Ercan and Gozde came to the UK five years ago seeking a secure future for their young son and daughter, one where the political uncertainty of Turkey was left far behind.
But with the changes to immigration laws extending eligibility for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) from five years to ten years coming into force this autumn, and an ever-lengthening wait for a visa, that security now feels farther away than ever.
“Years ago we came here with a lot of dreams for our children, for our careers. And now our dreams are falling down,” Ercan, who is now considering going back to Turkey if he can’t get leave to remain this year, told The i Paper.
‘An uncertain future’
Ercan, 46, and Gozde, 42, moved to Beckenham in south London in July 2021 under the Turkish ECAA visa, which allowed Gozde to set up a business as a law consultant and bring her husband and children with her.
