Immigration Reform

I’m a Ukrainian citizen who came to the UK through the Skilled Worker visa route after the war began in 2022. I’ve lived here for over three years, working full-time in the fintech startup, paying taxes, and contributing to the local economy. My wife, also from Ukraine, joined through the Homes for Ukraine scheme and has since switched to a Skilled Worker dependent visa. We recently got married and have made the UK our home, planning our future here, including buying a house and starting a family.

When we applied for our visas, the UK government promised us a clear path to permanent residency after 5 years, and then citizenship. We made our life decisions based on that promise—just like thousands of others who trusted in the fairness and stability of the UK immigration system.

Now, with the proposal to extend the Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) period from 5 to 10 years, that promise is being broken. This change will hurt people like us—not those arriving illegally on boats or staying in hotels permanently, but people who have followed every rule, integrated into British society, contributed to the economy, and made the UK their home.

This retrospective policy shift is not just unfair—it’s harmful. It will delay home ownership, family planning, and our right to vote in local elections. It sends a damaging message to all legal migrants who trusted the UK's system and upheld their end of the deal.

If the goal is to tackle uncontrolled migration, then focus efforts on illegal migration and exploitation of humanitarian routes—not on penalising legal, skilled migrants who are already here and doing their part.

I urge the government to reconsider these proposals, especially for those who are already in the UK under existing rules. Keep the promise. Don’t move the goalposts.

It feels like a betrayal of trust changibg the rules midway for those of us who alreadt committed to a life in uk. Extending the ILR requirement to 10 years for current skilled workers would unfairly disrupt the lives of thousands of law abiding contributing individuals and families and would have devastating personal and financial consequences for many

As a highly skilled, high tax-paying Skilled Worker visa holder, I feel betrayed by the planned changes to the qualifying period for settlement. The immigration numbers are understandably too high, but those with advanced qualifications, working in sophisticated roles and paying high taxes should not be punished for the Conservatives' mismanagement of the immigration policy. I call for clarity in planning and urge the government not to apply the policy changes retrospectively to those who have already made life-changing decisions to commit themselves to life in the UK.