3 ms·

Where are you getting this information from? I've had foreign friends who get along fine with the government beurocracy here.

elevatortrim 5y ago
I am an immigrant in the UK. My source of information is the people I speak to in person, and on online forums. They are anecdotal, of course, but there is no shortage of horrible stories, mine own included. Examples from the top of my mind include the anxiety of uncertainty on whether you'll be able to extend your visa, not being able to leave country while your extension applications are in review (I've been stuck in the country for slightly over 2 years over a period of 5 and I've heard no less than 5 people unable to attend their parents' funerals), not being able to switch between employment and self-employment (as opposed to people like you enjoying any opportunity), only being limited to companies that can sponsor visas (as opposed to your colleagues freely jumping between any jobs they like), higher mortgage and interest rates on loans due to banks knowing well about your uncertain future, having to deal with racist job center employees to obtain an NI number and having to pass the "life in the uk" test consisting of detailed trivia.
- throwaway3699 5y ago
  Sorry, wasn't questioning your claim. I do want to find out why people have such different experiences. Is this part of the failed hostile environment policy from a few years back?
  - elevatortrim 5y ago
    I am not sure but considering that policy was introduced in 2012, it probably is. Not all visa types are the same. For instance, if you are on a Tier 2 visa and happily work for the same company for 5 years (you probably would not have any complaints at all), your experience would be a lot different compared to another person who may decide to start a start-up on their 2nd year (they likely would not even think of doing so), which would be a lot different to than of someone else who lost their job (as they'll have to find another one in 2 months or be kicked out), which would be very differen to a person stuck in their current position and salary due to difficulty of changing jobs on a visa, which would be a lot different to a person who does not have the right to change visas (some visa types are like this, when you switch, your route to ILR starts from scratch), and so on. So, some people will accept what they have for the first 5 years and will not question or complain. Some will be bothered by not having the similar rights or security. Some will run into problems (losing your job is a big one, vague visa extension criteria for non-employment visas are another) and their lives will drastically change for the worse. Even if that is a small percentage, the anxiety it creates is huge.

elevatortrim 5y ago

I am an immigrant in the UK. My source of information is the people I speak to in person, and on online forums. They are anecdotal, of course, but there is no shortage of horrible stories, mine own included. Examples from the top of my mind include the anxiety of uncertainty on whether you'll be able to extend your visa, not being able to leave country while your extension applications are in review (I've been stuck in the country for slightly over 2 years over a period of 5 and I've heard no less than 5 people unable to attend their parents' funerals), not being able to switch between employment and self-employment (as opposed to people like you enjoying any opportunity), only being limited to companies that can sponsor visas (as opposed to your colleagues freely jumping between any jobs they like), higher mortgage and interest rates on loans due to banks knowing well about your uncertain future, having to deal with racist job center employees to obtain an NI number and having to pass the "life in the uk" test consisting of detailed trivia.

throwaway3699 5y ago
Sorry, wasn't questioning your claim. I do want to find out why people have such different experiences. Is this part of the failed hostile environment policy from a few years back?
- elevatortrim 5y ago
  I am not sure but considering that policy was introduced in 2012, it probably is. Not all visa types are the same. For instance, if you are on a Tier 2 visa and happily work for the same company for 5 years (you probably would not have any complaints at all), your experience would be a lot different compared to another person who may decide to start a start-up on their 2nd year (they likely would not even think of doing so), which would be a lot different to than of someone else who lost their job (as they'll have to find another one in 2 months or be kicked out), which would be very differen to a person stuck in their current position and salary due to difficulty of changing jobs on a visa, which would be a lot different to a person who does not have the right to change visas (some visa types are like this, when you switch, your route to ILR starts from scratch), and so on. So, some people will accept what they have for the first 5 years and will not question or complain. Some will be bothered by not having the similar rights or security. Some will run into problems (losing your job is a big one, vague visa extension criteria for non-employment visas are another) and their lives will drastically change for the worse. Even if that is a small percentage, the anxiety it creates is huge.