Statement of changes HC 1298 was laid on 4 September 2025. All the changes started at 1500 BST on 4 September 2025. It suspends new applications under Appendix Family Reunion (Sponsors with Protection) and changes Appendix FM. It does not change the Skilled Worker route, Appendix Skilled Occupations, salary thresholds or other work routes.
What’s changing
HC 1298 does two main things:
- It closes Appendix Family Reunion (Sponsors with Protection) to new applications, until a review is finished.
- It changes Appendix FM, so that a partner or child of a person with protection status applies under Appendix FM instead.
| Appendix | Change | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Appendix Family Reunion (Sponsors with Protection) | Closed to new applications until a review is finished | APP FRP1 |
| Appendix Family Reunion (Sponsors with Protection) | Applications made before 1500 on 4 September 2025 are decided under the appendix rules in force on that date | FRP 11.1 |
| Appendix FM | A partner or child of a person with protection status must apply under Appendix FM to stay with or join that person, until further notice | FRP 11.1, APP FM1 to APP FM18 |
| Appendix FM | A child whose parent has protection status in the UK can apply under the child routes in the appendix | APP FM3 to APP FM18 |
Who it affects
The changes affect people who want to stay with or join a partner or parent who has protection status.
The explanatory memorandum says that under Appendix FM, a person needs to:
- pay the fee, or get a fee waiver
- meet the core requirements of the route, for example English language and financial requirements
It also says:
- the Appendix FM rules require the parent of a dependent child to have sole responsibility, where the child is not joining both parents
- a child is still granted permission if there are serious and compelling family circumstances that make it undesirable to exclude the child
The changes do not affect work visas. The statement changes only Appendix FM and Appendix Family Reunion (Sponsors with Protection). It does not mention Appendix Skilled Occupations, the Immigration Salary List, the Temporary Shortage List or going rates. For changes to work routes, see all rule changes.
When it starts
All the changes started at 1500 BST on 4 September 2025. (Implementation section)
Changes to the Immigration Rules usually start no earlier than 21 days after they are laid. The explanatory memorandum says this change departs from that convention. It gives the reason as avoiding a surge in applications as a result of the suspension.
Other changes in this statement
- Appendix FM, GEN 1.1: the words about Appendix Family Reunion (Protection) are deleted. A reference to Appendix Statelessness is added for a person with permission as a Stateless person.
- Appendix Child Relative (Sponsors with Protection) stays as a separate route. A child uses it to stay with or join a close relative with protection status, as the new Appendix Family Reunion introduction states.
- An Economic Note on the suspension of new Appendix Family Reunion applications is published with the statement.
Questions
Does HC 1298 change the Skilled Worker route?
No. It changes Appendix FM and Appendix Family Reunion (Sponsors with Protection). It does not change Appendix Skilled Worker, Appendix Skilled Occupations or Appendix Immigration Salary List.
When did the HC 1298 changes start?
The Implementation section says all the changes started at 1500 BST on 4 September 2025.
What does HC 1298 change?
The explanatory memorandum says it suspends new applications under Appendix Family Reunion. It also changes Appendix FM, so that a partner and child of a person with protection status can apply under it.
Sources
Compiled by SWC Editorial Team from the sources above. An information summary, not immigration advice.