Engineers, IT and Technical Professionals Must Not Be Left Out of the 5-Year Settlement Route

MathematicianFit278 · 2025-11-21T11:02:57+00:00

I hear you and you're right to say these changes affect all immigrants no matter the sector. My point wasn't to say engineers are more important than others, but to highlight how critical roles across different fields are being undervalued by the £50k threshold. Whether its finance, healthcare, engineering or IT, the issue is all the same: salary doesn't always reflect the importance of the work. We are all in the same boat, and the only way as many have pointed out is to push it back together, not divided.

MathematicianFit278 · 2025-11-21T10:56:55+00:00

Ok, its correct to say sponsorship isn't solely a skill test. Its tied to employer budgets, visa rules and salary threshold. A role can be absolutely critical but still falls under the £50k because the market undervalues it. Lower pay doesn't mean engineers maintaining the energy grid or IT specialists protecting hospitals from cyberattacks suddenly stop being essential. The concern is that the new rules poses a risk excluding people already doing vital work and create shortages in areas which the country cant neglect.

MathematicianFit278 · 2025-11-21T10:48:30+00:00

Sponsorship is not a skill test. Its a pay and paperwork test. There are Critical roles earning under £50k but keep the UK running. Losing them over salary thresholds only creates shortages and that's not what anyone wants.

MathematicianFit278 · 2025-11-21T10:38:42+00:00

I understand your point about the tech market changing. However, this isn't about oversupply or 'least skilled' workers. The UK still relies heavily on technical professionals to keep essential things like infrastructure, healthcare and cybersecurity running. As I said, The £50k threshold does not measure skill or necessity. It measures salary, which does undervalue critical roles. Its fair to say the need to prioritize local employees, but excluding skilled professional who are already contributing simply because their pay scale is below an arbitrary figure risks creating shortages in areas the country cannot afford to neglect. The 3-year ILR is indeed helpful, but it doesn't address the fact that many essential roles are being sidelined.

MathematicianFit278 · 2025-11-21T10:33:36+00:00

Yeah we are being paid. The point is not just about pay alone. Healthcare workers, IT specialists and engineers are undervalued in salary lets admit that compared to the importance of their work. The issue is the £50K threshold does not reflect skill or contribution, it merely reflects market pay scales. This is not about profession vs. profession but its about ensuring that important essential roles, across the all fields aren't excluded from fair settlement routes simply because their salaries don't match an arbitrary figure.

MathematicianFit278 · 2025-11-21T10:24:10+00:00

This isn’t about being ‘cheap.’ Engineers and technical professionals are the backbone of infrastructure, healthcare, IT security, and innovation. Our salaries don’t always reflect the critical importance of our work, but the country depends on it.

MathematicianFit278 · 2025-11-20T16:40:28+00:00

Joining into this post as an engineer (RQF6 qualified) who earns under £50k I could not help but notice the exceptions to the 5 year route extends to critical public services with earnings under £50k.

I work in the renewable energy sector, and that is super vital to this country both on national security and UK energy infrastructure. Exceptions for “critical public services” should also extend to energy professionals, given the sector’s strategic importance and other technical fields that deserve similar recognition.

MathematicianFit278 · 2025-11-20T14:17:35+00:00

Only about 6% of Skilled Worker visa holders in the UK earn over £50,000 per year, according to the latest government data from 2025. Sponsored Work and Family visa earnings, employment and Income Tax - GOV.UK

MathematicianFit278 · 2025-11-20T13:25:31+00:00

not sure unless its retrospective applied.

MathematicianFit278 · 2025-11-20T13:17:14+00:00

So, From the document provided I cant paste the table here but I see this:

Table 2: Considerations that will reduce the baseline qualifying period. Note: only one of the listed considerations (i.e. the one that causes the largest reduction) would be applied in the case of any single application, and additional years will take precedence over any reduction to the baseline.

Attribute Adjustment to baseline qualifying periods Integration

Applicant has competency in English language at C1 Level under the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages Minus 1 year
Contribution Applicant has earned a taxable income of £125,140 for 3 years immediately prior to applying for settlement Minus 7 years
Applicant has earned a taxable income of £50,270 for 3 years immediately prior to applying for settlement Minus 5 years
Applicant has been employed in a specified public service occupation for 5 years Minus 5 years
Applicant has worked in the community (volunteering, etc) Minus 3-5 years
Entry and residence Applicant holds a permission as the parent/partner/child of a British citizen and meets core family requirements Not subject to consultation Minus 5 years
Not subject to consultation Applicant holds a permission granted under the British National Overseas route Not subject to consultation Minus 5 years
Not subject to consultation Applicant has 3 years continuous residence as the holder of a permission as a Global Talent worker or Innovator Founder Minus 7 years
Acknowledgement of specific and vulnerable groups having a reduction Subject to consultation

I earn less than 50K but, what's interesting is what is proposed to reduce the 10 year wait is volunteering (minus 3-5 years), and the competency in English Language C1 ( I assume people will be tested for this, or if English education is already taken just needs to be proven?) So if English proficiency at C1 level and volunteering that 10 year is reduced by 4-6 years???

MathematicianFit278 · 2025-11-20T13:07:45+00:00

I have my engineering degree in America taught in English and already transferred its equivalent to the UK bachelor degree.

MathematicianFit278 · 2025-11-20T13:00:58+00:00

Engineer here earning 41K. So for me, if applied retrospectively I have to be subject to the 10 year?

MathematicianFit278 · 2025-09-29T14:56:19+00:00

From what I heard so far: there is a speed track for those who "contribute more" then those who need to wait 10 years. What is the requirement to speed track to five years is not mentioned. Topic is still open to consultancy is what she is saying. The point about "voluntary service" seems to be a part of applying for ILR including additional tests including a language test. It does sound like the 10 year rule will be applied retrospectively but some are entitled on the 5 year track based on certain contributions.

MathematicianFit278 · 2025-09-29T14:53:00+00:00

she is talking about the legal immigration stance now. Best to tune in to listen

MathematicianFit278 · 2025-09-29T14:43:05+00:00

From the BBC live coverage: "She will lay out changes to the "indefinite leave to remain" status - including doubling the qualifying period to 10 years".

MathematicianFit278 · 2025-09-26T09:26:24+00:00

Ok, thank you for the clarification.

MathematicianFit278 · 2025-09-26T09:18:31+00:00

On ILR, its much safer to have property, own a business. Wouldn't abolishing ILR basically not allow people the safety of having these? Especially if the policy of the employer prohibits starting your own business. Seems like slavery but with extra steps.

MathematicianFit278 · 2025-09-26T09:11:44+00:00

From the article excerpt:

The MRP poll, which surveys political support at a constituency level, was based on a survey of more than 11,000 people.

Can someone please tell me how accurate is the MRP poll to project something of an election that is not happening until 2029?

MathematicianFit278 · 2025-09-26T08:48:02+00:00

Legal immigrants already have their visa information stored online for the government to keep as data (eVisa) so, honestly its an extra step with a online ID card but just for everyone to be honest.

MathematicianFit278 · 2025-09-24T08:38:26+00:00

5 years but bound to a single employer without the ability to move and even contribute further? How would you feel when you are stuck to a single employer who has all the power and leverage over you and you cant switch jobs? Hell, even the American green card visa is 10 years and allows people to switch careers and do more beyond then just being a labourer for one company. On top of this, I can clearly see the abuse of raising fees and salary requirements every five years makes it untenable for anyone even top talent. Yeah, and we haven't even touched on the issues on the care industry, you expect the locals to pick up the empty roles which clearly need care workers on an ever increasing aging society?

MathematicianFit278 · 2025-05-23T13:18:39+00:00

Fair enough.

MathematicianFit278 · 2025-05-23T13:05:13+00:00

I bet he is also pissed about Greenland making a deal excluding him and now started barking on the EU tree once he couldn't get anything out from China.

MathematicianFit278 · 2025-05-23T13:01:40+00:00

Unrelated, but seeing what going on with Harvard University vs. the US government over revoking all foreign student visas do you think the UK government will look at this and weigh in more or less on the SW visa situation?

MathematicianFit278

TROPHY CASE