The UK has seen a dramatic decline in applications for healthcare worker visas. The trend has been witnessed after the government imposed stricter regulations on bringing in family members.
According to the latest figures from the UK Home Office, there has been a 76 per cent decrease in healthcare worker visa applications and a 58 per cent drop in family- dependant applications compared to April 2023. Indian nationals, who topped the health and care visa grants in 2023, are among the most affected.
Reports from PTI indicate that many Indian healthcare workers in the UK now face deportation, despite having families in the country. These workers struggle to find new jobs that comply with their visa requirements, leaving them at risk of being deported within two months.
The new healthcare worker visa regulations are part of a broader tightening of UK immigration policies, which have also led to a significant drop in student visa applications. Some government officials express concern that these restrictions may harm the UK’s reputation as a welcoming destination for international students.
In addition to healthcare visas, the government’s stricter student visa regulations, effective since January, have significantly impacted international students. There has been a 79 per cent reduction in student-dependent applications in the first four months of 2024.
India, which was the top country for healthcare worker visas last year with over 38,000 grants, now sees many of its workers in the UK in precarious situations due to the new rules. Some workers claim they were lured to the UK under false pretences, promised non-existent jobs, or offered wages below the minimum requirement.
Many healthcare workers brought to the UK are now stuck, unable to find jobs that meet their visa criteria, and face deportation within two months, despite having families settled in the UK.
