From 11 March 2024, the Care Workers will not be able to sponsor their family members bringing them to the UK. This means their dependents cannot now from this date join them from abroad. The UK declared the ban on bringing family members on a Care Worker visa. On 19 February, Home Secretary James Cleverly presented the changes to the immigration rules to the UK Parliament on Monday. English care providers must be registered with the Care Quality Commission. This may considerably decrease the number of newly coming care workers.
Till 11 March 2024, the care workers who are already in the UK may apply to extend their permission with their existing sponsor even if their existing sponsor does not register with the CQC. They may have any eligible dependant family members accompany or join them in the UK before 11 March. Care workers can also apply to settle in the UK whilst sponsored by their existing sponsor even if their existing sponsor does not register with the CQC.
The UK government laid a plan on immigration cut a few weeks back where they decided to bring immense changes in skilled worker visa rules. The UK is considering this change as part of these new immigration rules. The new changes will take effect from 11 March 2024. The new changes will affect the care workers from the occupation codes SOC 6145 and 6146. This means the care workers cannot bring their family to the UK. However, these rules do not change the status of previously present family members of the care workers. According to the statistics available, only 25% of dependants work in the UK when they join their primary applicant in the UK.
UK observed the unexpected 120,000 dependants of care workers came to the UK last year till September. The Care Workers counted to 101,000 of the skilled worker visas.
Important to know
According to the new immigration rules changes 300,000 fewer people would be able to come to the UK. The 48% increase from £26,200 to £38,700 from 4 April for the skilled worker visa route will not be implemented on Care and Education workers as they will enjoy the same salary threshold as set before. Individuals in the UK on any other route, including where that route permits dependants, who switch into the care visa as a care worker or senior care worker after rules change will not be able to bring over dependants.
According to government statistics, about 1,180,000 people came to the UK until the end of June 2023. Most of these numbers about 968,000 came from non-EU countries.
During this period, 508,000 people departed the UK, creating a net migration difference of 672,000. This was last noted as 745,000 back in 2022, which has become a worry for the government.