1.8 million migrant workers in London contribute around £83 billion to the city's economy -- 22% of its Gross Value Added (GVA) per annum.
While the economic benefit of migration is clear, the administrative barriers and costs of seeking Indefinite Leave to Remain make the immigration system complex and inaccessible.
The London Assembly is today urging the Minister of State for Immigration to make it simpler for migrant Londoners to secure their immigration status.
Sakina Sheikh AM, who proposed the motion, said:
"Our diverse communities make London a unique, vibrant and welcoming city; and the economic benefit of migration to the capital is also clear to see.
"The current immigration process is inaccessible and loaded in red tape. The unrealistic costs prevent London from unlocking the potential of people from around the world.
"Ministers must now cut extortionate immigration and citizenship fees, fund London's advice and support sector and begin creating a fairer migration system."
The full text of the motion is:
London is a global city and the UK's migrant population is concentrated in London. This Assembly recognises the contribution that migrants make to London's culture and its economy. On average, each migrant worker contributes a net additional £46,000 in Gross Value Added (GVA) per annum to London's economy. With approximately 1.8 million migrant workers in London, their total contribution is around £83 billion, 22% of London's GVA per annum.
The economic benefit of migration is clear yet the administrative barriers and costs of seeking Indefinite Leave to Remain make our immigration complex and inaccessible. It deters those seeking to migrate and this framing speaks to the wider hostile environment agenda.
This Assembly welcomes the support provided by the Mayor of London to help migrants navigate the immigration system and settle into our capital. This includes more than £1.1 million in funding to improve and expand access to immigration advice through the Frontline Immigration Advice Programme, the Migrant Londoners Hub which provides the latest information and links to advice and support services, and improves support to migrant workers in the capital. This action helps those impacted by the invasion of Ukraine, as well as European Londoners, the Windrush Generation and those hit by the lack of capacity within the asylum system.
This Assembly calls on the Chair of the Assembly, and the Mayor of London to write separately to the Minister of State for Immigration, urging them to support Londoners to secure their immigration status by cutting extortionate immigration and citizenship fees and improving funding for the advice and support sector. This could include:
- Speeding up and improving the Home Office decision-making process and communication with visa applicants;
- Introducing a quicker, simpler, less stressful visa application process including application centres in people's country of origin or first safe country;
- Reducing indefinite leave to remain visa fees for adults to administrative costs only, and abolish fees for children;
- Reviewing the Immigration Health Surcharge, including removing the surcharge for NHS workers, and Commonwealth and Gurkha veterans; and
- Cutting the time needed to acquire indefinite leave to remain status from 10 years to five.
Notes to editors
- Watch the full webcast.
- The motion was agreed by 14votes for and 0 against.
- Sakina Sheikh AM, who proposed the motion, is available for interviews.
- As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.
For media enquiries, please contact Emma Bowden on 07849 303 897. For out of hours media enquiries, call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the London Assembly duty press officer.