When the UK government released its new Earned Settlement consultation, many expected tweaks to the system. Instead, what arrived was a proposal that sent a wave of shock through migrant communities. The possibility that ILR might shift to a 10-year route for Skilled Worker visa holders, including those who are already living and working in the UK, has left thousands of families feeling anxious, betrayed and uncertain about their future.

For NRIs, healthcare workers, students and long term residents, ILR is not just a visa category. It represents stability. It provides roots after years spent contributing to the UK through skills, taxes and essential work. The sudden idea that the goalpost may shift so drastically has created a deep emotional and practical impact. This uncertainty echoes other ongoing policy changes, similar to those discussed in our Registration Bill 2025 guide.

Why This Proposal Feels Like a Betrayal

For many migrants, the 5-year ILR timeline was the foundation of major life decisions. People planned careers, schooling choices, home purchases, childcare arrangements and long term savings around this clear pathway.

Changing it now feels like the rules were rewritten halfway through the game.

One NRI software engineer put it simply
“We left our home country thinking that after five years we could finally settle. Now they are telling us maybe it is ten. How do you plan a life like that.”

The sense of uncertainty is not just frustrating. It is exhausting.

How the Proposal Impacts Different Groups

1. NRIs Working in Tech and Finance

These communities rely on stable visa pathways so they can:
. Change jobs confidently
. Build credit history
. Buy homes without fear of visa expiry
. Provide long term security for children

A sudden shift to ten years means:
. Higher financial burden
. Visa renewals again and again
. Delays in citizenship
. Years more of instability

Many NRIs are already adjusting to financial pressures such as those outlined in UK tax changes for NRIs, making this proposal even harder to absorb.

A parent working in London said
“We were getting ready to apply for ILR next year. Now we do not know what to tell our kids.”

2. NHS and Social Care Workers

This group is among the most emotionally affected. The UK clapped for them during the pandemic. They worked through crisis and loss. Many have been on Skilled Worker visas for years.

The idea that they may still need a decade to be allowed to settle feels deeply unfair.

3. International Students Transitioning Into the Workforce

Students often choose the UK because the 5-year Skilled Worker route gives them a realistic settlement goal. Extending this to ten years makes the UK far less attractive compared to Canada or Australia.

An Indian postgraduate student said
“If I knew it would take ten years before ILR, I would have chosen another country. It feels like the door is closing.”

Many students and families frequently travelling between India and the UK may also find our guide Flying from a UK Airport in 2025 helpful for planning in this uncertain climate.

4. Families With Young Children

Parents worry most because children depend on long term stability. Delayed ILR means:
. Extended visa fees
. NHS surcharges
. More paperwork
. Difficulty getting student finance later

The emotional toll on parents is visible
“Kids do not understand immigration status. They just want to feel like they belong.”

Why Communities Feel Targeted

Many migrants point out that they have:
. Filled essential labour gaps
. Paid millions in taxes collectively
. Kept the NHS running
. Contributed to innovation and growth
. Built local communities

Extending ILR to ten years feels like the opposite of gratitude. Instead of rewarding long term contribution, it may feel like the system prefers keeping migrants temporary, dependent and financially tied to visa renewals.

There is also fear that if the government can change ILR from five to ten years, future rules could shift again.

Immigrant communities thrive on planning. Everyone manages timelines, renewals, school schedules, job offers and mortgage eligibility. When the foundation suddenly becomes unstable, it creates a ripple effect through entire households.

People are feeling:
. Anxiety about the future
. Fear of never truly belonging
. Stress about financial strain
. Uncertainty about raising children in the UK
. Concerns about employer dependency

This sense of instability connects to wider workplace challenges such as those explored in Why South Asians Are Quiet Quitting in the UK.

The consultation claims this is about rewarding long term contribution. Community members argue that people already contribute for five years before ILR. Extending it to ten does not measure merit. It creates hardship.

The practical impact is huge
. More visa fees
. More NHS surcharge
. More reliance on employers
. More stress for families
. More delays in buying homes
. More difficulty attracting global talent

In a world where other countries are making immigration easier, the UK risks pushing away the very people it needs.

What Immigrants Can Do Right Now

1. Respond to the Consultation

Every voice matters. It is open here
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/earned-settlement

2. Track Your Own Visa Timeline Carefully

Those nearing five years should prepare ILR documents early.

3. Explore Alternative Routes

Some visas still offer faster routes such as:
. Global Talent
. Scale Up
. Innovator Founder
. Spouse Visa

4. Strengthen Community Support

Communities of immigrants have always helped each other navigate difficult policies. Sharing information and resources remains more important than ever.

5. Stay Updated

This is still a proposal. Not law. Community pressure can influence outcomes.

The proposed ten year ILR pathway has created fear and frustration. Yet it has also highlighted the strength of immigrant communities. NRIs, NHS staff, students and families have come together to ask for fairness, transparency and dignity.

People do not want special treatment. They want predictable rules. They want respect for their contributions. They want stability for their families.

This period may feel unsettling, but collective voices, proper guidance and community solidarity can shape the outcome. Migrants have always built the UK with resilience and dedication. That strength continues today.