In March 2019, MRN successfully intervened on behalf of a number of migrants and their families after the Tier 1 General visa scheme for Highly Skilled Migrants (HSMs) closed in April 2015. While case rulings have helped many HSMs to be granted indefinite leave to remain (ILR), MRN are working with over 65 people whose ILR decisions continue to be delayed or denied. 

The Home Office’s decisions have left many individuals and their families destitute and struggling to survive, especially during Covid-19. Without the ability to work, rent or have recourse to public funding for at least 55 percent and job insecurity for the rest, many HSMs have also accrued substantial debt through soaring legal fees for these kinds of cases and are trapped: unable to leave the country and unable to legally pursue their cases.

MRN published an interim report in early December ahead of the publication of the full report in the coming weeks (more information coming soon!).