UK Health and Care Worker Visas Drop After Immigration Restrictions

Following the restrictions imposed by the Conservative government to cut off the net migration, the number of British visas issued to foreign health and care workers and family members of international students dropped significantly.

Aimed to Decrease the Foreign Care Staff

Last year, Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak aimed to decrease the number of foreign care staff and students coming to Britain, including post-graduate students, bringing their family members.

Marley Morris, associate director for migration, trade, and communities at the Institute for Public Policy Research think tank, said “The social care sector is still struggling with recruitment and the government will need to monitor the situation closely to avoid a further staffing crisis.”

Legal migration has been a significant political issue in Britain. In 2016 it heavily impacted the Brexit referendum.

Follows Stricter Visa Rules 

In the year ending June, Britain issued 89,095 health and care worker visas, a 26% drop from the previous year, and from April to June the visa granted was reduced to 81%. The reduction follows stricter visa rules aimed at reducing net immigration, including higher salary thresholds and limits on family members of care workers.

At the end of June, the total number of 432,225 visas, was reduced up to 13% compared to earlier estimates issued to foreign students to study at British universities. However, visas granted to overseas students in the first six months dropped 81% to 11,675 compared to the same period a year earlier.

Having the Most Sought After Universities 

Britain is one of the most renowned countries to have the sought-after universities in the world including, Oxford, Cambridge, and  Imperial College London. Business leaders say they help boost innovation, increase creativity, and provide a form of soft power.

As per reports, polls show immigration control is now the most important issue for British voters for the first time in eight years after far-right riots targeting Muslims and migrants. 

British ministers in the last government criticized some students and their dependents for applying, for visas and then claiming asylum. 

Follow Wat-Not on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram