The 10-year route to settlement forces people into poverty and separates them from society. It shouldn’t be this way
Over the last decade, the immigration system has sought to make life nearly impossible for many seeking a better future in Britain. The rationale has been that it diminishes hostility to refugees and migrants. If people aren’t allowed to claim benefits, they can’t be accused of being a burden. If they’re forced to wait years before gaining leave to remain, many will leave of their own accord. If the system is harsh, it will function as a deterrent.
Yet, as a recent paper from the Institute for Public Policy Research makes clear, these punitive and complex rules create hardship and prevent people from contributing to society. The 10-year route to residency, which allows those with family connections to apply for leave to remain after spending a decade in the country, is a particularly cruel example. Around 170,000 people in Britain have permission to remain on this route. Many are women and people from black and south Asian backgrounds; many are in low-paid work. More than half are unable to meet the basic costs of living. The design of the route means people easily fall foul of it. Making a mistake on a form, or being unable to afford the £2,404 fee at the end of the process, can be enough to lose your immigration status and face the full force of the hostile environment.
