Asylum law changes are causing refugee families like mine terrible worry

A reader highlights how the government’s immigration changes are affecting those who have been granted asylum and wish to apply for indefinite leave to remain

I am writing as a refugee who has lived in the UK since 2007. I claimed asylum in 2007, and my appeal was allowed by the first-tier tribunal (immigration and asylum) in February 2020. However, because of Home Office delays, I did not receive my five-year refugee permission until June 2022.

I applied for indefinite leave to remain in June 2025, but my application was refused because I had not completed five years from the date my refugee permission was granted. I was therefore expecting to apply again in June 2027.

The government’s newly announced earned settlement policy (Report, 4 November) has caused enormous worry for my family. The home secretary’s statement did not clearly explain whether refugees who already hold five-year refugee permission will be affected.

However, the briefing on the policy, published on 3 November, says the government now intends to move people who claimed asylum before 2 March 2026 into a new “core protection” system and given permission to stay for 30 months at a time. This is very concerning because we were previously told that existing refugees would keep their five-year route to settlement.

My wife is also a refugee. We have three children who were born in the UK, and two of them are British citizens. We have built our entire family life here and have not travelled outside the UK for nearly 19 years. I have also faced serious health problems, including cancer, and I remain under specialist hospital care. The uncertainty about our future is causing considerable stress.

How is it fair to change the settlement rules for people who have already been granted five years of refugee permission and have spent years waiting for security and stability? We understand that immigration rules can change, but people who have already been granted refugee status should not be left uncertain about promises and expectations they relied on. I ask the Guardian to investigate this issue and please give a voice to refugees and their families who may be affected by these changes. Name and address supplied