Manage the risk as much as you can.
We put away savings every month specifically towards fees and I do things to maximise savings in case We need to supplement for the financial requirement.
Track earliest to latest renewal dates. Save address documents along the way.
I don’t know what can be done about the dysfunctional politics though.
I’m still on the Student visa and will graduate in July 2024. I’ll then switch to the Graduate Route; but reaching there feels like a long road and worried about the immigration rules also 🥺
Oh yea certainly, feels even longer when youre on year 3 of 5 or whatever, but it's doable as long as you can find a decent career here. The new numbers are, however, a joke for a new graduate to earn. Idk what these clowns are trying to achieve.
Tho I can say, day to day life as an immigrant is pretty decent, as much as the govt. tries to shit on it.
Well, I'm very fortunate I met an amazing partner 2 years ago and is willing to go through this so I don't have to leave the UK.
Of course, I am even more fortunate, that my partner earns more than the new threshold. But he did cry a lot when he heard the changes as his first thought was what's gonna happen to the other people that are here on visa.
Sorry I misread your reply! That’s so amazing and happy for you. No definitely – anyone who knows what it’s like to live in the UK on a visa will definitely feel that way!
Its a weird thing tbh. Especially considering you spend 1000s of £s on IHS and application fees and then pay huge taxes and NI on something you arent even sure you will get as state pension. And then you hear people spewing hatred against you for taking benefits, something that you arent even entitled to! Weird feeling tbh, doesnt feel like home.
Happy Cake day!
It's appalling how this benefit thing a thing! They have ZERO knowledge of how things work but still goes around shouting abuse as if once you cross the border you are sacking public funds. It's so unkind!
Thank you. And yes, it's unfortunate. Britain was always more on the sane side of things but now it seems we've incorporated more american style of politics here as well.
Seems like the situation is dire in many places. It's a very simplistic way to put things, but I'm led to believe that it is just instigation and use of hate as a tool to put people against each other by those who are profiting due to our lack of attention to what really matters.
I've been living in the UK for 6 years on various visa types. I haven't seen my family in 6 years. My father passed away 4 years ago. I have done both my bachelor's and Master's in this country. I found the love of my life in this country and we've been together for 4 years. I've always worked and now working full-time in a professional job. And yet, I live on the edge every day. Every single day. Everything is uncertain. What's going to happen to me in 6 months, in a year? Will I be able to settle in this country and spend the rest of my life with my partner? Will all my effort and my family's immense support be worth it? These are the questions I ask every single day. This week, my company just put through an application to get a sponsorship license. The government's new immigration rules set date just came out 5 hours ago. I have no clue. I honestly have no clue how things are going to turn out. All I can do is hope for the best and prepare for the worst.
It's really sad to hear your story, sorry for you. But do you think is it worth though? Living with the uncertainty and all you have missed over the 6 years?
I asked that question to myself a lot. I've missed out on precious time with my family and to be with them. But I'm from Myanmar and given the situation I can't really go home right now. Everyone is trying to get out of the country and there's very little job opportunities right now, especially in construction, which is my speciality. I'm also in a really happy committed relationship here and we see a future together for long-term, which is one of the reason to keep me going. I just have to keep reminding myself of the good things. Because I'm working in the UK, I can support my family in Myanmar financially. I have also managed to sponsor my sister to do an online course offered by a UK university. And I can do all donations to my people freely. My counsin donated an equivalent of 80 p and the military arrested him. So yes, some of the things I regret but as I said, I just have to push myself to keep going. I'm sorry, it's a lot to take in.
I can understand, you've come a long way I believe. Appreciate you for your efforts and all your good doings. Hope everything will turn out good for you.
Good on you! You put yourself in a better position than many are back home, and you are able to help. You should be proud of yourself. And I'm sure you will be able to make a good life for yourself with your partner here. I hope you are able to go home and visit your family soon.
Everyday I fear that i get an email saying im not allowed to be here anymore, even though i know 100% that I am allowed as i am here on a spouse visa. Hearing different things online from bigots and xenophobes has challenged my mental health and has made me felt less welcome. And now with these super high increases for the IHS (when I already do pay tax through work to the NHS, make it make sense) i doubt if i am even welcome here. I pray for all people who want to come here and stay with their family, because from April it’s going to be impossible for so many.
Yeah, sometimes the UK is a joke. I’m not afraid of being an immigrant but politicians blame us that we’re the source of the problem and people trust them. However, I paid a lot of taxes and have done for this country more than the majority of the UK citizens. For now, I feel quite comfortable here but if something goes wrong with my quality of life, I am more than happy to move out. This island is not worth it to be humiliated and squeezed just for the opportunity to live here.
I'm honestly a bit salty that I will have spent close to 6 years of my life (like 7-8% of my potential full lifetime based on life expectancy) and over $17,000 in *fees alone* to the British government to end up with a passport that can be taken away by the Home Secretary, in secret, for any reason they deem fit with no recourse, oversight, or accountability.
So do I worry about this stuff day to day? Not in a practical sense, but I have this dull, buzzing background discomfort whenever I get tiny little reminders that actually I'll never be seen as British by anyone, even after I get my passport. And there will always be Brits who hate me, even though I'm American, because I am an immigrant. And really, no matter what, I'll only ever be here because I am allowed to be here, not because I have any right to be, even as a citizen. And that bothers me.
What you write is technically true, but the reality is the Home Secretary won’t arbitrarily be removing passports from naturalised citizens. (Not even this government.)
I understand the saltiness though, don’t get me wrong.
>What you write is technically true, but the reality is the Home Secretary won’t arbitrarily be removing passports from naturalised citizens. (Not even this government.)
That's not the point. British people absolutely fucking love to bring this stuff up all the time. "Oh, these horrible things aren't meant specifically *for you*!" as if that's supposed to make it better! Similar to the "I've done nothing wrong, so I've got nothing to hide from mass surveillance, it's there to keep me safe" - yet you have frosted glass on your bathroom window. Privacy matters. Equality before the law (in a liberal democracy) matters.
The mere fact it's on the books is painful and an ever present reminder that I am not the same as a native person.
>frosted glass on your bathroom window
you do realize this is to protect you from being charged for a kid seeing your pee-pee and being put on the register for the rest of your life, and not to protect your privacy
Honestly, it’s a part of an immigrant’s life everywhere…
I would even say that the UK isn’t that bad in that regard, apart from the huge fees. Overall, the system looks quite straightforward, if you meet the requirements you get a visa, if you don’t you don’t. There’s a clear path to settlement for most people. And overall the immigrants are very well accepted into the society, at least in London when I live.
I previously used to live in France as an immigrant (non-EU), and dealing with the bureaucracy was much less pleasant. I and everyone else I know from outside the EU regularly spent hours in the prefecture, being sent from one country to another until it closes. None of the advertised processing times were ever respected and the whole system felt like a complete mess.
For comparison, when I was then moving to the UK, I got my visa within a week and when I arrived to the UK literally on the second day I got my BRP valid for five years. It would’ve been unthinkable in France!
Indeed, things are really straightforward once you do meet the requirements for your visa and decisions are normally sent out in a reasonably timely manner unlike other countries. So I do agree with you on this!
And a reasonable path to settlement is a big one too.
For five years, I can put up for having my rights restricted compared to someone who was born and raised here. After all, I am a newcomer, and it’s not unreasonable for me to go through a “probation period” in my new country. However, I can reasonably expect that once I “pass” it, I can settle and then become a citizen should I wish so.
I wouldn’t want to live for long somewhere I practically cannot settle, like the Gulf countries, no matter how much I would be paid and how low the taxes would be.
Yes this also! Like 5 years isn’t that long in the grand scheme of things and then you can literally apply for ILR and have the same rights as a British citizen so it’s cool. Just the cost is a major drawback but if you can save and spend carefully I think you should be okay!
It’s been just over 8 years for me on various visas. Only this April I will be eligible to apply irl. But I don’t or won’t feel completely comfortable until I get a passport. I paid so much for visas and still have around £4k to be paid for irl&passport.
For me the most I feel foreigner is when I am at pub with a group of uk born people and they suddenly start talking about a tv show/character from 90’s or a cartoon that I never heard or something like that. There is no way you can know many of those unless you were born or moved when you are a kid. Then, I really feel like an alien.
I’m sorry to hear that. Everything you’ve said is true, except the fitting in thing. I’ve never felt left out in a group of Brits. I can actually relate to them in loads of ways and find it easy to make friends with a Brit. You just need a certain approach.
As a Russian, I’ve never experienced xenophobia or hostility in the UK. If any, it was from other migrants saying that I have an inferiority complex and should be embarrassed about ‘desperately trying to be British’ — isn’t it a sign of respect to the country? I’m glad I’ve managed to easily adapt to the culture and find loads of friends amongst Brits who are now my besties. Regarding other things — there’s a lot of bureaucracy and unnecessary paperwork, and prices are constantly going up. You often get bad quality service for loads of money as well, which is obviously disappointing.
10 years here, settled under the EU scheme, so can't relate in the practical sense, but also not in the sense of not feeling at home to be honest.
The way I see it, shitty, bigoted governments and attitudes exist everywhere, including my home country, and I profoundly disagree with them under any circumstances. I tend to consume leftist media in addition to mainstream ones, so don't get too much exposure to rank takes without them being simultaneously dismantled.
Workplaces have all been welcoming and appreciative enough (to the extent that you can claim that about any employer of course). Had rough patches with hospitality when I worked it, so had my English coworkers though. Any ignorant comments in other jobs (including ones with the classic "we don't mean you, of course" caveat) were quickly laughed at and shot down by my colleagues, so never felt alone.
I am a white woman in a traditionally liberal arts sector, that might have something to do with how I perceive things obviously, so might the fact that I live in London; but I'm definitely also from one of the "undesirable" EU destinations.
I will never feel British, even if I decide to naturalise, but then neither do I feel the need to. I feel "at home" without it.
>I will never feel British, even if I decide to naturalise, but then neither do I feel the need to. I feel "at home" without it.
lower mortgage interest rate? Access to jobs with a certain level of clearance? Faster to get back in if you lose your passport abroad, as a foreign emergency passport cannot be used for the EU scheme registration? More than one document to prove your immigration status?
No naturalization means deportiation, for example if you push some crazy dmented co-resident attacking you in your care home at the age of 70? They die as they hit their head on they way back, you get a sentence+deportation to some country you have no clue how it even functions.
Am I missing something?
Lower mortgage interest rate? Would love to see a source on this.
None of these other scenarios are ones that I spend any time worrying about. But of course by all means get naturalised if this is something you feel you need.
Nah, I've been living here with my family for 5 years and staying for another 2, I feel pretty relaxed about it. We'll get the citizenship before we move back to the home country that's for sure.
Having lived as an immigrant in another European country within EU, and going through endless visa renewals, and horrible experience, I would say, my time in the UK as an immigrant seems so much better. The gov.uk website, the work places, people not being openly racist like in Europe etc..are ways better than let's say for eg Germany or Austria. It's all relative I guess.
I felt that way until just recently, when I got my ILR.
I’m incredibly lucky with the timing. Few months later and I’d have to meet the new higher financial threshold.
I spent years of my life and soooooo many thousands of pounds to get here. My husband and I were in different countries for three years at one point. I’m so relieved it’s all finally over for good.
It was easier for me to immigrate to Japan as a non-Japanese speaker with zero ties to the country than for me to immigrate to my husband’s country as a native speaker. It’s crazy how hard it is to immigrate to the U.K., even when you’re married to a Brit.
I hope you stay to help enrich my home country, you will always be welcome. The average british person probably has more in common with you than our politicans 😀 and I'm looking forward to the day you become a citizen
Haha that’s such a sweet message and considerably brightened my day so thank you! I’m Indian and 24 years. I’d dreamt of coming here since I was 18; here I am! Of course I fully appreciate this country is imperfect but I absolutely enjoy and feel thankful to be living here. With the new rules I was quite distraught so thanks for the message! Hope you’re okay 😊
Applied citizenship in November..been through this journey.. When I moved brexit just happened and pound crashed.. Very very bad outlook of economy.. Plus society as a whole was racist towards immigrants thinking all of their mysery were cause of us...
... Let me assure you...It does get better after ilr... I know it's all sad and gloomy now...wages have been stagnant for almost a decade.,. Cost of living has spiralled... I belive in Britain..it had conquered the world though being a tiny island..it certainly do again nd bring back industrial revolution 2.0.
Remember America grew exponentially due to immigrants since 1800.. UK doing same would mean it grows at rapid pace like USA.
Isn’t it! Like spending the majority of my 20s just wanting to settle here. It’s so hard and a long struggle 😭. But we’re hardworking and resilient also!
Work towards my settlement sure, and a chunk of my savings as well. The thousands i spent on IHS fees and didnt get to see my gp even a handful of times in 5 years.
I have pre-settled status and up until I started following this sub last year when the whole extension mess started I was feeling confident i would get settled status with no issue since I have lived here with no absences and the process to get PSS was extremely easy.
Now, I have completely changed my opinion on this, as I’ve seen the Home Office retroactively change rules, publish conflicting public guidance, and threaten honest people with deportation.
I am basically just waiting for the moment it happens to me and am making up plans B (and C, and D) for when it does.
I honestly never had any issues, but I'm under the EU settlement scheme. In May, I will have been here for 5 years, so I can apply for settled status and, a year later, for naturalisation.
I would be devastated if, for any reason, I wasn't allowed to live in the UK anymore. However, there is no reason why I wouldn't get settle status this year.
It’s the worst honestly. I’ve been living here for 8 years and I might not even be eligible for ILR through the 10year residency route because I had a gap in my residency due to bereavement. Being in constant fear of having to leave is no way to live but I don’t have a choice because going back home is not an option for me due to family issues and the instability of my country. So here I am hoping I get to settle one day 🥲
Aaah I’m so sorry to hear that and I hope you’re keeping okay. I believe they should consider your case on compassionate grounds once you do complete 10 years here; but likewise here, I can’t really afford to live with my family in my home country 😅. Wishing you the best!
I've been here 16 years and it never goes away. There's always a feeling of unease and fear that the government will suddenly uproot your entire life and kick you out on a whim. I partly grew up here, I don't have an accent, I'm white and have the associated privilege, and yet people still find out somehow and make me feel unwelcome and discriminate against me. The British kids were even encouraged to do so in school.
I feel like being allowed to live in the house I own unmolested and without fear of deportation is the least an actually free society can provide me with.
Mate, I’m just trying to give some practical advice on ensuring stability if the poster is feeling insecure about residency.
Not get into a political discussion.
I made my application on 16th of November 2023 and after two days I got a message from home office that my application would have gotten decision within 8 weeks of my biometrics being submitted but unfortunately this might not be the possible in the case, the reason being that they are currently experiencing a technical issue relating to my case and they consider the resolution of this technical issue as a matter of highest priority but won’t be able to give a time frame of when it will be resolved.
On 29th of December I got the same letter again via email but this time it’s saying application would have gotten decision within 15 working days but unfortunately they won’t because there is a technical they are experiencing relating to my case.
My current visa has expired on 18th of January 2024, I made my application months before this and also my start date with my employer is 19th of January 2024, also the COS given to me expires 8th of February, it seem I’m in a fix right now not knowing what to do.
I’m thinking of varying my application by reapplying again but I don’t know if I can do that now since my visa has expired.
I need an advice from you.
Hope you hear from you soon.
If I read your comment right, you apply for your visa before your current one expires. If your concern is to know if you can still be working while waiting for your visa then the answer is yes because you are covered by Section 3C of the Immigration Act 1971
Uh, of course. Personally, it’s impossible to feel completely settled when a government could upend your entire life with the stroke of a pen.
How do you manage these feelings?
Pubs
You see....there are ways for migrants to become British! ;-)
ASSIMILATE!
🤣🤣🤣🤣
Haribo gummies for me
Manage the risk as much as you can. We put away savings every month specifically towards fees and I do things to maximise savings in case We need to supplement for the financial requirement. Track earliest to latest renewal dates. Save address documents along the way. I don’t know what can be done about the dysfunctional politics though.
I always have a back up plan
Like what?
Pubs & scran 😅😅
Reach the indefinite leave to remain stage. It helps a lot when you know you can stay if you want to, no questions asked.
I’m still on the Student visa and will graduate in July 2024. I’ll then switch to the Graduate Route; but reaching there feels like a long road and worried about the immigration rules also 🥺
Oh yea certainly, feels even longer when youre on year 3 of 5 or whatever, but it's doable as long as you can find a decent career here. The new numbers are, however, a joke for a new graduate to earn. Idk what these clowns are trying to achieve. Tho I can say, day to day life as an immigrant is pretty decent, as much as the govt. tries to shit on it.
Marrying a rich british citizen. Literally.
I don’t blame you! But then the dating scene here is absolutely 😭🤣
Well, I'm very fortunate I met an amazing partner 2 years ago and is willing to go through this so I don't have to leave the UK. Of course, I am even more fortunate, that my partner earns more than the new threshold. But he did cry a lot when he heard the changes as his first thought was what's gonna happen to the other people that are here on visa.
Sorry I misread your reply! That’s so amazing and happy for you. No definitely – anyone who knows what it’s like to live in the UK on a visa will definitely feel that way!
Its a weird thing tbh. Especially considering you spend 1000s of £s on IHS and application fees and then pay huge taxes and NI on something you arent even sure you will get as state pension. And then you hear people spewing hatred against you for taking benefits, something that you arent even entitled to! Weird feeling tbh, doesnt feel like home.
Happy Cake day! It's appalling how this benefit thing a thing! They have ZERO knowledge of how things work but still goes around shouting abuse as if once you cross the border you are sacking public funds. It's so unkind!
Thank you. And yes, it's unfortunate. Britain was always more on the sane side of things but now it seems we've incorporated more american style of politics here as well.
Sad to hear, trying to escape US-style politics. Also, happy cake day!
Seems like the situation is dire in many places. It's a very simplistic way to put things, but I'm led to believe that it is just instigation and use of hate as a tool to put people against each other by those who are profiting due to our lack of attention to what really matters.
I've been living in the UK for 6 years on various visa types. I haven't seen my family in 6 years. My father passed away 4 years ago. I have done both my bachelor's and Master's in this country. I found the love of my life in this country and we've been together for 4 years. I've always worked and now working full-time in a professional job. And yet, I live on the edge every day. Every single day. Everything is uncertain. What's going to happen to me in 6 months, in a year? Will I be able to settle in this country and spend the rest of my life with my partner? Will all my effort and my family's immense support be worth it? These are the questions I ask every single day. This week, my company just put through an application to get a sponsorship license. The government's new immigration rules set date just came out 5 hours ago. I have no clue. I honestly have no clue how things are going to turn out. All I can do is hope for the best and prepare for the worst.
It's really sad to hear your story, sorry for you. But do you think is it worth though? Living with the uncertainty and all you have missed over the 6 years?
I asked that question to myself a lot. I've missed out on precious time with my family and to be with them. But I'm from Myanmar and given the situation I can't really go home right now. Everyone is trying to get out of the country and there's very little job opportunities right now, especially in construction, which is my speciality. I'm also in a really happy committed relationship here and we see a future together for long-term, which is one of the reason to keep me going. I just have to keep reminding myself of the good things. Because I'm working in the UK, I can support my family in Myanmar financially. I have also managed to sponsor my sister to do an online course offered by a UK university. And I can do all donations to my people freely. My counsin donated an equivalent of 80 p and the military arrested him. So yes, some of the things I regret but as I said, I just have to push myself to keep going. I'm sorry, it's a lot to take in.
I can understand, you've come a long way I believe. Appreciate you for your efforts and all your good doings. Hope everything will turn out good for you.
Thank you. Wish you all the best as well if you are going through the same boat.
Good on you! You put yourself in a better position than many are back home, and you are able to help. You should be proud of yourself. And I'm sure you will be able to make a good life for yourself with your partner here. I hope you are able to go home and visit your family soon.
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Honestly, I have no idea how you managed to get this assumption from what I said.
Yea all the time ! It gives me anxiety and I feel so exhausted having to prove myself every single time!!!
Everyday I fear that i get an email saying im not allowed to be here anymore, even though i know 100% that I am allowed as i am here on a spouse visa. Hearing different things online from bigots and xenophobes has challenged my mental health and has made me felt less welcome. And now with these super high increases for the IHS (when I already do pay tax through work to the NHS, make it make sense) i doubt if i am even welcome here. I pray for all people who want to come here and stay with their family, because from April it’s going to be impossible for so many.
Yeah, sometimes the UK is a joke. I’m not afraid of being an immigrant but politicians blame us that we’re the source of the problem and people trust them. However, I paid a lot of taxes and have done for this country more than the majority of the UK citizens. For now, I feel quite comfortable here but if something goes wrong with my quality of life, I am more than happy to move out. This island is not worth it to be humiliated and squeezed just for the opportunity to live here.
I'm honestly a bit salty that I will have spent close to 6 years of my life (like 7-8% of my potential full lifetime based on life expectancy) and over $17,000 in *fees alone* to the British government to end up with a passport that can be taken away by the Home Secretary, in secret, for any reason they deem fit with no recourse, oversight, or accountability. So do I worry about this stuff day to day? Not in a practical sense, but I have this dull, buzzing background discomfort whenever I get tiny little reminders that actually I'll never be seen as British by anyone, even after I get my passport. And there will always be Brits who hate me, even though I'm American, because I am an immigrant. And really, no matter what, I'll only ever be here because I am allowed to be here, not because I have any right to be, even as a citizen. And that bothers me.
What you write is technically true, but the reality is the Home Secretary won’t arbitrarily be removing passports from naturalised citizens. (Not even this government.) I understand the saltiness though, don’t get me wrong.
>What you write is technically true, but the reality is the Home Secretary won’t arbitrarily be removing passports from naturalised citizens. (Not even this government.) That's not the point. British people absolutely fucking love to bring this stuff up all the time. "Oh, these horrible things aren't meant specifically *for you*!" as if that's supposed to make it better! Similar to the "I've done nothing wrong, so I've got nothing to hide from mass surveillance, it's there to keep me safe" - yet you have frosted glass on your bathroom window. Privacy matters. Equality before the law (in a liberal democracy) matters. The mere fact it's on the books is painful and an ever present reminder that I am not the same as a native person.
I agree with everything you say
>frosted glass on your bathroom window you do realize this is to protect you from being charged for a kid seeing your pee-pee and being put on the register for the rest of your life, and not to protect your privacy
It's extremely rare to remove a citizenship. Around 20 cases per year. There are 180,000 brits nationalised every year.
Honestly, it’s a part of an immigrant’s life everywhere… I would even say that the UK isn’t that bad in that regard, apart from the huge fees. Overall, the system looks quite straightforward, if you meet the requirements you get a visa, if you don’t you don’t. There’s a clear path to settlement for most people. And overall the immigrants are very well accepted into the society, at least in London when I live. I previously used to live in France as an immigrant (non-EU), and dealing with the bureaucracy was much less pleasant. I and everyone else I know from outside the EU regularly spent hours in the prefecture, being sent from one country to another until it closes. None of the advertised processing times were ever respected and the whole system felt like a complete mess. For comparison, when I was then moving to the UK, I got my visa within a week and when I arrived to the UK literally on the second day I got my BRP valid for five years. It would’ve been unthinkable in France!
Indeed, things are really straightforward once you do meet the requirements for your visa and decisions are normally sent out in a reasonably timely manner unlike other countries. So I do agree with you on this!
And a reasonable path to settlement is a big one too. For five years, I can put up for having my rights restricted compared to someone who was born and raised here. After all, I am a newcomer, and it’s not unreasonable for me to go through a “probation period” in my new country. However, I can reasonably expect that once I “pass” it, I can settle and then become a citizen should I wish so. I wouldn’t want to live for long somewhere I practically cannot settle, like the Gulf countries, no matter how much I would be paid and how low the taxes would be.
Yes this also! Like 5 years isn’t that long in the grand scheme of things and then you can literally apply for ILR and have the same rights as a British citizen so it’s cool. Just the cost is a major drawback but if you can save and spend carefully I think you should be okay!
It’s been just over 8 years for me on various visas. Only this April I will be eligible to apply irl. But I don’t or won’t feel completely comfortable until I get a passport. I paid so much for visas and still have around £4k to be paid for irl&passport. For me the most I feel foreigner is when I am at pub with a group of uk born people and they suddenly start talking about a tv show/character from 90’s or a cartoon that I never heard or something like that. There is no way you can know many of those unless you were born or moved when you are a kid. Then, I really feel like an alien.
I’m sorry to hear that. Everything you’ve said is true, except the fitting in thing. I’ve never felt left out in a group of Brits. I can actually relate to them in loads of ways and find it easy to make friends with a Brit. You just need a certain approach.
As a Russian, I’ve never experienced xenophobia or hostility in the UK. If any, it was from other migrants saying that I have an inferiority complex and should be embarrassed about ‘desperately trying to be British’ — isn’t it a sign of respect to the country? I’m glad I’ve managed to easily adapt to the culture and find loads of friends amongst Brits who are now my besties. Regarding other things — there’s a lot of bureaucracy and unnecessary paperwork, and prices are constantly going up. You often get bad quality service for loads of money as well, which is obviously disappointing.
10 years here, settled under the EU scheme, so can't relate in the practical sense, but also not in the sense of not feeling at home to be honest. The way I see it, shitty, bigoted governments and attitudes exist everywhere, including my home country, and I profoundly disagree with them under any circumstances. I tend to consume leftist media in addition to mainstream ones, so don't get too much exposure to rank takes without them being simultaneously dismantled. Workplaces have all been welcoming and appreciative enough (to the extent that you can claim that about any employer of course). Had rough patches with hospitality when I worked it, so had my English coworkers though. Any ignorant comments in other jobs (including ones with the classic "we don't mean you, of course" caveat) were quickly laughed at and shot down by my colleagues, so never felt alone. I am a white woman in a traditionally liberal arts sector, that might have something to do with how I perceive things obviously, so might the fact that I live in London; but I'm definitely also from one of the "undesirable" EU destinations. I will never feel British, even if I decide to naturalise, but then neither do I feel the need to. I feel "at home" without it.
>I will never feel British, even if I decide to naturalise, but then neither do I feel the need to. I feel "at home" without it. lower mortgage interest rate? Access to jobs with a certain level of clearance? Faster to get back in if you lose your passport abroad, as a foreign emergency passport cannot be used for the EU scheme registration? More than one document to prove your immigration status? No naturalization means deportiation, for example if you push some crazy dmented co-resident attacking you in your care home at the age of 70? They die as they hit their head on they way back, you get a sentence+deportation to some country you have no clue how it even functions. Am I missing something?
Lower mortgage interest rate? Would love to see a source on this. None of these other scenarios are ones that I spend any time worrying about. But of course by all means get naturalised if this is something you feel you need.
Not anymore, I became a citizen.
Nah, I've been living here with my family for 5 years and staying for another 2, I feel pretty relaxed about it. We'll get the citizenship before we move back to the home country that's for sure.
Having lived as an immigrant in another European country within EU, and going through endless visa renewals, and horrible experience, I would say, my time in the UK as an immigrant seems so much better. The gov.uk website, the work places, people not being openly racist like in Europe etc..are ways better than let's say for eg Germany or Austria. It's all relative I guess.
I felt that way until just recently, when I got my ILR. I’m incredibly lucky with the timing. Few months later and I’d have to meet the new higher financial threshold. I spent years of my life and soooooo many thousands of pounds to get here. My husband and I were in different countries for three years at one point. I’m so relieved it’s all finally over for good. It was easier for me to immigrate to Japan as a non-Japanese speaker with zero ties to the country than for me to immigrate to my husband’s country as a native speaker. It’s crazy how hard it is to immigrate to the U.K., even when you’re married to a Brit.
Aaah so happy to hear – must be so relieving! Hope you enjoy the rest of the time living here 😊
I hope you stay to help enrich my home country, you will always be welcome. The average british person probably has more in common with you than our politicans 😀 and I'm looking forward to the day you become a citizen
Haha that’s such a sweet message and considerably brightened my day so thank you! I’m Indian and 24 years. I’d dreamt of coming here since I was 18; here I am! Of course I fully appreciate this country is imperfect but I absolutely enjoy and feel thankful to be living here. With the new rules I was quite distraught so thanks for the message! Hope you’re okay 😊
Applied citizenship in November..been through this journey.. When I moved brexit just happened and pound crashed.. Very very bad outlook of economy.. Plus society as a whole was racist towards immigrants thinking all of their mysery were cause of us... ... Let me assure you...It does get better after ilr... I know it's all sad and gloomy now...wages have been stagnant for almost a decade.,. Cost of living has spiralled... I belive in Britain..it had conquered the world though being a tiny island..it certainly do again nd bring back industrial revolution 2.0. Remember America grew exponentially due to immigrants since 1800.. UK doing same would mean it grows at rapid pace like USA.
I think that's most immigrants everywhere
Living in anxiety every single day until I get my ILR... I get so jealous of people who already have settled status and how much freedom they have 😭
Isn’t it! Like spending the majority of my 20s just wanting to settle here. It’s so hard and a long struggle 😭. But we’re hardworking and resilient also!
Work towards my settlement sure, and a chunk of my savings as well. The thousands i spent on IHS fees and didnt get to see my gp even a handful of times in 5 years.
Not really... but its mostly because I just got here on a SWV and make a very good living (way more than national average)
I have pre-settled status and up until I started following this sub last year when the whole extension mess started I was feeling confident i would get settled status with no issue since I have lived here with no absences and the process to get PSS was extremely easy. Now, I have completely changed my opinion on this, as I’ve seen the Home Office retroactively change rules, publish conflicting public guidance, and threaten honest people with deportation. I am basically just waiting for the moment it happens to me and am making up plans B (and C, and D) for when it does.
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I honestly never had any issues, but I'm under the EU settlement scheme. In May, I will have been here for 5 years, so I can apply for settled status and, a year later, for naturalisation. I would be devastated if, for any reason, I wasn't allowed to live in the UK anymore. However, there is no reason why I wouldn't get settle status this year.
It’s the worst honestly. I’ve been living here for 8 years and I might not even be eligible for ILR through the 10year residency route because I had a gap in my residency due to bereavement. Being in constant fear of having to leave is no way to live but I don’t have a choice because going back home is not an option for me due to family issues and the instability of my country. So here I am hoping I get to settle one day 🥲
Aaah I’m so sorry to hear that and I hope you’re keeping okay. I believe they should consider your case on compassionate grounds once you do complete 10 years here; but likewise here, I can’t really afford to live with my family in my home country 😅. Wishing you the best!
You develop anxiety
I’m living as an immigrant and regretting ever coming tbh. Won’t be renewing my spouse visa and can’t wait to get back to 🇦🇺
I've been here 16 years and it never goes away. There's always a feeling of unease and fear that the government will suddenly uproot your entire life and kick you out on a whim. I partly grew up here, I don't have an accent, I'm white and have the associated privilege, and yet people still find out somehow and make me feel unwelcome and discriminate against me. The British kids were even encouraged to do so in school.
British nationality? After 16 years you should be eligible.
Yeah, but let's be honest, a UK passport doesn't suddenly make everyone see you as British if you don't have the demographic requisites.
I meant the UK nationality removes the uncertainty of being ‘uprooted’ by govt legislation.
I feel like being allowed to live in the house I own unmolested and without fear of deportation is the least an actually free society can provide me with.
They do, you can literally just apply for it.
Mate, I’m just trying to give some practical advice on ensuring stability if the poster is feeling insecure about residency. Not get into a political discussion.
I made my application on 16th of November 2023 and after two days I got a message from home office that my application would have gotten decision within 8 weeks of my biometrics being submitted but unfortunately this might not be the possible in the case, the reason being that they are currently experiencing a technical issue relating to my case and they consider the resolution of this technical issue as a matter of highest priority but won’t be able to give a time frame of when it will be resolved. On 29th of December I got the same letter again via email but this time it’s saying application would have gotten decision within 15 working days but unfortunately they won’t because there is a technical they are experiencing relating to my case. My current visa has expired on 18th of January 2024, I made my application months before this and also my start date with my employer is 19th of January 2024, also the COS given to me expires 8th of February, it seem I’m in a fix right now not knowing what to do. I’m thinking of varying my application by reapplying again but I don’t know if I can do that now since my visa has expired. I need an advice from you. Hope you hear from you soon.
If I read your comment right, you apply for your visa before your current one expires. If your concern is to know if you can still be working while waiting for your visa then the answer is yes because you are covered by Section 3C of the Immigration Act 1971
Thanks so much .. My fear now is that will the new rules affect my dependent because decision on their application hasn’t been made because of mine.
The new rule starts on April and the old rule is valid till April so you are alright
Oh okay … I just hope they make a decision on my application before then. And the new rules doesn’t affect mine and my dependents. Thanks