From 15 February 2022 the Health and Care Worker Visa (part of the Skilled Worker Visa) will be extended to care workers and home carers for a minimum period of 12 months.
As many care home providers will be aware, recruitment is an ever-challenging prospect — especially with the potential for a further loss of staff following the law requiring care workers to be fully vaccinated.
The extension of the Health and Care Worker Visa means:
- Care workers and home carers will be added to the Shortage Occupation List
- The visa application fee is reduced to £232 for visas of up to 3 years and £464 for visas longer than 3 years – ordinarily the fees range from £610 to £1,408. The fee is reduced to just £55 for applicants from many EEA countries
- The NHS surcharge (£624 per year of the visa for each applicant and dependant) does not apply
- Applications will be processed more quickly – taking up to 3 weeks rather than 6.
Providers can take advantage of this potential recruitment opportunity if they hold a Sponsor Licence which allows them to sponsor skilled workers. Sponsors can request a defined Certificate of Sponsorship where they are intending to recruit a care worker from abroad and, once granted, issue this to the prospective employee which enables that individual to make their visa application.
Employers who wish to obtain a Sponsor Licence should apply online here. The process involves the completion of a form covering the structure of the business, the reason for the application, and the details of the people who will be involved with the management of the licence.
Prior to applying, employers should ensure they are familiar with how the process works – including the obligations and duties placed on sponsors. UK Visas and Immigration may audit the businesses of applicants to ensure that they are able to comply and, where they do not feel a company will meet the requirements, an application can be refused.
Sponsor Licence applications can take 8 weeks to be decided so organisations should act quickly if they are looking to recruit from abroad in the near future.
