At Bath Welcomes Refugees, we are deeply concerned about the UK Government’s recently announced changes to the pathway to permanent settlement and the impact they could have on refugees and people seeking asylum.
The Government describes its new Earned Settlement system as a fairer approach. However, we question how a system can be considered fair when people fleeing war and persecution may face decades of uncertainty before they can secure their futures.
Under the proposed framework, refugees on the Core Protection route could face a 20-year wait for permanent settlement, potentially extending to 30 years for those the Government considers to have arrived irregularly.
We are particularly concerned about the implications for those who have no access to safe and legal routes to seek protection. People should not be disadvantaged simply because of the circumstances in which they were forced to flee.
Behind these policies are people, families and communities. Many have already spent years rebuilding their lives in the UK, learning English, working, volunteering, raising children and contributing to their local communities. Longer pathways to settlement risk prolonging uncertainty, affecting family life and making it harder for people to plan their futures.
At Bath Welcomes Refugees, we believe that everyone seeking protection deserves to be treated with dignity, compassion and fairness. Safety and stability should not depend on someone’s economic circumstances or the route they were forced to take to escape war, persecution or danger.
To the communities we support
We understand that these announcements may be worrying and raise many questions, particularly for people already living in the UK and working towards permanent settlement.
Our team is currently reviewing the changes and seeking appropriate legal guidance to better understand what they mean for the individuals and families we support.
Please bear with us while we work to get clearer answers. We will share reliable information and updates as soon as we can. In the meantime, we encourage anyone concerned about their individual circumstances to seek advice from a qualified immigration adviser.
If you have any questions or would like to get in touch with our team, please contact us at [email protected].
Our commitment remains unchanged. We will continue to stand alongside refugees and people seeking asylum, supporting them to rebuild their lives and feel safe, welcome and part of our community.
Everyone deserves more than safety from immediate danger. They deserve the stability and opportunity to build a future.
Read the full Government announcement: Government Response to the Consultation
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