I want to address a recent report that appeared in the Daily Mail regarding potential changes to the requirements for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) in the UK. Although I shared some information on this topic on Instagram last Monday, I wanted to provide further clarification.

Firstly, it's important to note that the report is based on speculation and has not been officially confirmed by the Home Office or any reliable source. Therefore, it is premature to assume that the ILR requirements will be increased from five years to eight years.

Even if such a proposal were to be put forward, it would need parliamentary approval before becoming law. Considering the complexities of immigration policies and the legislative process, it is highly unlikely that any potential changes would be implemented before September 2023 at the earliest.

Based on past cases and legislation, changes to immigration requirements tend to affect new entrants more than those already on a specific immigration route. Existing migrants are generally not affected by retrospective changes. Therefore, it is improbable that any changes would impact those currently on the five-year route towards ILR.

ECAA Application ( Ankara Agreement ) 

The requirement for obtaining indefinite leave to remain through the ECAA route changed in 2018 from four years to five years. However, it's important to understand that this change was unrelated to the speculated increase from five to eight years for general ILR requirements.

The change in ECAA applications was a result of a legal judgment that found the existing ECAA agreement did not include provisions for indefinite leave to remain. Therefore, the UK government introduced new legislation to address this gap.

Rest assured that we will closely monitor the situation and keep you updated on any official announcements or significant developments. In the meantime, it's crucial to rely on verified information from trusted sources and avoid speculation.