Amid proposed changes to visa regulations in the United Kingdom, many Sri Lankans living there are facing growing uncertainty and hardship.
Under the new proposal, the minimum qualifying period required for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), permanent residency, may be increased from 5 years to 10 years for foreign nationals. The change could affect around 2.6 million people who have migrated to the UK since 2021.
International media recently highlighted the difficulties faced by a Sri Lankan woman due to visa complications. While she and her three children were living in the UK, her husband, who had been working in Sri Lanka, passed away from a heart attack.
However, due to visa restrictions, she was unable to travel to Sri Lanka to attend her husband’s funeral.
“We could not go for his funeral because it was time to renew our visas. If we leave the country during the visa renewal period, the visa will be cancelled, and we would have to reapply,” she said sadly.
She further explained that under the proposed new law, they would not be able to bring anyone with them, which made the situation even more difficult.
In this context, she has urged authorities to ensure that any new immigration laws do not negatively impact foreign residents currently living in the UK.
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