We, the undersigned — immigrants, who arrived to the UK on a fully legal basis, living and working in the UK, alongside UK citizens who support a fair and principled immigration system — call on the government to honour its existing commitments and protect the current five-year path to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) for those already in the UK.

Immigrants are part of the UK’s social and economic landscape.

“In financial year 2023 to 2024, the total amount of Income Tax on those found to have PAYE earnings for main applicants granted entry clearance visas was approximately £2 billion for Skilled Workers, £413 million for Health and Care Workers, and £278 million for Senior or Specialist Workers (Global Business Mobility). For dependants, the total amount was £125 million, £82 million, and £9 million, respectively.” — Sponsored Work and Family visa earnings, employment and Income Tax, Home Office, 12 May 2025

Immigrants work in schools, hospitals, care homes, universities, and businesses of all sizes. Many were invited here to fill the gaps in teaching, healthcare, engineering, construction, and research, and made life-changing decisions to settle here based on the clear promise of a five-year route to settlement. 

We understand and support the UK Government’s commitment to reducing illegal migration. However, changing the rules midway for those who are already on their path not only forces them to leave as they intend — draining the UK’s economy of their skills. The exodus of the legal immigrants' middle class will drive down the growth of the economy, as their absence weakens consumer demand. It also leads to removing their tax contributions, IHS contributions, which directly support the budget without accessing public funds. This will undermine public trust in the immigration system itself: if the proposed points-based system doesn’t affect you today, the following policy change might.

Those who come to the UK on Skilled Worker visas do not have the same freedoms as other residents until they obtain settlement. This includes not only applying for most benefits (public funds), but even changing jobs or employers, unless they apply to the Home Office to update their visa. Extending the period to get it by another five years would only deepen that precarity and would force families and key workers to remain in limbo for longer. It is not a sustainable or fair foundation for long-term integration.

UK citizens and migrants alike believe that government policy should reward commitment, contribution, and integration – not make it harder. Moving the finish line of the settlement marathon after people have already started it and uprooted their lives, followed every rule, and paid into the system undermines trust and social cohesion. You can’t change the distance of a marathon when runners are already on course.

We therefore urge the Prime Minister and the Home Secretary to:

●      Publicly commit that any change to ILR rules will apply only to new visa applicants, not to people already living and working in the UK under existing rules;

●      Demonstrate that the UK is still a country that rewards positive contributions and values integration, inclusion, and fairness.

We stand together – immigrants and citizens – in calling for a just and responsible approach to immigration reform. Let’s build a system we can all trust.