20th December 2025 – (London) The Home Office’s consultation on immigration reforms confirms that the “5+1” pathway for British National (Overseas) passport holders will remain in place, but proposed changes to English‑language and income thresholds would apply across all applicants. British media reported on Thursday (18th December) that 34 Labour MPs have urged the government to ensure amendments to permanent residence criteria do not dilute support for Hongkongers and others on humanitarian visas.
In a joint letter to Mike Tapp, Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, the MPs asked that any new rules should not be retrospective, with particular regard to the roughly 200,000 Hongkongers who have arrived since 2021 via the BN(O) visa route. They warned that these migrants could face a troubling scenario in which, after five years’ residence, they fail to qualify for indefinite leave to remain under heightened thresholds—undermining assurances made when they relocated. For many, returning to Hong Kong is not a viable option.
The letter further noted that retirees, people with disabilities, young adults, university students and homemakers may struggle to meet a minimum income requirement, risking refusal of settled status. The MPs called on the Home Office to recognise alternative forms of contribution—such as volunteering, caregiving responsibilities or work in critical roles—and to continue accepting degrees taught in English at U.K. universities as valid evidence of language proficiency.
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