​A pro-immigration petition has said a new rule is unfair to migrants. The Government looks set to make the standard wait time to receive Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) – which gives individuals the right to live, work and study here for as long as they like, and to apply for benefits if they are eligible – increase by five years. In March, the Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, told MPs that “the qualifying period for settlement should move, as a norm, from five years to 10”.

Now, a petition has been launched to ensure the new rule does not apply to people who have already successfully applied for asylum or humanitarian protection. It reads: “Exempt all individuals already granted asylum or humanitarian protection from any proposed changes to increase the ILR qualifying period. Maintain the 5-year route to settlement for these groups to ensure fairness, aid integration, and honour the established commitment.

“Increasing the ILR period from 5 years to 10 for people already granted asylum is unfair. They were granted protection under the established 5-year route. This change causes immense anxiety and hinders their ability to fully integrate and rebuild their lives. Honour the original 5-year commitment.”

At the time of writing, it has 3,627 signatures.

If it gets 10,000, the Government would respond.

If the petition reaches 100,000 signatures, it would be considered for debate by MPs.

Another petition has said that the changes to ILR should not be “applied retrospectively to individuals who are already on the route” to the status.

It added: “We believe applying the new, stricter rules retroactively is unfair to migrants who have already met current settlement requirements.

“Many have made important life decisions based on the existing system. We urge the Government to honour these commitments by exempting those currently on the ILR route and providing transitional protections.

“Retrospective changes could risk causing hardship, uncertainty, and financial loss, which may undermine fairness and trust in the immigration system.”

This has 2,243 signatures at the time of writing.

Ms Mahmood said in March: “For those who come to this country, who can contribute to our national life, I am clear they should have a path to settlement, and ultimately citizenship.

“I want people to put down roots in this country, to contribute to our national life.

“But it is essential that the privilege of living in this country forever is earned, and not automatic.

“We are currently reviewing the responses to our consultation on the new the rules around settlement.”