In fact, during 2008-18, the Home Office decided a total of 1.52 m ILR applications under the four broad categories i.e.

Work Asylum Family Formation and Reunion (Spouse and Dependants) Other

Accordingly, during the period, the Home Office granted 1.44 m (i.e.1,447,513) Indefinite leave to remain (ILR). And refused more than 75,079 ILR applications. Therefore, the overall ILR success and refusal rate was 95.07% and 5.19%, respectively.

The UK settlement visa statistics reveals that the Home Office granted the highest number of ILR in 2010 (241,192). However, the period average is 131,592 ILR grants per year. In fact, since 2011, only in 2013 the total ILR grants (154,701) were higher than the period average of 131,592. Therefore, during 2008-18, ILR grants experienced an overall declining trend.

ILR Grants 2008-18

According to UK settlement visa statistics, during 2008-18, the most number of grants, nearly 38.8% (561,535) of the total grants, made under the work category. Moreover, the number of family formation and reunion related ILR grants account for 435,681, with a share of 30.1%. The number of asylum-related ILR grants accounts for 151,699, with a share of 10.5% in total grants. Perhaps, all the residual ILR grants, which do not fit into the preceding 3 categories are lumped in “other” category. Moreover, the UK settlement visa statistics do not provide further details of the “other” category, apart from the fact that 298,598 ILR grants made under the “other” category, which constitutes 20.6% of the total ILR grants.

Apparently, the UK settlement visa statistics reveals that the total ILR grants after reaching a level of 241,192, kept a downward trajectory. However, after reaching the lowest ebb (60,670) in 2016 slightly increased to 65,102 in 2017. And in 2018 ILR grants significantly increased to reach a level of 90,608. The decreasing trend of the ILR grants is mainly due to an astonishing fall in the work and family-related grants.

A significant decrease in work and family grants

Perhaps, due to restriction on immigration routes, the work-related grants decreased from 84,347 in 2010 to merely 18,104 in 2017. However, in 2018 the work-related ILR grants slightly increased to 23,913. Similarly, family-related grants decreased from 72,239 in 2009 to its lowest ebb of 5,420 in 2017. However, according to UK settlement visa statistics, in 2018 the family-related grants increased considerably to reach a level of 15,751.

A substantial increase in asylum grants

However, quite surprisingly the number of asylum-related ILR grants indicates an upward trend during the 2008-18 period. Apparently, in 2008 the number of asylum-related ILR grants was only 2,824, which increased quite significantly to reach its zenith of 25,243 in 2018.