UK Migrants Face 10-Year Wait for Settlement Under New Rules

Ministers Voice Concerns Over New Rules

New strict rules on obtaining unlimited residence in the UK will be announced by Shabana Mahmood, the Home Secretary, in a policy statement to Parliament on Monday. Under these changes, most legal migrants must wait ten years to settle permanently. Certain categories, such as care sector staff, face up to 15 years. This extension of qualification periods has generated significant concern among ministers, including Housing Secretary Angela Rayner. She highlighted the negative impact on health and care workers already active in Britain.

Proposed Exceptions and Point System

Although the government’s response to the public consultation on these reforms is expected to offer certain exceptions for care staff, other professions must accept long waiting periods. Mahmood proposed a mechanism to reduce the time needed for residence if legal migrants demonstrate their contribution to local communities through a „points system” or by earning higher incomes. On Monday, she is expected to meet with trade union general secretaries. Some have expressed alarm at the proposed changes to finalize the final project details.

Excluding Care Workers from New Framework

The country’s president, Andy Burnham, was considering excluding hundreds of thousands of care workers from the new legislative framework. The Guardian first reported this in July, aiming to alleviate pressure on the social care sector. The Home Office issued approximately 200,000 visas for health and care workers in the last five years, plus a significant number of dependants who arrived with them.

Standard Qualification Periods Doubled

In the plans published for consultation, the standard qualification period for residence would double from five to ten years. Workers in sub-degree occupations, including care staff, could face a 15-year qualification period, subject to proposed exceptions and reductions. In June, Rayner characterized the idea of a 15-year wait for permanent residence of care workers as „un-British.” In September, Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh stated the plans would have been „hard” for her family, who arrived in Britain as refugees.

Windrush Echoes and Parliamentary Criticism

In a letter to Mahmood and Health Secretary Yvette Cooper, visualized by The Guardian, MPs and organizations representing migrant workers, racial equality activists, and health professionals describe the proposal as a „reiteration of Windrush era policies.” The Windrush scandal, brought to light by The Guardian in 2017, involved mainly Black Britons who were wrongly detained, deported, and denied access to work and essential services despite having the right to live in Britain.

Call to Stop History Repeating

The letter, dated 29 October, asks ministers to „stop history from repeating” by abandoning the proposals or, at least, by introducing additional protective measures. They argue that changing rules for people who planned their lives around current settlement requirements would be unfair and could encourage essential workers to leave the country. They warn that proposed exceptions for some public service workers may fail to protect staff employed by independent health and social care providers, as well as their family members.

Following Windrush Lessons Learned

The letter urges ministers to follow the recommendations from the „Lessons Learned from Windrush” review by Wendy Williams. This review called for improvements in immigration policy design and oversight, including broader impact analysis on affected communities. Signatories include Labour MPs Bell Ribeiro-Addy, Diane Abbott, Clive Lewis, and Rachael Maskell, along with Green MPs Ellie Chowns, Carla Denyer, Siân Berry, and Hannah Spencer. Supporting organizations include Work Rights Centre, Action for Race Equality, Care England, and the Radiographers’ Association.

Impact on NHS and Social Care

Signatories state: „Windrush was a scandal born of racist immigration policies … this situation is not historical when the same mistakes persist and the same groups are targeted by current immigration proposals.” They warn that the health and care sector is already „dangerously understaffed” and that the proposed changes risk „worsening the health and well-being of everyone in Britain.”

Retention of International Workforce

The letter argues that the government may struggle to meet targets for cancer treatment and reducing NHS waiting lists if it does not retain and expand the workforce, especially in professions heavily reliant on internationally trained staff, such as radiography. Specific concerns are raised about adult social care, adding: „International workers are essential to maintaining current care levels. Without them, services will shrink and unmet needs will grow.”

Mahmood’s Stance on Settlement

At the launch of last year’s consultation on earned settlement, Mahmood described Britain as a „multi-faith, multi-ethnic democracy” that demands „contribution and integration.” She added: „Becoming part of this country, long-term, is not a right, but a privilege – and one that must be earned.”