Abolish the "Clock Reset"

Skilled Workers and their family choices

The main way people get permanent settlement in the UK is the Skilled Worker visa. The visa requires applicants to satisfy the requirements set out in the Immigration Rules. This visa category allows the main visa holder to bring their dependants: children under 18 and partners.

Today, The Skilled Worker visa route allows main visa holders and their dependants to apply for settlement after the qualifying period of 5 years. Under the changes announced by the Government, the base qualifying period will double to 10 years.

Sometimes, people stop loving each other. Sometimes, they decide to split up. If that happens, a working dependant partner can apply for an independent Skilled Worker visa. However, even if they are eligible, the current Immigration Rules punish them: the period on a depedant visa does not count towards the qualifying period. We "reset the clock" on dependant partners' settlement when they become independent.

This unfair and arbitrary policy potentially affects 40,000–80,000 people, predominantly working women. Abolishing the "clock reset" on visa type change would not change the visa requirements or carry any cost to the Exchequer.

The "clock reset" policy should be abolished.

Want more details and numbers? Find them here in a memo for the Peckham CLP.

What we did so far

• Mailing campaign: 22 personal letters to ministers and select committee members
  
• Personal committee and minister outreach
• Labour Party Conference motion
  
• Home Affairs select committee evidence submission

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