Dozens of Labour MPs have known as on the federal government to make sure modifications to everlasting residency necessities don’t pull assist for Hong Kongers and others on humanitarian visas.
The 34 MPs say they’ve “vital issues concerning the potential opposed penalties” of changes announced in November to indefinite depart to stay (IRL), which permits migrants to reside, work and examine completely within the UK, then purchase British citizenship.
They’ve written to migration minister Mike Tapp to ask him to make sure new necessities aren’t utilized retroactively to about 200,000 Hong Kongers who have been granted British National Overseas (BNO) visas from 2021 by the earlier Conservative authorities after fleeing a crackdown by Beijing.
Of explicit concern is the newly introduced requirement for “higher intermediate” (B2) stage of English, elevated from “intermediate” (B1), and the need to have earned greater than £12,570 a 12 months for no less than three to 5 years earlier than with the ability to apply for IRL.
The earliest Hong Kongers who got here to the UK on a BNO visa will develop into eligible to use for IRL from March 2026, with the MPs fearing they might be prevented from incomes settled standing after already ready 5 years.
They mentioned they’re confronted with the “prospect of an alarming situation the place a large number of BNO visa holders are locked out of accomplishing ILR after 5 years within the UK, as was promised to them after they repatriated to the UK”.
“Returning to Hong Kong just isn’t an possibility for them,” the MPs warned.
The 34 Labour MPs have written to Mike Tapp
They mentioned pensioners, disabled folks, younger adults, these at college and homemakers will all fail to satisfy the minimal wage necessities, which might imply they might be denied IRL.
The MPs mentioned the Residence Workplace ought to recognise different contributions, similar to volunteering, caring tasks or being a key employee, and may proceed to recognise a level taught in English at a UK college as assembly the proficiency in English.
‘Historic responsibility’
Senior Labour MP Sarah Champion, a signatory, instructed Sky Information: “I’ve BNO constituents who are actually massively anxious about their immigration standing.
“The confusion over who’s/is not eligible to stay with the federal government’s new immigration coverage is severely impacting their psychological well being.
“The UK has a historic responsibility to Hong Kong, it was proper the final authorities created the BNO scheme; we now must clarify that individuals from Hong Kong are nonetheless welcome to stay.”
Analysis carried out by Labour MP James Naish, who has slightly below 3,000 BNO holders in his Rushcliffe constituency and organised the letter, discovered if the brand new English requirement was rolled out rigidly, solely 8% of BNO visa households would have the ability to totally entry ILR after 5 years within the UK.
His analysis, a survey of 6,667 BNO holders, discovered an additional 43% of BNO households would haven’t any members of their family eligible.
The MPs additionally mentioned Hong Kong pensioners within the UK have left behind HK$3.8bn (about £360m) in Hong Kong’s state pension system, which they’ll solely entry as soon as they’ve settled standing, and with many having deliberate for 5 years this might trigger them monetary difficulties.
Extra from Sky Information:
Reaction to Trump’s angry speech
Teachers to be trained to spot misogyny
Of their letter, the MPs additionally mentioned all different humanitarian visa routes ought to be exempt from the modifications, as in any other case it will “undermine the humanitarian intent” of the schemes.
Mr Naish instructed Sky Information: “The BNO visa was created with cross-party assist to supply a protected route for Hong Kongers following the crackdown on civil liberties in Hong Kong. Many households made life-changing choices primarily based on the clear promise of a path to settlement after 5 years.
“It is important that the small print of the federal government’s proposals on earned settlement displays the federal government’s headline assist for the BNO visa scheme.”
The Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Basis mentioned: “The UK should honour its obligations below the Sino-British Joint Declaration and shield Hong Kongers searching for freedom right here.”
