Free visa extensions will be automatically granted to more
crucial overseas health and care workers, the Home
Secretary has announced today.
Frontline workers, including midwives, radiographers,
social workers and pharmacists, with visas due to expire
before 1 October 2020 will receive an automatic one-year
extension. It will apply to those working both in the NHS
and independent sector and include their family members.
This builds on the Home Secretary’s announcement last month
for NHS doctors, nurses and paramedics. All will be exempt
for the Immigration Health Surcharge for the duration of
the exemption.
In total approximately 3,000 vital health and care workers
and their families will benefit from the extension.
Home Secretary said:
We are incredibly grateful to all overseas health and
care workers fighting this invisible enemy.
We have already announced the extension of visas for NHS
doctors, nurses and paramedics. Now we are going further
by extending this offer to hundreds of other frontline
health and care workers, both in the NHS and in the
independent sector.
These extensions will be automatic, free and include
exemption from the Immigration Health Surcharge.
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care said:
Frontline health and social care workers from overseas
are doing extraordinary work in responding to this global
outbreak.
Around 3,000 vital health and care workers and their
families will benefit from the extension, and we are
hugely grateful to them for protecting the vulnerable and
saving lives.
Those benefiting are providing essential services in
response to the coronavirus pandemic. It is important we
relieve the pressure from the whole of the NHS, so it can
focus maximum effort on fighting the coronavirus and saving
lives.
The extension comes into effect immediately and is for all
visas expiring between 31 March and 1 October 2020. Those
benefitting from this extension will be identified by
health and care employers across the UK. Any NHS workers
who have paid for an unresolved application will be offered
the option of a refund.
The Home Secretary has also confirmed family members and
dependants of healthcare workers who sadly pass away as
result of contracting the virus will be offered immediate
indefinite leave to remain.
The Home Office will work with the Department for Health
and Social Care and NHS Trusts to put these arrangements in
place.
