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Home Office statement to Strategic Migration Partnerships on the consultation to extend Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) to 10-years from 5-years and its impact on the BN(O) Visa
The Home Office has reiterated to the East of England Strategic Migration Partnership that a consultation on “earned settlement”, including the extension of the qualifying residency period in the UK to obtain ILR to 10-years as well as which visa and migration routes it will impact, will take place later this year.
Contrary to recent reports in the media and those being shared within the Hong Kong community that the UK Government has exempted people on BN(O) route from these changes, no decision has yet been made on which routes the changes will apply to. The Home Office has confirmed that the BN(O) visa route will be part of a consultation planned for later in the year.
The Home Office confirmed that the Government’s position, as set out in Parliament on 8th September, has not changed despite recent media reports.
As soon as the consultation is open for responses, we will ensure that this is shared as widely as possible and strongly encourage BN(O) visa holders to respond to the consultation on the potential impacts to them and their families from the proposed changes.
Please see below for the full statement from the Home Office to the East of England Strategic Migration Partnership, and Strategic Migration Partnerships across the UK.
“The Government is committed to supporting members of the Hong Kong community who have relocated to the UK and those who may come here in the future.
Settlement in the UK is a prerequisite for becoming a British citizen and brings lifelong benefits. Settlement is also an important step in integrating and contributing to local communities and the wider country. We will therefore reform the current rules around settlement so that individuals must earn their right to privileged immigration status in the UK through the long-term contribution they bring to our country.
The reforms set out in the White Paper will be delivered through Parliament. Some measures will require primary legislation and further consultation, while others will be brought in more swiftly. There will be opportunity for everyone to contribute to the consultation on changes to new earned settlement and citizenship rules, including on the potential impacts on those on the BN(O) route. We will provide details of how the new rules will work after the consultation, including which immigration routes they will apply to and when the changes will be applied.
Further details of all measures announced in the Immigration White Paper will be set out in the normal way in due course.”
English | 中文
英國內政部就延長ILR年期規定至十年的諮詢程序及其轉變對BN(O)簽證持有人的影響之聲明
英國內政部再次重申，有關「贏取永久居留權」(Earned settlement) 的諮詢將於今年稍後時間進行。此諮詢將會包括有關延長ILR合資格居留年期至10年的轉變，以及其對各種簽證及移民途徑的影響。
儘管近日有多間傳媒報道指， BN(O) 簽證將不受此項轉變影響，但內政部再次重申，現屆政府在9月8日於國會發表之立場並無改變，有關諮詢將會涵蓋BN(O)簽證及其移民途徑。
當有關諮詢開放予公眾參與時，我們將會分享相關資訊，並強烈鼓勵BN(O)簽證持有人就相關政策轉變對他們及其家庭的潛在影響提交意見。
以下將會提供內政部向全國各地移民策略合作夥伴的香港移民歡迎中心（Strategic Migration Partnerships’ Hong Kong Welcome Hubs）的完整聲明（只提供英文版本）。
“The Government is committed to supporting members of the Hong Kong community who have relocated to the UK and those who may come here in the future.
Settlement in the UK is a prerequisite for becoming a British citizen and brings lifelong benefits. Settlement is also an important step in integrating and contributing to local communities and the wider country. We will therefore reform the current rules around settlement so that individuals must earn their right to privileged immigration status in the UK through the long-term contribution they bring to our country.
The reforms set out in the White Paper will be delivered through Parliament. Some measures will require primary legislation and further consultation, while others will be brought in more swiftly. There will be opportunity for everyone to contribute to the consultation on changes to new earned settlement and citizenship rules, including on the potential impacts on those on the BN(O) route. We will provide details of how the new rules will work after the consultation, including which immigration routes they will apply to and when the changes will be applied.
Further details of all measures announced in the Immigration White Paper will be set out in the normal way in due course.”