UK Home Office announces tougher settlement rules with fast-track for high earners
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced revised immigration settlement rules in the United Kingdom, extending the standard period for indefinite leave to remain to ten years while creating fast-track routes for high-earning and skilled migrants, including certain care workers, according to the London Evening Standard. Earlier reports indicated that the government had planned to soften earlier reforms after criticism from Labour MPs and cabinet members (The Independent). The Home Office later signalled that the residency requirement would rise from five to ten years, with shorter routes for high earners and public-service workers (BBC). The Guardian noted that care workers earning over £25,000 would be eligible for indefinite leave after five years, while other groups faced stricter timelines.
Al Jazeera added that refugees arriving by small boats could face a wait of up to thirty years. The Telegraph said the new care-worker provision was expected to lower projected welfare costs but increase the number of beneficiaries. The BBC also reported that the adjustments were announced after internal party debate and a recent decline in net migration.
