Don't change rules for migrants already in UK, Labour MPs tell Mahmood

"A letter to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, signed by 35 Labour MPs, along with 17 from other parties, 21 peers and 33 civil society organisations, says the proposals are "unfair towards migrant workers who have put down roots, contributed to their communities and built lives here". Ministers want to double the time it takes for most migrants to qualify for permanent residence from five to 10 years."

"Settlement, also known as indefinite leave to remain, gives a person the right to live, work and study in the UK for as long as they like and apply for benefits if they are eligible. The government's proposed changes would extend the standard wait to qualify for settlement to 10 years. Migrants will be able to shorten this period, for example if they are a high earner, while other groups would see a longer wait."

"People who arrived on health and social care visas would face a 15-year wait, while those who relied on benefits for more than 12 months would have to wait 20 years. The changes would not apply to people who have already obtained settlement but would cover people already living in the UK, including those who had been expecting to get permanent residence in the coming months."

A broad group of MPs, peers and civil society organisations oppose plans to extend the standard wait for settlement from five to 10 years and argue the change is unfair to migrant workers who have established lives in the UK. The proposals would allow some migrants to shorten the path to settlement, such as high earners, while imposing longer waits on others, including 15 years for health and social care visa holders and 20 years for those who used benefits for over 12 months. The changes would not affect people who already hold settlement. The government says longer waits are needed because migration pressures affect local communities and migrants must contribute to earn the right to stay, but critics call retrospective application un-British and accuse ministers of moving the goalposts.

Read at www.bbc.com