“The only time we’re regarded as human beings is when they need a lot of hands onboard, like during Covid.
asserted
they → regard → Covid
But after that, we’re tossed away like we’re some rubbish,” Aneisha Williams says.
asserted
Williams → toss → that
Williams, 39, was months from qualifying for indefinite leave to remain after 10 years in the UK.
asserted
Williams → qualify → UK
But claiming housing benefit could delay her settlement for years under Shabana Mahmood’s “earned settlement” plans.
uncertain
claiming → claim → plans
Under pressure from Labour MPs and unions, the home secretary this week offered qualifying care workers a five-year settlement route.
asserted
secretary → offer → route
But others, among them partners and former partners of British citizens, face continued uncertainty.
asserted
others → face → uncertainty
Williams, a supermarket worker from London, married a British man in her native Jamaica and joined him in the UK in 2016.
asserted
Williams → marry → 2016
During the Covid crisis, her marriage broke down, leaving them homeless while Williams was on a family life visa.
asserted
Williams → break → visa
Migrants with no recourse to public funds can have that restriction lifted in cases of hardship, as Williams did.
asserted
Williams → have → hardship
Housing benefit transformed her life without affecting her settlement prospects at the time.
asserted
benefit → transform → time
Last year, Mahmood proposed adding up to 10 years to the settlement qualifying period for benefit claimants.
asserted
Mahmood → propose → claimants
This week she said applicants must have spent five continuous years without relying on benefits.
asserted
applicants → say → benefits
While Mahmood says family members of British citizens will retain existing settlement pathways, how that protection applies to people whose marriages have broken down or who claimed benefits remains unclear.
uncertain
who → say → benefits
“We were never told this would happen, and never would have taken the help if we did, even though my past situation was very grim,” Williams said.
asserted
Williams → tell → help
“I was due to qualify in a couple of months – now it could be another 10 years.”
uncertain
it → qualify → months
Research has found most people on the existing “10-year route”, which Williams is on, are Asian or Black.
asserted
Williams → find → which
Williams added: “It’s a racist policy – and it’s like every other year they come up with something that makes you feel further hopeless.”
asserted
you → add → something
Ashley, a civil servant from Sheffield who asked to use a pseudonym, arrived from the US in 2017 and moved from student and graduate visas to a spouse visa after marrying a British man in 2025.
asserted
who → ask → 2025
She expected to qualify in 2027 under the 10-year long-residence route, which the government plans to end.
asserted
government → expect → which
With transitional arrangements unclear, she fears waiting until 2030, by which time she estimates she will have spent £25,000 on visa and healthcare charges.
uncertain
she → fear → charges
“I’m one of the privileged immigrants – from a white English-speaking country, I have a PhD.
asserted
I → ’m → country
I’m married to a British citizen.
asserted
I → ’m → citizen
And it is still so unbelievably hard,” she said.
asserted
she → say → ?
Mahmood’s announcement brought relief to many care workers.
asserted
announcement → bring → workers
Under the revised plans, those who entered the route before May 2025 and earn at least £25,000 a year can qualify after five years, rather than the 15 originally proposed.
uncertain
who → revise → 15
Others face another five-year visa before settlement.
asserted
Others → face → settlement
Rasika Samarasinghe, who arrived from Sri Lanka in October 2022 and earns just over £25,000 caring for elderly people, is planning a double celebration.
asserted
who → arrive → celebration
, the Home Office has reversed its refusal to let his wife, a teaching assistant, and their three children, aged 12, nine and eight, remain in the UK as his dependants.
asserted
wife → reverse → dependants
After sending the family “go home” letters, the Home Office told them the refusal should be disregarded.
asserted
refusal → send → them
The Guardian understands similar decisions affecting other care workers’ families have also been reversed.
asserted
decisions → understand → families
“I felt so shocked and hopeless when the Home Office said my wife and children could no longer stay here,” Samarasinghe said.
uncertain
Samarasinghe → feel → ?
“The children are delighted they can stay at school with their friends.
asserted
they → delight → friends
Now we can plan our future.
asserted
we → plan → future
I feel free now.”
asserted
I → feel → ?
His wife is organising a party for their church friends and everyone who supported them.
asserted
who → organise → them
The government began restricting care workers’ family visas after the Home Office estimated in 2023 that about 120,000 dependants had joined 100,000 care worker applicants.
asserted
dependants → begin → applicants
Care workers have been barred from bringing family since March 2024, and overseas recruitment was banned from July 2025; Samarasinghe’s family arrived before both.
asserted
family → bar → both
A Home Office spokesperson said it did not routinely comment on individual cases, but that applications initially rejected could be approved following a review.
uncertain
applications → say → review
Naga Kandiah of MTC Solicitors welcomed the Home Office’s U-turn, saying: “This is a hugely significant and positive outcome.
asserted
This → welcome → turn
This family came to the United Kingdom lawfully …
asserted
family → come → Kingdom
…and 6 more, not listed.
The Aporia
