People resident in the UK who have overstayed their visa need status to work legally & access services. Creating a route to indefinite leave to remain would allow them to work, pay taxes, & contribute to the economy. This could boost public services through increased tax & reduce informal economies.

With rising living costs and pressure on public services, we think now is the time for practical solutions, not political debates. Long-term residents may have lived here for 15+ years, speak English, and have skills but cannot legally work. Politicizing their status won't solve our economic challenges. A legal pathway could immediately boost tax revenues, fill crucial workforce gaps, and strengthen communities. We think this common-sense approach supports economic growth while reducing strain on public resources.

Some of the comments shared by Undocumented Migrants (these do not include illegal/Irregular migrants). This is for people who came legally but, for one or other reason, lost their status.

• Sometimes you don’t get paid. The reason is they know you’re working there because you don’t have your papers. Sometimes they pay you, sometimes they don’t, and when they don’t pay you, who do you speak with? Because you are terrified of going to the police, and of course you are not meant to take employment anyway, so what do you do? You face so much bullying, discrimination, abuse, so many things. The fact that you don’t have your papers, it’s like you’re nobody. You become a shadow of yourself.
• I just sit there. In that time where everything’s quiet, I can’t take my mind out from there, because I’m not sure what’s going to happen. All the time I say to myself I’m not going to cry anymore, but I can’t; it’s impossible.
• Poor quality legal advice and a lack of understanding of the legal processes were mentioned.
• I know the bad things that happened there and every day you are not sure for your life, I’m not sure what’s going to happen. You don’t know if you’re going to live; it’s difficult.
• It is stressful, a lot, because my mind is there 24/7. It give you stressed, and I might say depression and nightmares as well. It’s very hard. Basically every time I think of it, I feel depressed. Every time I think of what’s going to happen.
• Time spent alone was particularly difficult for both the young people and parents we spoke to, which was exacerbated for those who were unable to work or study during the day, so had little to fill their time apart from their own thoughts. Thinking about the past was particularly distressing for those who had experienced trauma, eating disorder