The Migration Observatory, University of Oxford — Written evidence (FAM0036)    

This document highlights analysis on family migration published by The Migration Observatory that may be useful for your inquiry.

Based at the Centre on Migration, Policy and Society (COMPAS) at the University of Oxford, The Migration Observatory provides impartial and independent evidence-based analysis of immigration to the UK.

Separately, The Migration Observatory has published a briefing on Family migration to the UK, which provides additional information and statistics on family immigration to the UK, and the population of family migrants resident in the UK.

1.            Ten-year routes to settlement for family members have become very common over the past decade

Of the roughly 109,000 migrants granted settlement in 2021, 29% (around 32,000, comprising both main applicants and dependent family members) initially came to the UK on a family unification visa. Of these 32,000, 72% received their initial family unification visa in either 2015 or 2016. This is consistent with a roughly five-year route to settlement (Figure 1).

Figure 1

Source: Migration Observatory analysis of Home Office Immigration Statistics, Migrant Journey, Volume 2, Table MJ_02.

Notes: 'Family unification' refers to visas issued to the family members of British citizens or settled residents. Dependants are allocated an entry clearance category according to the circumstances of their application, which is usually the same as the category allocated to the main applicant.

However, in recent years, an increasing share of family unification migrants have been on a ten-year route to settlement. This will not be reflected fully in the settlement statistics for another few years, because most are not yet eligible for settlement. However, the increase in individuals taking a longer route to settlement can be seen by looking at the share of people with leave to remain seven years after initially being issued a family unification visa. For example, of the roughly 29,000 people issued a family unification visa in 2014, 15% (around 4,400) had valid leave to remain, but not settlement or citizenship, at the end of 2021 (Figure 2). This share is around three times greater than for cohorts arriving from 2004 to 2010, before the current system of ten-year routes to settlement was introduced.

The Migration Observatory briefing, Migrants on ten-year routes to settlement in the UK, provides more analysis of ten-year routes to settlement in the UK, and documents their substantial expansion in recent years. That briefing estimates that by the beginning of 2021, there were over 140,000 people on the ten-year family life route to settlement.

Figure 2

Source: Migration Observatory analysis of Home Office Immigration Statistics, Migrant Journey, Volume 1, Table MJ_01.

There are some important evidence gaps on ten-year routes to settlement. In particular, Home Office statistics do not provide any information that allow us to assess the extent to which people remain on the ten-year route. For example, if a person cannot afford an immigration fee, leading to a gap in their legal residence, they will likely need to begin the 10-year period again.

2.            Routes to settlement for family migrants are expensive: at least £15,665 for a partner and child on a five-year route to settlement

Pursuing a route to settlement as a family migrant is expensive. Table 1 provides costs of the immigration fees that must be paid to settle in the UK, for some typical scenarios, excluding any potential fees that applicants might choose to pay for legal advice.

Table 1

Cost of routes to settlement in the UK, for selected common scenarios, from 6 April 2022

Does not include any potential legal fees or the use of optional higher-cost priority services

Source: Home Office immigration and nationality fees: 6 April 2022.

Notes: A child is defined as someone under the age of 18 at the time of the application. The table above assumes that children will remain under the age of 18 at the time of all immigration applications.

The cost of routes to settlement have increased over time. Before 6 April 2015, there was no immigration health surcharge to be paid. Before 1 August 2003, there was no fee for an application for indefinite leave to remain (ILR).

The cost of an application for ILR has increased several times since the government introduced it in 2003. From 6 April 2022, it has been £2,404 – an estimated £1,900 more than the cost to the government to process the application (Figure 3).

Figure 3

Sources: For fee levels, the following legislation: The Immigration (Leave to Remain) (Fees) Regulations 2003; The Immigration (Leave to Remain) (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 2005; The Immigration and Nationality (Fees) Regulations 2007, 2009, and 2010–2018; and Home Office immigration and nationality fees: 6 April 2022. For the estimated cost to the government of processing an application for indefinite leave to remain: GOV.UK, Visa fees transparency data, Table with details of fees and unit costs - 6 April 2022.

Note: Prior to 2012, this analysis uses the fees for applications made by post or courier, which is the most common way in which people applied.

Because fee waivers are not available for ILR applications, some people remain in temporary status rather than receiving ILR. Published Home Office statistics do not allow us to assess the number of people in this situation.

3.            The UK has comparatively restrictive economic requirements for the sponsors of family unification migrants

The UK’s main economic requirement for the sponsors of family unification migrants is a minimum income threshold. Since July 2012, if a non-EU citizen applies as a partner of a British citizen or non-British citizen with settlement (i.e., ILR), the sponsor must have an annual income of at least £18,600, or £22,400 if the partner sponsored is bringing one child, plus £2,400 for each of any additional children. For more information on the UK’s minimum income threshold see The Migration Observatory’s report, The Minimum Income Requirement for Non-EEA Family Members in the UK.

More broadly, the Migrant Integration Policy Index (MIPEX) analyses 56 countries with respect to their policies for integrating migrants. The index comprises eight policy areas, one of which is ‘family reunion’. Within the policy area of family reunion, there are ten policy indicators, covering, for example, eligibility criteria for family migrants; integration requirements for family migrants; economic resources and accommodation requirements for sponsors; and the rights granted by family visas. The MIPEX analysis of these ten indicators ranks the UK as the second most restrictive country of the 56 analysed when it comes to family migration policy.

15 September 2022