By Salma El-Sakka
UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is expected to announce final decisions on immigration rules for legal migrants next week, potentially revising proposals that would extend the wait for permanent settlement.
Original proposals extended qualifying period
Under the original proposals, the qualifying period for indefinite leave to remain would increase from five years to 10, with lower-paid migrants facing a 15-year wait. The changes were driven by concern over the number of people eligible for permanent residency after a period of high net migration.
Social care workers likely exempt from longer wait
However, the BBC understands that social care workers already in the UK are now likely to be exempt from the longer wait. Most other workers would still need to live and work in the UK for 10 years before eligibility, though this could be reduced through community contributions or higher incomes.
Consultation response and political reaction
The government's consultation on the reforms drew 200,000 responses. The Home Office will not comment on the final decisions until they are presented to Parliament in the coming week.
A Conservative spokesperson criticised the expected revisions, accusing Mahmood of caving to pressure and shredding her own reform plans, arguing it would burden British taxpayers.
