Care Workers Face "Crippling" Costs as Visa Fees Surge

Care workers from overseas applying to extend their visas to remain in the UK are likely to face higher immigration fees, with companies providing care facing "crippling" costs to maintain their workforce. The cost of employers seeking visas for overseas workers, known as the immigration skills charge, is set to rise by 32 per cent, from £1,000 to £1,320 per year for each worker. This will affect a quarter of care workers in the UK, who are foreign nationals. The Government has been urged to exempt these workers from the higher fees, as the stretched health budget is set to absorb millions of pounds more in migrant visa fees due to the changes.

Key Takeaways:

• The immigration skills charge for visa sponsorship is set to rise by 32 per cent, from £1,000 to £1,320 per year for each worker.
• This will result in a five-year extension for one care worker costing their employer £6,600.
• A quarter of care workers in the UK are foreign nationals and will be subject to the higher visa fees.
• The Government has been urged to exempt care workers from the higher fees, citing the need to maintain the workforce in the care sector.
• Social care providers are struggling to recruit staff, with over 130,000 vacancies across the sector.
• The Liberal Democrat leader, Sir Ed Davey, has warned that imposing higher fees will worsen the crisis in social care, leaving many care homes on the brink of collapse.
• The GMB union has expressed concerns that the increased fees will deter migrant workers from applying for visas, exacerbating the recruitment crisis in care.

Statistics:

• 32 per cent: The increase in the immigration skills charge for visa sponsorship.
• £1,000: The current cost of visa sponsorship.
• £1,320: The new cost of visa sponsorship post-fee increase.
• £6,600: The cost of a five-year extension for one care worker.
• 25 per cent: The proportion of care workers in the UK who are foreign nationals.
• 130,000: The number of vacancies in the care sector.
• £5m: The amount by which visa renewal fees will rise as a result of the announced changes.

Sources:

• The i Paper
• The Liberal Democrat Party
• The GMB Union