Blow for Care Workers
It will come as a shock and disappointment to social care workers that they will not qualify for the government’s new Health and Care Visa.
They will be excluded under the UK’s post-Brexit immigration scheme.
The decision was announced recently by Home Secretary Priti Patel when she unveiled details of how the UK’s new points-based system will operate when it comes into effect on 1 January next year, after EU freedom of movement rules end.
The new system excludes unskilled migrants and awards points to applicants who speak English, have skilled job offers, and meet minimum salary requirements.
Existing EU workers in the care sector can, however, apply to stay in the UK through the settlement scheme, say the government.
The basic terms of the Settlement Scheme are:
EU citizens and any of their non-EU family members who arrived before 31 December 2020, and have been continuously resident in the UK for five years by the time of their application, will be eligible for settled status enabling them to stay indefinitely.
EU citizens and their family members who arrive by 31 December 2020, but will not yet have been continuously resident here for five years by the time of their application, will be eligible for “pre-settled status”. This allows them to stay until they have reached the five-year threshold. They can then also apply for settled status.
EU citizens and their family members with settled status or pre-settled status will have the same access as they currently do to healthcare, pensions and other benefits in the UK.
Close family members (a spouse, civil partner, durable partner, dependent child or grandchild, and dependent parent or grandparent) living overseas will be able to join their EU citizen sponsor here after 31 December 2020, so long as the relationship existed on that date. Future children are also protected.
EU citizens living in Britain are not protected by it unless they make an online application to the Home Office. Failing to apply will mean that they end up with no legal right to live and work in this country.
The Graham Agency, working with you.