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Britain says many migrants will have to wait longer to win the right to stay
Work visa holders will wait 10 years for settlement, while doctors, nurses and teachers can qualify in five, officials said.
- On Monday, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced that most work-visa holders will wait ten years for permanent residency, though those earning above £125,000 can settle after three years and public-sector workers after five.
- These measures represent a significant softening of proposals Mahmood introduced last year, which would have required lower-paid workers to wait 15 years; opposition from within the governing Labour Party forced the revision.
- Government projections indicate the policy shift will cost £10 billion, with an estimated 1.9 million migrants becoming eligible for benefits sooner than under the initial plan; the median U.K. salary is about £39,000 annually.
- Liberal Democrat lawmaker Max Wilkinson criticized the government for "prioritizing tough rhetoric rather than a system that works," while Mahmood argued the plan restores fairness by linking settlement rights to an immigrant's contribution to Britain.
- Reforms will begin in 2027, though Mahmood noted that refugees arriving via non-legal routes will face up to 30 years for settlement, as law enforcement cooperation between Britain and France has reduced boat crossings by more than 40%.
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abc NewsBritain says many migrants will have to wait longer to win the right to stay
The British government says it will double the wait time for many immigrants to settle permanently, although key workers and higher earners will be exempted.
·New York, United States
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