I am a skilled immigrant who came to the UK in 2023, following every legal step and making major sacrifices in hope of a stable, secure future. In August 2024, I switched from a dependent visa to a Skilled Worker visa with the full understanding that after five years of legal work and contribution, I would qualify for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).

Now, due to sudden rule changes introduced by Home Secretary James Cleverly and backed by the UK Government, I am being told I must now wait 10 years effectively erasing the time I have already lived and worked here in good faith.

This change was not disclosed at the time. It was announced only recently, far too late for people who have already invested time, money, family, and trust in this country.

In just this one year, I have worked tirelessly, migrating alone to a new country with no family or friends, just a deep determination to survive, serve, and give. I care daily for the elderly and vulnerable, pay all my bills, and contribute to the economy of the UK. I’ve kept the law, paid taxes, and sacrificed my own comfort, patiently and diligently working toward the 5-year ILR route I was promised.

When I first arrived, the government banned dependents for care workers, a rule that separated me from my two young daughters. That pain is something I live with every day. And now, to be told that 10 years is the new requirement, without fairness, without notice, it feels like betrayal.

We work too hard and care for others more than we care for ourselves, just because we believed in this country. We left everything behind, often coming from nations that failed us, only to now feel unseen and disregarded here.

We are not asking for special treatment, we are asking for justice.

We call on the UK Government to:

Reverse the 10-year ILR requirement for those already in the UK under Skilled Worker status before the public announcement;

Honor the original 5-year ILR pathway for all who entered or switched into Skilled Worker status in 2024 or earlier;
Protect the stability and dignity of families who came here legally, and have already begun building their lives here.

This is not just policy. This is about fairness, compassion, and basic human dignity.

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