Introduction of the 10-Year ILR Plan
The UK Government has released its white paper on taking back immigration controls that had been put into agents’ pockets. Yes, a 10-year plan is being made for ILR, i.e., Indefinite Leave to Remain, which was earlier available after 5 years, i.e., Permanent Residency, will now be given after 10 years, and after waiting for one year after that, people will be able to apply for citizenship. You will have to wait for an entire decade to complete this work.
For More Immigration News
- End of 3 Years’ Germany Citizenship Policy
- Germany Issues 174,000 Work Visas
- Germany’s New immigration policy
Exceptions for Special Contributors
Here, exceptions will be shown only for those people who have made special contributions to the country, such as social and health care workers or other very important categories.
Legislative Changes and Core Objectives
Government Stama, who is the PM of UK, has released a white paper on 12th May 2025, which will become a law after finalising the stages of legislative changes. The basic objective is to first reduce the overall net migration. The annual net migration in the country should be brought down. Secondly, the taxes on overseas foreign workers should be reduced further. And the local youngsters should be trained more so that the UK does not need to bring people from outside. Thirdly, the market that agents have set up for UK visas will also reduce now.
Expansion of Visa Reforms
With time, because the changes that have been announced are not only with respect to the long settlement permit duration. Apart from this, big changes have also been announced regarding student visa and work visa.
Rise of the Reform Party UK and Political Shifts
Another reason for these changes was the Reform Party UK which won the local elections in England. That means there are total 23 councils. It has won at least 10 of those councils. Whereas the current Sing Labour Party could not win even a single council completely. That means both the ruling and opposition parties have lost these elections. The Reform UK party is leading the way and is rapidly gaining ground on the overall results of the councils. She is gaining fame among the people. Because of its anti- immigrant sentiments and policies.
Drivers Behind Immigration Reforms
This is the reason that perhaps the Stama government now wants to bring further reforms in the immigration system, but even if the Reform UK party did not want this, it has already become evident that every person going to the UK, be it a student or on a work visa, all these people later on became agents there and were earning crores of rupees through various routes by recruiting people there, some people have become millionaires in four to five years who have been doing agentship in the UK.
Key Changes to Settlement and Language Requirements
I have told you about the Long Settlement Permit Durations, which the UK Government is going to do for 10 years. After that the English threshold is being increased. Earlier he was at B1 level. Maybe now it may be raised to B2 which will be extremely tough for some people.
Overhaul of Work Visa Criteria
Apart from this, work visa will be important for those who will apply. It is very important that it was previously possible for the UK Border Agency to judge them at RQF Level 3, which is a very lower level qualification. Now it will be increased to RQF level six. That is, up to degree level. To apply for a work visa, it will be mandatory to have a degree level in the UK. In some cases, there will be a chance to reach RQF level three to five.
Student Visa Restrictions and Eligibility Tightening
As per the instructions of the Migration Advisory Committee, foreign workers should only be recruited if there are urgent jobs in which the UK needs them. The numbers of student visas will be reduced. People used to go to UK and settle there by taking short and cheap courses in very small and lower level sponsored colleges. Do n’t want it back. This work will now be finished. Lower percentage will be done. The eligibility criteria for providing sponsorship will be tightened and overall we will see that the success ratio of student visa will come down drastically.
Abolition of Social Care Worker Visa
Very important. This visa of social care workers will be abolished. The UK will try to extend the visas of people who are already present in the UK on Social Care Worker visa and engage them further, even if they wish to switch categories. But the UK will now stop bringing care workers from outside.
Transition Period for Existing Care Workers
A transition period will be kept. For those who are already in the UK, it will be possible for them to switch jobs or extend their visas till 2028. But overall, the care workers from outside will be relieved. Apart from this, matters related to other deputations will also be handled more strictly.
Systemic Abuse of the Immigration Framework
Friends, these measures were mandatory for a long time regarding UK Immigration. The UK immigration system had become quite cheap and it seemed like a fish market. Even living in Pakistan, it was difficult to settle in Karachi or Islamabad than to settle in any smaller area in the UK and people had made a joke of it. Every person was made an agent. Every person was selling visas. If a visa or sponsorship is available somewhere, one person would pass it on to another person. By the time the third one became a commission agent, the rates would reach up to Rs 1.25 crore and Rs 1.5 crore and lakhs were earned on a single visa without any reason and now because of all these people who took the gamble, got the educational documents made and sent the people abroad.
Future Challenges and Loophole Exploitation
Now these people are going to face problems. And now, even English language requirements will be made mandatory for dependents in the future. All these changes were very mandatory and necessary. The UK Government had become another name for an abusive system. Not because of the UK Government, but because of those people, those false actors who cheat the system and spoil it. The UK Government provides an opportunity for people to come to the UK using different routes of immigration.
Enter legally. Build your future and also help the UK’s local labour market. But it is misused by our people. But I think that the loopholes that are being left will be possible to be used this time by such agents, and they will again be ready to make away with their money. All the loopholes that are there in the immigration system, like RQF level three to five jobs ability will be kept equal; it is possible that these people will start trying their luck there.
Conclusion and Call for Public Opinion
What kind of reforms are these that you have recently brought forward from the UK? How do you view this and will this really help the UK achieve its Matuba targets or not? Please express your opinion in the comment box. Allah Hafiz Nasir for the next speaker.
