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THREAD: Today, we met with @WeBelong19 to discuss the UK’s future immigration system as part of #ParliamentWeek #UKPW.
Here’s a summary of our discussion.
Here’s a summary of our discussion.
We Belong works with young people aged 16-25 who came to the UK as children and see it as their home but have precarious immigration status. They have 1300 members; many have been granted limited leave to remain and are on the 10-year route to settlement.
Tashi, who came to the UK when she was 7, told us the 10-year route to settlement is onerous. By the end of the route her family will have paid £25,000 to the Home Office in immigration fees.
We heard that the renewal process is a difficult time and can cause anxiety. Both Tashi and Ijeoma told us that they were held in immigration detention when they were children and that memories of this experience return when they have to renew their status.
Zino, who came to the UK aged 9, told us her plans to go to university changed when she realised she would have to pay international student fees. She chose a university based on cost and was supported by her sister and her church. She said others might not have that support.
Tosin, who also came to the UK aged 9, told us that he had to work 40 hours a week whilst studying at university so he could save up for his renewal fees.
Chrisann, CEO of We Belong, said it took 10 months for her first renewal to be processed. This threatened her degree as she needed her status to get the certificate. It also meant she couldn’t easily provide proof of her right to work in the UK to her employer.
Samuel told us his family were on a Tier 1 visa with a 5-year route to settlement. When his mum sadly passed away their application became precarious and they faced legal battles before being put on the 10-year route. He said paying immigration fees takes priority over everything
We heard that a review of the cost and length of the 10-year route would make a huge difference and that a 5-year route to settlement would give parity for all young EU and non-EU migrants. We heard that a review of the immigration health surcharge should be another priority.
We also heard that the Home Office must take heed of organisations such as We Belong and work with stakeholders as it implements cultural reform following the Windrush Lessons Learned Review.
Chrisann said that the Home Office tells people to apply for a fee waiver but 75-95% of applications are unsuccessful. If an application is unsuccessful, the fees then have to be paid within 10 days. She said this puts people off applying.
Tashi told us that the Home Office must not “make policy in a vacuum”. She said the EU Settlement Scheme was an example of a simpler and less costly route, and that she wants to see parity.
We heard that customer service responses from the Home Office can be slow and that it is difficult to get a substantial update on progress with an application. Delays can impact employment as, without a passport, employers must repeatedly go through right to work checks.
We heard that the Home Office could have done more to support people with limited leave during the pandemic. Tosin told us his mum works in social care and didn’t qualify for the support given to NHS workers. His brother worked nights 7 days a week to save for their fees.
We heard that We Belong received funding to create an emergency grants fund. 300 people applied to this fund for support with basic items and immigration fees. If renewal fees aren’t paid, people fall out of status and have to restart the 10-year route.
We heard that ‘extortionate’ immigration fees are a real challenge for young people. Ijeoma said someone she knew was on the 10-yr route for 8 yrs but had to restart it because they fell out of status. She said the fees create instability and make people feel they don’t belong.
Chrisann told us that many young people have to navigate the renewal process without access to legal advice and that they need to learn how the system works. She said the Home Office sometimes puts applications through to different departments and this causes confusion.
We heard that GLA research estimates that there are over 300,000 children and young people with precarious immigration status in the UK. The young people we spoke to told us they want an immigration system that works for everyone so young people can fulfil their potential.
We would like to thank @WeBelong19 for sharing their views and experiences with the Committee. Find out more about #ParliamentWeek and sign up for events near you at http://www.ukparliamentweek.org #UKPW
Tomorrow we will be taking evidence on the work of the Minister for Future Borders and Immigration.
You can watch this session live here from 10.30am: https://www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/966f4fd6-479b-4194-a15e-3329df106f25
You can watch this session live here from 10.30am: https://www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/966f4fd6-479b-4194-a15e-3329df106f25
