The UK is considering recruiting more and more health and care staff from abroad. Recently, the rules have been changed to make it convenient for the enrollment of health and care staff. Certain health and care related occupations have been included in the shortage occupation list. This will help international workers to apply for the skilled immigration visa of the UK with more ease because a job from a shortage occupation list gives 20 extra points to the visa candidates.
The foreign workers who are working in the following categories have been added to the Shortage Occupation List:
- Senior care workers
- Nursing assistants
- Pharmacists
- Laboratory technicians
Professions given below are also added in the Shortage Occupation List for example audiologists and dental hygiene therapists:
- Health services and public health managers and directors
- Residential, day, and domiciliary care managers and
- Health professionals not elsewhere classified
These steps of the UK government will provide international workers an advantage to get a UK skilled worker visa aforementioned sectors. Changes confirm that public services and businesses across the country (UK) can get access to the best and top-ranked talent from all over the world. The changes emphasize the government’s provision of a new points-based immigration system, which operates across the UK.
Candidates have to score 70 points to get a skilled work visa. 50 points must be scored by every visa applicant which are also called non-tradable points by:
- having a valid job offer from a UKBA licensed and approved sponsor= 20 points
- having the job at the appropriate skill level= 20 points
- English language proficiency at B1 level= 10 points
Skilled Worker Visa applicants should additional score 20 more tradable points for many different skilled set aside by the UKBA. One of these is having an occupation from the “Shortage Occupation List”. One more benefits health sector workers have that they only have to show the ongoing salary rate of £20,480 annually which for other occupations sectors is £26,500.
Kevin Foster (Minister for Future Borders and Immigration) said“Every year we welcome health care workers from across the world to our the land, with many having played a key role on the front line of the NHS during the recent pandemic. This last set of changes, combined with our Health and Care Visa, will ensure they can easily get the immigration status they deserve.
The changes follow a review published last year by the Independent Migration Advisory Committee. Although the government has accepted some of MAC’s recommendations, it is not making major changes to the list, while the long-term economic impact of the Covid 19 epidemic is still uncertain.
Some other changes include
Ensuring the graduate route will be launched from 1 July. International students who have successfully completed an undergraduate or master’s degree will be able to take advantage of two years of work experience in the UK after graduation through the new graduate route. Students completing the Ph.D. will be able to stay for three years.
Updating the “Skilled Worker Visa” ongoing salary rate to include a minimum hourly rate to safeguard against employers who may need employees to work more hours to make up for the lower rates to pay.
Replacement of the current Intimidation policy with the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy.
And further building on the world-leading Global Talent Visa path to ultimate endorse recipients of global awards, including the Nobel Prize, to qualify for a visa, with more prizes to be added later in the year.
The government also unveiled plans to launch another new immigration pathway that would provide start-ups and fast-growing firms with skilled immigrants. As part of this route, highly skilled immigrants with a job offer from a highly recognized reputable company will be eligible for a visa without the need for sponsorship or third-party verification. This will be eventually an unsponsored points-based visa system for professionals working in fields like finance, science, research, and technology.
Highlights of the UK’s new immigration rules
- a cap on immigration numbers have been abolished
- Tier 2 category has been replaced by general work visa
- low level of salary threshold has been introduced (previously £30,000 but now will be £25,600)
- lower skill level minimum to be accepted at RQF 3
- no cooling-off periods (where migrants had to wait 12 months before applying for another Tier 2 visa) will apply to the route, and there will be no six-year total length of stay on a General worker visa. The residence permits can now be extended indefinitely
- more switching between visa routes is now permitted than ever before
The Skilled Worker route is a new point-based route for those who wish to come to the UK for the purpose of working in a skilled job they have been offered. The key characteristics of the new route are that an applicant must be sponsored to do a specific job, which meets skill and salary requirements, by an employer that has been licensed by the Home Office. For applying for the work visa according to the new points-based immigration policy, the following are the details:
- Job offer required from recognized UK employer
- Low level of salary threshold (previously £30,000 but now will be £25,600).
- The ones who do not fulfill the salary threshold can also apply with a minimum salary threshold of £20,480 but they will have to show that their skills and job offer are from the shortage occupation list. Applicants will also be able to apply with an income threshold of £22,000 if they have a relevant Ph.D. in a STEM subject.
- Expansion of skills threshold. Previously only graduates were able to apply but now the ones having a qualification equivalent to A-Levels will be able to enjoy the ease of applying for a work visa.
- Those who cannot fulfill the requirements (especially the salary threshold) of 70 points for applying for a work visa, may still be able to enter the UK if they have a relevant Ph.D. in a STEM subject.
