Allow those on 5-year ILR route to combine time spent on all eligible visas

Background

Currently, some visa holders must restart their 5-year qualifying period for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) when switching between eligible visa categories. We believe this is creating unnecessary barriers to settlement and potentially increasing the risk of exploitation.

Additional details

We propose that visa holders on a 5-year ILR route be allowed to count time spent across all eligible visa categories, toward their 5-year qualifying period. This would be provided that they meet other criteria, such as continuous lawful residence and adherence to visa conditions.

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