By Michael Gwarisa
The ban on care workers bringing their dependents to the United Kingdom is now in full force following the announcement by the United Kingdom (UK) government on December 4, 2023 of changes to the immigration system.
The announced had indicated that the ban would take effect in March and April 2024 and from March 11, 2024, care workers (SOC 6145) and senior care workers (SOC 6146) will be unable to bring dependents when they migrate to the UK, and only CQC-registered providers in England will be able to sponsor Health and Care Visa applicants.
From April 2024, applications to the Health and Care Visa route that are not on a pay scale will need to meet a general salary threshold of £29,000. The general salary threshold for those on national pay scales will increase from £20,960 to at least £23,200 or the national pay scale for the role (whichever is higher),” said the National Health Service (NHS) though their website.
According to NHS, all Health and Care Visa holders will continue to be exempt from paying the Immigrational Health Surcharge (IHS). From 4 April 2024, overseas workers requiring a general Skilled Worker Visa (such as data analysts, IT and finance professionals, etc) but sponsored by an NHS organisation will need to meet the new salary threshold of £38,700. This will not be increased in stages.
Those already in the Skilled Worker route before the immigration rules change should be exempt from the new salary thresholds when they change sponsor, extend, or settle, providing they aren’t moving to different occupations (but their pay should progress in line with resident workers).
Meanwhile, the new changes will also impact various international staff across the NHS and social care. Those on Health and Care Visa such as nurses, doctors, allied health professionals, will be asked if they are applying for a Health and Care Visa and will need to select yes.
“Only CQC-registered providers in England will be able to sponsor Health and Care Visa applicants, of which trusts are already registered. Salary threshold: The general salary threshold will increase to £29,000, or £23,200 for occupations on national pay scales where applicable.”
Immigration Salary List: For Health & Care Visa occupations on the ISL, the salary threshold is set at either £23,200 or their occupation-specific threshold, whichever is higher. Immigration Health Surcharge: Current and future visa holders will continue to be exempt from the IHS.
However, Health & Care Visa holders can still bring dependants to the UK as part of their visa (except care workers (SOC 6145) or senior care workers (SOC 6146) see below on Social Care). Dependents have a generic right to work meaning that they can be employed by the NHS, in another sector or not work.
