Frontline care and health workers face thousands of pounds of government  ​visa charges

​Thousands of low-paid migrant care and health staff have been shut out of a government scheme that would save them thousands of pounds in visa ​renewal fees, says UNISON ​today (Thursday). The frontline ​staff are dismayed the government has blocked them from receiving a free one-year visa extension​, which has been granted to some key workers because of the pandemic. The visa extension programme for health workers was introduced ​at the end of April and is only open to 3,000 NHS professionals, ​including dentists, physiotherapists, nurses, paramedics and psychologists, says UNISON. The visa extension fee, which varies based on individual family circumstances, can cost thousands of pounds. It includes a separate charge for migrant workers and their families to use the NHS, despite ​the fact they already pay national insurance and tax, says UNISON. Th​is immigration health surcharge of £400​ – rising to £6​24 in October – has been criticised by MPs from all parties as a way of charging workers twice for using the NHS. ​The Prime Minister publicly exempted frontline health and care staff from the immigration health surcharge in May. But anxious workers still don’t know when the charge will be waived or if money paid upfront will be returned. The ​decision ​not to make the free visa renewal scheme available to all migrant workers will mean care ​staff, hospital porters, cleaners and healthcare assist...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - Category: Food Science Authors: Tags: News Press release Boris Johnson Christina McAnea health Home Office migrant workers one-year visa social care Source Type: news