Effective January 2024, the UK Home Office introduced Appendix Victim of Domestic Abuse (VDA) to the Immigration Rules. This update replaces previous, more restrictive provisions and aims to provide greater security for migrant survivors seeking to escape abusive relationships and establish independent status in the UK.

Key Positive Changes That Matter for Our Community:

1. Broader Eligibility for Partners: The new VDA Appendix expands eligibility to include partners of individuals on work and student visas. This is a critical change, as it means many more women, often with precarious immigration status tied to their abuser, will now have a route to escape violence and secure their future in the UK.
2. Protection for Victims Abandoned Overseas: For the first time, the policy now addresses the devastating issue of transnational marriage abandonment. Migrant victims who have been deliberately abandoned abroad by their UK-based partner can now apply for Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) from outside the UK. This closes a significant loophole that left many vulnerable women stranded and without recourse.
3. Holistic Evidence Assessment: The Home Office has also provided updated guidance to caseworkers, encouraging a more nuanced and “in the round” assessment of evidence. This recognizes that victims of domestic abuse may not always have formal documentation due to the controlling nature of their abuse, and their testimony should be given due weight.

These changes represent a lifeline for countless women who might otherwise have faced destitution, continued abuse, or forced return to unsafe situations. They acknowledge the complex vulnerabilities faced by migrant women and offer a more compassionate framework.

A Critical Gap: Women Experiencing Workplace Exploitation Left Behind

While we celebrate the progress made with Appendix VDA, it is vital to acknowledge a significant limitation: these changes generally do not provide an immigration pathway for women who have experienced gender-based violence or exploitation through workplace abuse or modern slavery.

The Appendix VDA is specifically designed for domestic abuse within a spousal or partner relationship. This means that migrant women facing severe exploitation, trafficking, or abuse in their employment context (e.g., forced labour, severe underpayment and threats from employers, or sexual exploitation linked to their work) often find themselves in equally dire situations but without a clear route to independent immigration status based on their experience of violence. Existing modern slavery provisions are often difficult to access and do not consistently lead to permanent settlement.

Our Continued Advocacy:

SEEAWA welcomes the vital steps taken by the Home Office to protect migrant victims of domestic abuse. However, we continue to advocate for a more comprehensive approach that ensures all women experiencing gender-based violence—whether in domestic or workplace settings—have access to protection and a pathway to independent immigration status.

If you or someone you know is affected by domestic abuse and these new policy changes, or if you are experiencing workplace exploitation, please do not hesitate to reach out to SEEAWA. Your safety and well-being are our priority. We can provide guidance, information, and referrals to help survivors.

Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects how people experience communication, social interaction, and the world around them. It is not a disease and does not need to be “cured.” Instead, autism is part of the natural diversity of how human brains develop. Many autistic people lead fulfilling lives when they are supported, understood, and given the opportunity to thrive in environments that respect and honour their needs.

In the UK, families with autistic children can access a range of support services, including educational support in schools, specialist services through the NHS, and community organisations that provide guidance and advocacy. Support can include assessments, learning accommodations, speech and language therapy, and community networks that help families better understand autism and connect with others with similar experiences.

However, stigma and cultural misunderstandings can sometimes create barriers to accessing support. Some East and Southeast Asian families may feel pressure or shame around autism due to cultural beliefs or misunderstandings about the condition. In some languages, the terminology used to describe autism can even suggest illness or defect, which may reinforce stigma. As a result, some families may hesitate to seek help or feel isolated in navigating support systems. Organisations such as Chinese Autism UK have been working to raise awareness, provide culturally sensitive support, and help families better understand autism in ways that are empowering rather than stigmatising.

Families interested in learning more about autism, culture, and community support may also wish to explore upcoming events, such as the “Beyond Labels: Culture, Neurodiversity and Intersectional Equity” conference in Swansea. Events like these create opportunities for families, professionals, and communities to share knowledge, challenge stigma, and build more inclusive support networks for autistic individuals and their families.

This month, the South East and East Asian Women’s Association (SEEWA) took a decisive step forward in our mission to protect and empower our community. Our representatives walked the halls of Westminster to meet with key policymakers, including Liam Conlon MP, Tony Vaughan MP, Rushanara Ali MP, and the parliamentary researcher for Dr. Luke Evans.

Our message was clear: the White Paper proposals will harm women and girls and leave them vulnerable for further abuse and exploitation. Furthermore, by leaving survivors of modern slavery and domestic abuse with no viable path to long-term safety, the system provides abusers with the ultimate tool of coercion—the threat of deportation.

Here are the two priority areas we brought to the heart of government:

1. Ending the “Tied Visa” & NRM Dead-End

The current Overseas Domestic Worker (ODW) visa is, in practice, a trap. When a woman’s legal status is tied strictly to one employer, fleeing abuse becomes a “crime” in the eyes of immigration law. Even those who receive a “Conclusive Grounds” decision via the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) face a cliff-edge deportation after just two years.

• The Issue: There is currently no pathway to settlement for these survivors. Without the hope of Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), traffickers maintain psychological control, telling victims that the British state will simply discard them once their short-term visa expires.
• Our Recommendation: We urged the MPs to support a return to pre-2012 rules. This includes allowing domestic workers to change employers and extending initial visa durations to 2.5 years to facilitate genuine escape and recovery. Crucially, we are calling for a clear route to settlement for trafficking survivors.

2. Closing the “3-Month Cliff” for Domestic Abuse Survivors

For ESEA women on dependent visas or those who are unmarried, fleeing an abusive home often means jumping off a legal cliff. The current Migrant Victims of Domestic Abuse Concession (MVDAC) lasts only three months—a timeframe that is nowhere near enough for a stay-at-home mother to rebuild her life.

• The Issue: Currently, only women married to British nationals are generally eligible to apply for ILR under domestic violence rules. For many ESEA mothers, this “cliff-edge” risks the unthinkable: being forced to choose between staying with an abuser or being deported and separated from their British children.
• Our Recommendation: We proposed an expansion of ILR eligibility to include victims of gender-based abuse on all partner visa types, including those on dependent visas and trafficked domestic workers. Safety should not be a privilege reserved only for those with a specific marriage certificate.

“We are not just asking for policy changes; we are asking for the right to safety without the shadow of a ‘dead-end’ visa hanging over our heads.”

Moving Forward

The reception from the MPs and their teams was productive. They listened to the lived experiences of our community and acknowledged the gaps in current protections. However, the work doesn’t stop here. SEEWA will continue to provide evidence, share stories, and lobby until “safety for all” is a reality.

How you can help: Stay tuned for our upcoming “Write to Your MP” campaign kit, where we will provide templates for you to share these recommendations with your local representatives.

A recent Guardian letter highlighted the fear and uncertainty many young people feel when migrants are discussed as threats rather than as members of our communities. The letter, published on 2 March 2026, was written by a secondary school student responding to comments by Reform UK’s Zia Yusuf, and described anxiety about deportation, harassment, and communities being torn apart.

At SEEAWA, we believe education spaces have an important role to play in challenging harmful narratives and making space for lived experience. We would be glad to speak at schools, colleges and universities about East and Southeast Asian migrants’ experiences of navigating gender-based violence, insecure immigration status, and barriers to safety and support.

To invite SEEAWA to speak, please contact sarahreid@seeawa.org.uk.

For over a decade, Mary Ann lived in a reality defined by control, isolation, and fear. Like many East and Southeast Asian (ESEA) women in the UK, her struggle was invisible to the outside world. She endured physical violence, financial abuse, and the constant threat of her immigration status being used against her.

“I thought that was love,” Mary Ann reflects. “I thought if I endured more—every hit, every broken bone—he would eventually love me and my kids.“

The Turning Point In 2021, Mary Ann reached a breaking point where she feared for her life and the lives of her children. Despite being on a dependent visa and facing the terrifying prospect of having “no recourse to public funds,” she chose freedom.

The challenges were immense. She faced a “legal limbo” and the daunting task of finding a sponsor to secure her right to stay in the UK. But where there was fear, Mary Ann found faith. Through spiritual strength and the vital support of the Filipino community, she found her footing. “Without them,” she says, “I would have been living on the street.“

The Power of Upskilling Mary Ann did not just survive; she thrived. A graduate of Nursing and Psychology, she refused to let her trauma define her potential. She pursued advanced programs at Harvard and completed specialized NHS training, transforming herself into a highly skilled Sterile Technician. Today, she manages a list of 28 patients, providing life-saving care with the “bubbly, jolly, and committed” energy she is known for.

A Partnership for Justice Since 2021, SEEAWA has stood by Mary Ann’s side. We provided the non-judgmental space she needed to understand her rights and navigate the complex UK legal system. Today, as she prepares for her day in court, she is no longer a silent victim—she is a woman seeking justice.

“Keeping silence is not the key,” Mary Ann tells us. “It’s okay to live your life freely. There is always a bright window waiting for you.“

Nourishing Our Seeds of Strength was a community-led wellbeing and collective care day that created a safe, welcoming, and inclusive space at Centre 151 for ESEA 25 women and families to rest, connect, and share. 

Participants arrived with a mix of emotions, from excitement and confidence to nervousness and fatigue, but quickly found comfort through food, movement, creativity, and open reflection. 

They most valued the sense of togetherness, cultural food-sharing, dancing and laughter, opportunities to be heard, and the presence of childcare, which enabled fuller participation.

Looking ahead, participants expressed shared hopes for safety, stability, financial security, health, and solidarity, alongside a strong desire for more training, culturally rooted wellbeing activities, and community-building events.

100% of participants reporting that they felt safe, welcomed, respected, and had a strong sense of belonging, and that their voices, culture, and lived experiences were valued. All respondents also felt more confident and empowered after attending, with 89% reporting improved emotional well-being and feeling calmer, more grounded, and nourished. Importantly, 100% said they now feel more comfortable engaging with SEEAWA in the future and have a clearer understanding of the support available, demonstrating increased trust and accessibility.

If you have an event that you wish for SEEAWA to facilitate, do let us know. 

For years, the South East and East Asian Women’s Association (SEEAWA) has been a sanctuary where we share our strengths, nourish our spirits, and support one another through the complexities of life in the UK. But as we look at the shifting landscape of British immigration policy, it is clear that individual resilience is no longer enough. To truly protect our community, we must move from surviving the system to changing it.

This March, SEEAWA is taking our message directly to the heart of power. We are heading to Westminster to lobby Members of Parliament as part of a greater coalition of migrant charities. We aren’t just going to tell our stories; we are going to demand a dismantling of the “Hostile Environment” and a total rethink of the government’s latest proposals.

The Threat: The “Earned Settlement” Model

In November, the Government unveiled a White Paper outlining a new “earned settlement” model. While the title sounds meritocratic, the reality is a regressive system that treats human rights as something to be bought.

Under these proposals, the baseline for permanent residency (Indefinite Leave to Remain) would double from five years to ten years. To “earn” the right to stay sooner, migrants must meet high salary thresholds or advanced language requirements. This is not a “fairer pathway”; it is a system designed to exclude.

Why This Hits Our Community Hardest

The implications for ESEA women and their families are devastating:

• Poverty by Design: The expansion of the No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) condition means thousands of families—including those with British children—will be barred from the basic safety net we all pay into. By extending the wait for settlement, the government is effectively pushing thousands of children into avoidable poverty.
• Moving the Goalposts: These changes are set to apply retrospectively. Women who moved here under one set of rules, planning their lives and their children’s futures, suddenly find the finish line has been moved miles away. This creates a state of permanent “legal limbo” and profound mental distress.
• Devaluing “Essential” Work: The model explicitly penalizes those in low-skilled or care roles. Many ESEA women form the backbone of the UK’s social care and service sectors. To label this work “low-skilled” and force these women into 15-year waits for settlement is a slap in the face to those who kept this country running during its darkest hours.

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Our Mission in Parliament

Our lobbying event in March is a critical moment for SEEAWA. We will be meeting with MPs to voice our opposition to the White Paper and to explain how these “hostile” policies intersect with the specific challenges ESEA women face—including linguistic barriers, workplace exploitation, and the unique sting of racialized misogyny.

We are seeking Systems Change. This means:

1. Abolishing the 10-year baseline for settlement and returning to a fair, 5-year route.
2. Ending the NRPF condition for families with children to ensure no child goes hungry due to their parents’ immigration status.
3. Scrapping retrospective changes to ensure the law provides certainty, not instability.

How You Can Help

The “earned settlement” model assumes that our value is defined only by our taxable income. We know our value lies in our community, our care, and our culture.

Would you like to join our delegation to Parliament? If so, please email sarahreid@seeawa.org.uk. Together, we can ensure that the voices of ESEA women are not just heard, but acted upon.

At SEEWA (Southeast Asian Women’s Association), we are closely following Spain’s landmark decision to regularize up to 300,000 migrants annually through 2027. This bold policy recognizes a fundamental truth: migration is not a burden; it is a vital economic engine.

While Spain leads the way in Europe, the conversation here in the UK often overlooks the data on how much our community contributes to the nation’s stability and success.

The UK’s Growing Labor Gap

The UK is currently navigating a significant workforce transition. Despite a cooling in overall vacancies, critical sectors remain in a “participation crisis” that only migration can solve:

• NHS & Social Care: Around one in five NHS workers in England hold a non-British nationality (approx. 325,000 staff). In the adult social care sector, the recent 65% drop in visa grants has left providers scrambling to fill 100,000+ vacancies.
• The Growth Engine: Forecasts suggest that almost all UK employment growth—over a million new jobs—must be driven by migration to offset an aging domestic population.
• High-Demand Sectors: Vacancies in transport, logistics, and “green” engineering continue to outpace domestic supply, with sustainable recruitment needs rising 48% over the last five years.

A Net Gain for the Public Purse

The myth that migrants are a drain on public services is debunked by fiscal reality. According to recent reports from the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) and the OBR:

• £47 Billion Impact: The 2022/23 cohort of Skilled Worker visa holders alone is estimated to have a present-value net fiscal contribution of £47 billion over their lifetime.
• Taxation vs. Use: Most migrants arrive in their 20s and 30s—the “golden age” for fiscal contribution. They pay into the system for decades before requiring the high-cost healthcare or pension support associated with older age.
• Refugee Contributions: Even within humanitarian routes, expedited work rights could contribute an estimated £266,000 per person to the UK economy over 12.5 years through taxes and increased productivity.

The SEEWA Perspective: Dignity is Non-Negotiable

For the Southeast Asian women we represent, “regularization” and “visa security” mean more than just a job. It means the right to work without fear of exploitation, the ability to reunite with families, and the freedom to invest in their local UK communities.

Spain has shown that political courage can align with economic sense. It is time the UK narrative shifts from “policing borders” to “powering the economy.” When we empower migrant women, we strengthen the entire country.

Join the Movement: Our Call to Action

We believe that policy change starts with a change in perspective. SEEWA is launching a Policy Discussion Forum to gather stories and data from our members to present to local MPs.

How you can get involved:

1. Share Your Story: If you are a migrant worker in the UK, how has your work contributed to your local community? DM us or email us at info@seewa.org.

For many women, seeking help is the hardest step. For some, that first step becomes the beginning of a journey not only toward safety, but toward leadership, healing, and community.

Yvette Mercado is one of those women.

A Filipina single mother who has lived in the UK for nearly 17 years, Yvette is deeply committed to supporting other women, particularly migrant mothers who have experienced domestic violence. Today, she is an active volunteer and organiser within the ESEA community, but her relationship with SEEAWA began at a very different point in her life.

Finding Support When It Was Most Needed

Yvette first connected with SEEAWA as a beneficiary, at a time when she was navigating the realities of domestic violence, single motherhood, and the complex challenges faced by migrant women in the UK.

Through SEEAWA, Yvette received practical and emotional support, including financial assistance during difficult periods, and befriending support that helped reduce isolation. Just as importantly, she found a space where her experiences were believed, understood, and accepted, without judgment.

SEEAWA’s workshops, wellbeing activities, and community gatherings offered Yvette opportunities for healing, learning, and connection. As a survivor of violence and a mother caring for a child with additional needs, being welcomed fully, not despite these experiences, but with them, made a profound difference.

“SEEAWA didn’t just support me in crisis — it helped me feel human again.”

From Beneficiary to Trustee

As Yvette rebuilt her confidence and sense of self, she began to give back in small ways, attending events, supporting other women, and sharing her insights. Over time, her lived experience, compassion, and leadership became invaluable to the organisation.

She later became a trustee of SEEAWA, helping guide the charity’s direction and ensuring that the voices of women with lived experience remained central to its work. Her journey reflected what SEEAWA believes deeply: that women are not defined by what they survive, but by what they become when supported.

Continuing the Cycle of Care

Today, Yvette continues to volunteer with SEEAWA, helping organise events, support fundraising activities, and strengthen community connections for East and Southeast Asian women.

Beyond SEEAWA, she is an active volunteer with organisations, leads and supports activities through the Mumshie group, and contributes to projects and documentaries advocating for migrant rights and welfare.

Her work is grounded in empathy, solidarity, and a belief that no woman should face violence, isolation, or injustice alone.

Why Stories Like Yvette’s Matter

Yvette’s journey from beneficiary to trustee to volunteer shows what becomes possible when women are met with care, dignity, and long-term support.

This is the impact of SEEAWA’s work:

• Providing immediate support in times of crisis
• Creating safe spaces for healing and belonging
• Supporting women to move from survival to leadership
  

As we enter a new year, Yvette’s story reminds us that support changes lives and those lives go on to change others.

If you would like to support SEEAWA’s work and help more women begin their own journeys toward safety and solidarity, please consider donating or getting involved.

Earlier in December, our team received training from Shelter on Systems Thinking in Homelessness. This fascinating training made us reflect on how to approach more holistic approaches to solving complex problems and the patterns, structures and mental models that influence and shape events. Insecure housing is an issue that deeply affects our community, largely as a result of their immigration status. Strengthening women’s immigration status is a key 5 year policy aim SEEAWA is pursuing in 2026.