The Reality Behind “Earned Settlement” Reforms for Black Migrant Women
A recent article by Vicky Gayle for Black Ballad explores the real-life impact of the UK government’s proposed “earned settlement” reforms on Black migrant women, centring lived experience alongside expert and community insight.
The piece brings together perspectives from community organisations, including Tulia Group CIC, as well as insight from solicitor Rumbidzai Bvunzawabaya, alongside testimonies from migrant women, some of whom are directly supported through our work. Their voices illuminate the everyday realities behind immigration policy and the challenges families face while trying to build stable lives in the UK.
Although promoted as a “fairer pathway to settlement,” the proposed reforms are questioned throughout the article. Rising visa costs, repeated extensions, restrictive conditions such as No Recourse to Public Funds, and constant policy changes continue to leave families navigating prolonged uncertainty and financial strain.
By centring the voices of Black women and community advocates, the article reflects what frontline organisations witness daily: migrants are not struggling because they are unwilling to integrate or contribute, but because they are constrained by systemic barriers that undermine stability, family life, and dignity.
The care with which these experiences are represented makes this article an important contribution to the wider conversation on migration and fairness. It reinforces the need for a settlement system that is predictable, affordable, and humane, one that recognises contribution rather than penalising it.
We encourage readers to take the time to read the full article on Black Ballad and engage with the realities facing Black migrant women in the UK today.
Where to Get Help
If you are unsure how these changes might affect you, seek immigration advice as early as possible.
Please use the following link to book a consultation with us CLICK HERE
At Tulia, we believe that everyone deserves to have a safe and welcoming place to call home. We are committed to helping migrants settle well in the UK and to achieve their full potential. Don’t forget to share this article!
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