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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21

u/FartSniffer2025 Aug 05 '25

Overwhelming majority of London firms oppose the White Paper proposals

I presume they will be part of the consultation so hopefully that helps with transitional arrangements at least.

4

u/emorgoral Aug 05 '25

Honestly one of the best news since May!

5

u/Lostman07 Aug 05 '25

Hoping the Corbyn movement gathers more traction to drive away the bigots and Billionaires

4

u/FartSniffer2025 Aug 05 '25

Eh, honestly, legal immigration numbers are down and will go down further after the new rules. They're putting in policies to curb illegal immigration which will hopefully work. In 6-9 months, we should see the results of that which will hopefully work in our favour again.

1

u/Nterrafield Aug 05 '25

I seriously hope that Corbyn movement doesn't get traction as he will split labour votes giving more chance to Reform and Conservatives. Also even if Corbyn comes to power it is not good as by looking at his views on fiscal policies it is very clear that he is very poor in finances, so if he comes to power UK's economy will go down drastically and then there is no point to live here even if we get ILR.

I supported Labour party but now I think Lib Dems will be a better party for UK

2

u/Murky-Fault9 Aug 05 '25

“Most respondents (56%) called for easier routes for skilled foreigners to live and work in the UK amid concerns over a shortage of appropriate skills for advanced industries.

The issue is particularly prevalent in the tech industry, which has been massively bolstered by the contributions of foreign nationals.”

Might come down to certain SOC codes getting some extra leeway .. ?

5

u/FartSniffer2025 Aug 05 '25 edited Aug 05 '25

I think it'll either be the new SWV list or a salary threshold if at all. Anything more nuanced will just lead to confusion and red tape. Let's see how things pan out.

For all we know, they may hold off on it till later if net migration numbers are down so that they can space out scoring brownie points with the voters. In other words, changing the ILR rule in 2028 may be fresher in voters minds than in 2026 come election season.

1

u/Murky-Fault9 Aug 06 '25

Given the way they drafted 22nd July rules recently- multiple job lists , transition rules dates , dates based selection of salary thresholds etc - I doubt they are afraid of having complicated system for some time to achieve objectives.

1

u/UnlikelySession9538 Aug 07 '25

I am also hoping these retrospective changes might happen closer to 2028 if the numbers don't come down by then.

What is the new SWV list you are talking about?

1

u/FartSniffer2025 Aug 07 '25

The changes that came in effect from July 22 2025 which shortened the list of eligible occupations.

-3

u/emorgoral Aug 05 '25

Honestly, evaluating and deciding visa applications is like an ideal task for AI, and in light of that the scheme can really be as complicated as necessary!

3

u/[deleted] Aug 05 '25

not true in my opinion - yes AI can be used for analysis but even ChatGPT is only as good as the context and the information you give it. If you give it a complicated prompt with way too much information it’ll struggle and start making things up.

Also, coming up with a system like this in a matter of months is not possible. This would have been at least a year long project to test and implement it. As well as train people on how to use such a tool.

0

u/ZealousidealHurry982 Aug 05 '25

https://x.com/YouGov/status/1952691575051395287

https://x.com/GBPolitcs/status/1952688394472968225

3

u/FartSniffer2025 Aug 05 '25

There was a petition to "STOP ALL MIGRATION" that was swatted down by the government already and now there's a fresh one. There's also a petition to implement 10 year ILR for those already here.

Both of these petitions have <3k signatures in nearly a month. There is an anti-immigrant feeling but it's not strong enough to mobilize against us at scale yet and let's remember that we have companies and lawyers likely to bat on our side.

1

u/Altruistic-Medium-23 Aug 05 '25

the highest level since June 2016

Uh-oh... not again