The United Kingdom announced sweeping changes to its immigration and settlement system that could extend the wait for permanent residency to as long as 20 years for many legal migrants- a move expected to affect large numbers of Indians, UK’s biggest skilled migrant group.

Under proposals unveiled by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, the Labour government plans to replace the current five-year settlement pathway with a strict “earned settlement" model that links permanent residency to economic contribution, English proficiency, clean criminal records and long-term financial independence. The changes, now open to a 12-week consultation, could come into force by April next year and will apply to almost two million migrants who arrived in the UK since 2021.

What Is UK Changing?

Under the pro

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