Migrants already in UK face longer wait for permanent settlement

New rules making migrants hold longer to suffice for imperishable colony successful the UK volition use to radical already successful the country, nether authorities plans.

On Monday the authorities announced immigrants would present typically person to unrecorded successful the UK for 10 years earlier applying for the close to enactment present indefinitely - treble the existent five-year period.

It was antecedently unclear whether this would use to the astir 1.5 cardinal overseas workers who person moved to the UK since 2020.

The BBC understands a papers published successful the coming weeks volition marque wide the authorities is preparing to use the 10-year qualifying play to those who are already successful the UK arsenic good arsenic to caller visa applicants.

The determination volition beryllium taxable to a nationalist consultation.

A authorities root said Home Secretary Yvette Cooper had for immoderate clip been acrophobic that nether the existent five-year process determination is acceptable to beryllium a important summation successful colony and citizenship applications successful the adjacent fewer years, reflecting the surge successful migration successful the aboriginal years of this decade.

A argumentation papers published connected Monday said determination would proceed to beryllium a five-year qualification play for non-UK dependents of British citizens.

There volition besides beryllium shorter qualification periods for radical who tin amusement they person contributed to the UK's "economy and society".

The announcement was portion of a wider bundle of measures acceptable retired connected Monday to chopped ineligible migration.

Net migration - the fig of radical coming to the UK minus the fig leaving - climbed to a grounds 906,000 successful June 2023, and past twelvemonth it stood astatine 728,000.

Some Labour MPs person raised concerns astir the anticipation longer qualifying periods for colony could use to radical already successful the UK.

Florence Eshalomi, who chairs the Commons housing, communities and section authorities committee, told MPs the deficiency of clarity had near immoderate of her constituents "understandably worried", with 1 telling her they were considering leaving the UK "because their settled presumption present is successful jeopardy".

In response, Cooper told MPs the authorities would acceptable retired further details aboriginal this year, with a consultation to follow.

The Migration Observatory said a 10-year way to colony would marque the UK much restrictive than astir different high-income countries but comparable to Switzerland and Japan.

It said the determination was improbable to importantly impact migration levels but it would bring successful much visa-fee gross for the Home Office due to the fact that radical connected impermanent visas wage ongoing fees.

Migrants would besides look longer periods without the rights that travel with imperishable settlement, which see the close to live, enactment and survey successful the UK for arsenic agelong arsenic desired, and to use for benefits.

Permanent colony tin besides beryllium utilized to use for British citizenship.

Enny Choudhury, co-legal manager astatine the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants charity, said the determination was "a cruel betrayal".

"These are our neighbours and friends. They've already built their lives successful the UK, and moving the goalposts present volition plunge galore into deeper debt, uncertainty and trauma," helium said.

"We request a strategy that offers radical a clear, affordable and compassionate pathway to settlement."