Our stories

"It’s not my story, it’s every migrant's story"

Dreaming of a better life, Mictin Ponmala, a National Health Service nurse, has watched those dreams crumble under the weight of constant increases to visa fees, which have left him struggling to make ends meet. When NHS delegates came to his home region of Kerala, in Southwest India, in 2017, looking to recruit staff, Mictin attended the interview. During it they explained much about the United Kingdom, including its culture and the type of work he would be doing. They left out what the visa terms and conditions would be…

Dreaming of a better life, Mictin Ponmala, a National Health Service nurse, has watched those dreams crumble under the weight of constant increases to visa fees, which have left him…

Respect is what we want and what we will fight for

It's humiliating what we face being migrants at this moment. Our voices need to be heard. Our concerns need to be raised, supported, and taken into consideration. It is time to stand together and demand fair treatment. As a migrant in the United Kingdom since 2018, I am deeply concerned and feel violated by the unjustifiable increase in visa fees and Immigration Health Surcharge (increasing by 66%) imposed by the government, announced on 13 July by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. The outrageous measure will affect every single person who is…

It's humiliating what we face being migrants at this moment. Our voices need to be heard. Our concerns need to be raised, supported, and taken into consideration. It is time…

The alienating spouse visa route

In this piece, Alex shares his experience of bringing his wife and children with him to the UK through the family visa route, his frustration at the process and how as a British citizen this has harmed his relationship with his own country, the UK. I recently experienced the Home Office’s approach to spouse visas following my sponsoring of my Italian spouse in order to move back to England together from Belgium with our children (who have dual British and Italian nationality). It is a terrible way to start the…

In this piece, Alex shares his experience of bringing his wife and children with him to the UK through the family visa route, his frustration at the process and how…

"It has been such a tumultuous journey": Life on the 10-year route to settlement

This article is part of our #10x10 series to mark ten years since the introduction of the 10-year route to settlement. It places migrants in a decade-long limbo, while costing them over £10,000 per person. In this series, migrants share their thoughts on the 10-year route and why things must change. We're campagning for a cap of max five years on routes to settlement. We came to the UK on my sixth birthday. It was on 13 June 2001 that we flew from South Africa to the UK. I remember…

This article is part of our #10x10 series to mark ten years since the introduction of the 10-year route to settlement. It places migrants in a decade-long limbo, while costing…

"On the 10-year route to settlement, you quickly realise how short life is"

This article is part of our #10x10 series to mark ten years since the introduction of the 10-year route to settlement. It places migrants in a decade-long limbo, while costing them over £10,000 per person. In this series, migrants share their thoughts on the 10-year route and why things must change. We're campagning for a cap of max five years on routes to settlement. My name is Cryton. I am originally from Malawi. I came to the UK in 2005 to join my wife who was here on a student…

This article is part of our #10x10 series to mark ten years since the introduction of the 10-year route to settlement. It places migrants in a decade-long limbo, while costing…

Report launch | MV staff

Migrant Voice staff spoke about the report launch we held at the Houses of Parliament. They stressed the importance of the campaign for hundreds of thousands of migrants whose lives are affected by extortionate visa fees. Anne Stoltenberg, project development manager, said: "This issue affects hundreds of thousands of migrants: people don't know, and people are suffering in silence. "We need to keep speaking very loudly about it." Watch her interview: Cameron Ball, campaign organiser, said: "We're here to argue for a better and fairer immigration system, which works…

Migrant Voice staff spoke about the report launch we held at the Houses of Parliament. They stressed the importance of the campaign for hundreds of thousands of migrants whose lives…

Report launch | Takesh's story

During our report launch a the Houses of Parliament, Migrant Voice member Takesh Hibbert spoke about her own experience with the British immigration system: it took Takesh 30 years to be recognised as a British citizen. She shared her story with an audience of MPs, campaigners and experts, and said she felt relieved to know that her story was being heard by people who "are able to put forward bills and make decisions on such issues." Watch her interview below:

During our report launch a the Houses of Parliament, Migrant Voice member Takesh Hibbert spoke about her own experience with the British immigration system: it took Takesh 30 years to…

Report launch | Tamara's story

Migrant Voice member Tamara Francis shared her experience of going through the British immigration system and paying for visa fees and associated costs. "I've been here since I was 9 years old. That would be 24 years now. And I'm still not a British citizen," she said. Watch her story below:

Migrant Voice member Tamara Francis shared her experience of going through the British immigration system and paying for visa fees and associated costs. "I've been here since I was 9…

Report launch | Mariko's story

Migrant Voice member Mariko Hayashi shared her experience and views on extortionate visa costs after speaking at our report launch in the Houses of Parliament. "Visa fees are so high that they affect people's lives in all aspects," she said. But Mariko also felt hopeful after attending the event: "I felt that there are people who care, and we can work together to make the change." Watch her interview below:

Migrant Voice member Mariko Hayashi shared her experience and views on extortionate visa costs after speaking at our report launch in the Houses of Parliament. "Visa fees are so high…

£11k in extortionate visa fees to have the right to live in the UK

Migrant Voice member Livia Barreira wrote about her experience of going through the British immigration system, paying extortionate visa fees before she finally received her Indefinite Leave to Remain. "My settlement journey was extremely expensive and stressful, as well as being hard emotionally ... To be able to live in this country with my husband, who I love so much, we spent all this time saving money to make sure we would have enough to cover my visa fees," she writes. Read her story here.

Migrant Voice member Livia Barreira wrote about her experience of going through the British immigration system, paying extortionate visa fees before she finally received her Indefinite Leave to Remain. "My…

Our stories

Our stories

"It’s not my story, it’s every migrant's story"

Dreaming of a better life, Mictin Ponmala, a National Health Service nurse, has watched those dreams crumble under the weight of constant increases to visa fees, which have left him…

Respect is what we want and what we will fight for

It's humiliating what we face being migrants at this moment. Our voices need to be heard. Our concerns need to be raised, supported, and taken into consideration. It is time…

The alienating spouse visa route

In this piece, Alex shares his experience of bringing his wife and children with him to the UK through the family visa route, his frustration at the process and how…

"It has been such a tumultuous journey": Life on the 10-year route to settlement

This article is part of our #10x10 series to mark ten years since the introduction of the 10-year route to settlement. It places migrants in a decade-long limbo, while costing…

"On the 10-year route to settlement, you quickly realise how short life is"

This article is part of our #10x10 series to mark ten years since the introduction of the 10-year route to settlement. It places migrants in a decade-long limbo, while costing…

Report launch | MV staff

Migrant Voice staff spoke about the report launch we held at the Houses of Parliament. They stressed the importance of the campaign for hundreds of thousands of migrants whose lives…

Report launch | Takesh's story

During our report launch a the Houses of Parliament, Migrant Voice member Takesh Hibbert spoke about her own experience with the British immigration system: it took Takesh 30 years to…

Report launch | Tamara's story

Migrant Voice member Tamara Francis shared her experience of going through the British immigration system and paying for visa fees and associated costs. "I've been here since I was 9…

Report launch | Mariko's story

Migrant Voice member Mariko Hayashi shared her experience and views on extortionate visa costs after speaking at our report launch in the Houses of Parliament. "Visa fees are so high…

£11k in extortionate visa fees to have the right to live in the UK

Migrant Voice member Livia Barreira wrote about her experience of going through the British immigration system, paying extortionate visa fees before she finally received her Indefinite Leave to Remain. "My…

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