Record Number of Americans Seek UK Residency Amid US Exodus
During the year leading up to March, applications from US citizens to become British citizens or obtain indefinite leave to remain in the UK surged to a record high of 6,618, exceeding previous years since 2004. This increase, particularly sharp in early 2025, coincided with the beginning of Donald Trump’s second term and a rising number of inquiries from American immigration lawyers. While some attribute the rise to the polarized US political climate, many applications were based on existing family or spousal ties. Despite this surge in US applications, overall UK net migration decreased significantly in 2024.
John Q. Hosedrinker