Recommendation 9

HM Government Acknowledged

The Home Office has recently introduced Appendix Private Life to the Immigration Rules, bringing the concession on early settlement introduced on 20 October 2021 into the Immigration Rules. The new rules allow a child born in the UK and who has spent their first seven years here to qualify for immediate settlement. It also creates a defined route to settlement after five years for those applying as a child or young person. As stated in our response to your letter dated 26 January, there are no plans to shorten the maximum period of time spent subject to NRPF for families with children. Those migrating to the UK are generally expected to maintain and support themselves and any accompanying family without reliance on the UK’s welfare system. The requirement to be self-sufficient at the point of entry is a way of ensuring they are prepared for life in the UK, so that their own welfare is catered for, and finite taxpayer funded benefits are protected. The majority of those seeking permanent residence accept and adhere to these requirements and qualify for settlement after five years. Overall, the Government thinks it is right to distinguish them from those who require the additional support of public funds. This keeps the fundamental aims in sight and maintains fairness and confidence in our immigration system. We are aware that migrants with permission to stay in the UK for family reasons can encounter financial difficulty and for this reason we have provided for flexibility around the immediate impact on immigration status of accessing public funds.