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Fast Track Visa for health service workers announced

(Partner content) The UK Government has recently made some very exciting announcements for the UK immigration landscape.

autistic meadowlands

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In the second half of 2019, it has announced its intention to create a new fast-track visa for individuals with skills in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). They also intend to create a new immigration route for overseas graduates, which will enable them to stay for two years after their studies.

This past week, the Government has also announced its intention to create a fast-track route for migrants working in the health service.

These three new immigration routes are, of course, wonderful news for overseas workers wanting to live and work in the UK.

Fast Track Visa for health service workers

The UK Government aims to make it easier for migrants to work in the National Health Service (NHS). They hope that a new fast track visa for health workers will offset a possible fall in NHS workers, due to Brexit.

The new NHS visa will reportedly allow the UK Government to control immigration while ensuring at the same time that there is not a skills shortage in the health service. The visa will cost £464, half the normal fee. The visa process will also be fast-tracked, and persons can expect decisions on their visas within two weeks.

The health service workers will still be liable to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge, which is £400 per year.

It is, however, not clear yet, whether the new so-called NHS visa will operate outside the Tier 2 immigration route.

Health service workers currently in the UK

Reuters have reported that currently, about 153,000 of the 1,2 million health workers in the UK are non-British. Some immigration role-players are rightly concerned that the end of free movement after Brexit could have an impact on the NHS. 

Hopefully, the fast and successful implementation of such a new fast track visa will lessen the possible impact of Brexit on the UK health service.

Breytenbachs Immigration Consultants will inform readers via our newsletter and social media as soon as more information on the new fast-track visa for health service workers become available.

Please note that the information in this article does not constitute professional advice. It is provided for general information purposes, without giving any warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied.

For more information or assistance with your UK immigration matter, please send an email to info@bic-immigration.com or visit the Breytenbachs website at www.bic-immigration.com