Why the UK settlement rule changes are unjust | Letters

Readers question the motives and fairness behind Shabana Mahmood’s new immigration proposals

This week, the home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, announced that many migrants on skilled worker visas earning below £50,000, outside the social care sector, will have to wait for 10 years to “earn” settlement (Shabana Mahmood softens immigration plans in face of cabinet backlash, 2 November). This blatantly overlooks the contribution of those whose work cannot be measured in high salaries.

I arrived in the UK in September 2022 to pursue a master’s degree, for which I paid more than twice the fee that domestic students pay. Since then, I have worked for two organisations, including the Institute of Development Studies, a leading institution for development research. I have paid my taxes and met the financial requirements of successive visas, paying substantial fees twice, first for a graduate visa and then for the skilled worker visa, including the immigration health surcharge. I would like the government to explain what more I must do to demonstrate that I have “earned” the right to settle.