UK's New Asylum Rules: 10-Year Wait, Voluntary Departure

0:00On March 5th, UK Home Secretary Shabbana Mahmoud has rolled out big changes to the asylum and migration system. The biggest shift doubles the wait for settlement rights to 10 years for many migrants up from five. Refugees or those on benefits might face 20 years before getting permanent status. Refugee protections are now temporary with reviews every 30 months. If a person's home country improves, they could be sent back. Mahmoud signed this into law Thursday and it kicks in Monday. She's hit pause on new study visas for people from Cameroon, Sudan, Myanmar and Afghanistan, along with skilled worker visas from Afghanistan. Officials cite high asylum claims and countries not taking back refuse cases. Critics say it blocks safe routes during wars and crises. A new pilot targets 150 families of failed asylum seekers in hotels, offering up to 40,000 pounds each to leave voluntarily. They have seven days to decide or face force removal, though not to war zones. The government is also dropping the

1:03duty to fund some asylum seekers, like those working illegally or with other income. Meanwhile, talks continue on details like work rights for long waiting claimants. These moves aim to tighten the system the government calls broken, with some tweaks already live and others pending votes. And so and so and so and so and so