UK Immigration Resources

Earned settlement and changes to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)

On 2 November 2026 the Home Office published its response to the earned settlement consultation. It outlines a proposed contribution-based settlement framework, including a general ten-year route and different treatment for some groups. The government has said more detailed rules, guidance and an impact assessment will follow. Do not assume that every proposal is already in force.

• Earned settlement consultation and government response (2 November 2026)Official government response and proposed framework.
• Earned settlement consultation and research findingsPublic responses and targeted research, published 2 November 2026.
• Home Secretary’s statement to Parliament (2 November 2026)Announcement and explanation of the government’s intended approach.
• Home Affairs Committee — Routes to Settlement inquiryParliamentary evidence and scrutiny of possible impacts, including transitional fairness.
• Current settlement (ILR) routes and eligibilityCurrent GOV.UK entry point for checking your own route.
• Immigration Rules currently in forceConsult the relevant appendix and its commencement/transitional provisions.

Current immigration law, rule changes and previous versions

Use primary government sources when checking what applies now and when amendments take effect.

• UK Immigration Rules — indexCurrent rules and individual route appendices.
• Statements of Changes in Immigration RulesPublished amendments and relevant commencement dates.
• Government archive of previous Immigration RulesCompare rule versions across dates for changes and transitional arrangements.
• Appendix Skilled WorkerOfficial detailed requirements for the Skilled Worker route, including settlement.

Guidance for different types of migrants

Select your immigration category. These GOV.UK pages link to relevant applications, extensions and conditions.

• Work visas — Skilled Worker, Health and Care, Global Talent and other routesOverview of work routes and eligibility; also explains options closed to new applicants.
• Licensed employer sponsors registerCheck published sponsor authorisations for work routes.
• Study in the UK — Student, Child Student and short-term routesStudent visa and sponsor information.
• Family visas and dependantsPartner, child and other family route information.
• Settlement and British citizenshipILR, EU Settlement Scheme and nationality starting points.
• British citizenship after ILR or settled statusOfficial naturalisation eligibility and application information.
• eVisa and UKVI account helpAccess, prove and update digital immigration status and resolve issues.

Evidence, public policy and campaigns

Useful for people researching settlement changes, transitional treatment and wider immigration policy.

• Parliament — Home Affairs CommitteeInquiries, reports and government scrutiny.
• Migration Advisory Committee (MAC)Analysis and recommendations relating to migration and labour markets.
• House of Commons Library — immigration researchIndependent background briefings and legislative analysis.
• Home Office migration statisticsOfficial data about work, student and family migration, settlement and citizenship.
• Home Office migration researchEvidence and reports on immigration policy impacts.

Appeals, regulated advisers and independent assistance

Some immigration decisions have strict deadlines. Check the decision letter and official information promptly; specialist assistance may be needed.

• Appeal against a visa or immigration decisionWhether a tribunal appeal is available and how it works.
• Immigration appeals and administrative reviewsOfficial overview of options after immigration decisions.
• Immigration Advice Authority (IAA)Find regulated immigration advisers and understand authorisation.
• Check legal aid eligibilityCheck whether public funding may be available for a qualifying case.
• Ark Law Limited — separate immigration application enquiriesIndependent from HSMP Forum; IAA-regulated services.

Historical Resources & Archives

Earlier HSMP guidance, the Forum's 2008 and 2009 judicial-review material, previous Tier 1 documents, historical AIT appeal cases and outdated immigration forms are kept separately for reference. They are not current immigration advice.

View Historical Resources (separate page)

For the Forum's campaign correspondence, submissions and photographs, visit HSMP Forum Archives.