If you’ve been living in the UK on a work visa and quietly counting down the months to ILR, the Westminster Hall debate on 2 February 2026 probably felt personal, because it is personal. This wasn’t a technical conversation. MPs spoke about real families who planned their lives around the five‑year route, and who now fear the rules might change mid‑journey . Two big public petitions triggered the debate: Petition 727372 : protect legal migrants and drop the proposed 1
