Foreign nationals who have lived in the UK for more than a decade fear they could be denied permanent citizenship due to a Government crackdown on migrants’ settlement rights.
The Government has proposed doubling the wait for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) from five to 10 years and that those applying must pass a Life in the UK test on British culture, history and society.
Meanwhile, migrants who claim state benefits for more than 12 months would face a 20-year wait for ILR, which is also a key step towards being able to gain British citizenship.
One grandmother who has lived in the UK for 27 years fears the changes planned by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood will delay her bid for permanent residence by another decade.
The Jamaican national, 59, is a healthcare assistant whose children and grandchildren are British citizens.
