Why the UK settlement rule changes are unjust | Letters

By Guardian Staff · The Guardian Opinion

Readers question the motives and fairness behind Shabana Mahmood’s new immigration proposals This week, the home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, announced that many migrants on skilled worker visas earning below £50,000, outside the social care sector, will have to wait for 10 years to “earn” settlement ( Shabana Mahmood softens immigration plans in face of cabinet backlash, 2 November ). This blatantly overlooks the contribution of those whose work cannot be measured in high salaries. I arrived in the UK in September 2022 to pursue a master’s degree, for which I paid more than twice the fee that domestic students pay. Since then, I have worked for two organisations, including the Institute of Development Studies, a leading institution for development research. I have paid my taxes and met the financial requirements of successive visas, paying substantial fees twice, first for a graduate visa and then for the skilled worker visa, including the immigration health surcharge. I would like the government to explain what more I must do to demonstrate that I have “earned” the right to settle. Continue reading...