Written question asked by Jim Cunningham (Labour) on Wednesday, 16 February 2011, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 28 February 2011. It was answered by Damian Green (Conservative) on Tuesday, 1 March 2011 on behalf of the Home Office.

Domestic Violence: Immigrants

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the Government is taking to protect women with an insecure immigration status from domestic violence.

Answer: [holding answer 28 February 2011]: In recognition of the plight of victims of domestic violence, the domestic violence concession, previously outside the immigration rules, was brought under the rules in 2002.Rule 289A was introduced to enable an applicant who has limited leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom as the spouse, unmarried partner, registered civil partner or same sex partner of a British citizen or person present and settled in the UK and whose marriage or relationship breaks down during the two-year probationary period as a result of domestic violence, to be granted indefinite leave to remain in the UK. This offers the victim the security of achieving settled status and access to benefits without the need to complete the two-year probationary period.

Secondary information