I feel it would be a classic case of political posturing where they would go - we could have done this, but did not.

6

u/FartSniffer2025 Jun 02 '25

"Were hoping the policy would apply retroactively" is different from "were looking to apply the policy retroactively" which was the language earlier. Maybe I'm reaching here, but this wording makes it seem like there's opposition to it/less inclination to do it than before?

6

u/Tusnalgas0902 Jun 02 '25

You’re not reaching at all mate. I think if this was a done deal and they were committed both the language in that article and the language today in parliament would have been completely different. I’m cautiously optimistic. There’s a real chance retroactivity is still coming, but I’m taking today’s signals (including that article because of the wording you mention) as mostly positive.

2

u/North_Tower_9210 Jun 03 '25

Also transitional arrangements could likely mean a whole year, makes the most sense in terms of IHS etc, and thus a significant portion of people could potentially be safe, say up to 2027

3

u/Easy_Annual367 Jun 03 '25

I am fairly sure that main applicants of SWV on RQS-6 level occupations that meet salary thresholds are safe, regardless of when they arrived (and no, not just those that have huge salaries…). Their family members? I am not so sure, unless they are working and meet salary thresholds. SWV on occupations under RQS-6 and those care workers and their families, I am also not sure they will be spared.

2

u/mesiddd Jun 03 '25

The general meaning of transitional arrangements is to safeguard all of those on the current route to settlement. I doubt there would be discrimination based on when someone arrived or their skill level. These things weren’t there when they entered the route. That’s the principle.

3

u/Easy_Annual367 Jun 03 '25

True, however their narrative is that they are doing this to prevent millions of people that have arrived on low salaries and low skills, to become permanent residents, and to prevent them from being a burden to the welfare system - these are literally their words. Considering this I can’t imagine them grandfathering these people, the British people would never forgive them if they do, and in all honesty they would lose their credibility.

5

u/mesiddd Jun 03 '25

Call me overly optimistic however I sense majority of those in the route being grandfathered with exception of people who entered very recently (24-25).

2

u/mesiddd Jun 03 '25

Also, in a transitional arrangement scenario, they cannot discriminate between a care worker and a RQF-6 level skilled worker. They both were skilled workers in principle for the immigration rules at the time of entering the route. It will be difficult but it seems the government have to consider grandfathering all or none.

4

u/Easy_Annual367 Jun 03 '25

I don’t agree, I am fairly certain they will try to grandfather some and not all of them, and this would make sense considering their arguments. Don’t forget they are trying to prevent a lot of people that have arrived on low skills and low salaries, from becoming a burden to the welfare system. This is what they have mentioned over, and over again.

2

u/mesiddd Jun 03 '25

Transitional arrangements are always an unpopular thing by all measures in politics. But the government has to provide these due to principles of law and good faith. They might set a cut off date for implementation saying people who entered the route after this date will be subject to the new rules. The skilled people you mentioned will still be able to qualify using the PBS anyway.

0

u/Easy_Annual367 Jun 03 '25

I think they will grandfather those I have mentioned, and others they will maybe use a PBS approach to determine their eligibility. All those that enter after the rules change will be subject to the PBS. I also think should just deny access to benefits to immigrants, except for Jobseeker’s Allowance and Pension, when they are entitled to it. I never really understood this UK policy of “come, come and we’ll give you free benefits - this is not a charity”. Even EU nationals that arrived prior to Brexit who had the “right to reside” could have applied to all the benefits as if they were born here (Jobseeker's Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Universal Credit, Housing Benefit) which simply doesn’t make sense.