Front-line health workers are sounding the alarm over proposed immigration reforms that would double – and in many cases triple – the time it takes to qualify for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). A survey of 1,072 migrants conducted by the charity Praxis found that three in five respondents fear their families will be “torn apart” if Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood pushes ahead with plans to extend the qualifying period for settlement from five to 10 years for most workers, and to 15 years for those in jobs below graduate level. Two-thirds of participants said they now feel less welcome in the UK, while more than half are actively considering leaving. (theguardian.com)
Under the proposals, migrants would have to renew visas up to five times before becoming eligible for settlement, at an estimated cost of almost £20,000 per adult. Nursing leaders warn that as many as 50,000 nurses – roughly one in seven of the current workforce – could quit the NHS, exacerbating chronic staffing shortages. The Institute for Public Policy Research calculates that about 300,000 children already resident in Britain would also be pushed on to a decade-long route to security. (theguardian.com)
![Migrant nurses warn new 10-year settlement rule will split families]()
Amid this growing uncertainty, services such as VisaHQ offer practical relief. Their United Kingdom portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/) lets applicants and employers check eligibility, track costs and submit repeat visa renewals online, providing much-needed clarity for those suddenly facing longer, more complex immigration routes.
Business groups say the move risks reversing recent gains in overseas recruitment just as the UK competes globally for healthcare, tech and social-care talent. Employers would shoulder higher administrative costs and retention risks, while families face prolonged uncertainty about mortgages, schooling and long-term financial planning. Immigration lawyers add that retrospective application of the rule could trigger legal challenges on the grounds of legitimate expectation and proportionality.
For mobility managers the key message is to review assignment cost models, as five additional visa renewals can add £6,000–£8,000 per employee, excluding the Immigration Health Surcharge. HR teams should also prepare for a spike in anxiety-driven early departures and requests for international transfers. Companies relying on the Health and Care route may need contingency staffing plans – or lobby for sector-specific exemptions when the consultation opens this spring.
Under the proposals, migrants would have to renew visas up to five times before becoming eligible for settlement, at an estimated cost of almost £20,000 per adult. Nursing leaders warn that as many as 50,000 nurses – roughly one in seven of the current workforce – could quit the NHS, exacerbating chronic staffing shortages. The Institute for Public Policy Research calculates that about 300,000 children already resident in Britain would also be pushed on to a decade-long route to security. (theguardian.com)
Amid this growing uncertainty, services such as VisaHQ offer practical relief. Their United Kingdom portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/) lets applicants and employers check eligibility, track costs and submit repeat visa renewals online, providing much-needed clarity for those suddenly facing longer, more complex immigration routes.
Business groups say the move risks reversing recent gains in overseas recruitment just as the UK competes globally for healthcare, tech and social-care talent. Employers would shoulder higher administrative costs and retention risks, while families face prolonged uncertainty about mortgages, schooling and long-term financial planning. Immigration lawyers add that retrospective application of the rule could trigger legal challenges on the grounds of legitimate expectation and proportionality.
For mobility managers the key message is to review assignment cost models, as five additional visa renewals can add £6,000–£8,000 per employee, excluding the Immigration Health Surcharge. HR teams should also prepare for a spike in anxiety-driven early departures and requests for international transfers. Companies relying on the Health and Care route may need contingency staffing plans – or lobby for sector-specific exemptions when the consultation opens this spring.
