Latest news with #workvisa
Telegraph
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
What Labour's immigration reforms will mean for the care sector
SIR – The Government's plan to require foreign skilled workers to have degrees (report, May 12) will lead to a situation where doctors and other professionals can come in, but there will be a complete lack of people applying for manual staff jobs in residential care for the elderly, sick and disabled. It seems as though Sir Keir Starmer can't run a whatsit in a brewery. Paul Griffith West Malvern, Worcestershire SIR – I note that at present anyone applying for care work in the UK – whether foreign or British – needs as a minimum to meet the B1 standard of proficiency in English: in other words, 'the ability to understand common phrases and everyday expressions, manage most situations likely to be encountered in travel or work, and produce simple connected text on a familiar topic'. Now, according to your report (May 8), the Home Secretary will be demanding that all work visa applicants have English at B2 – in other words, A-level – standard. Is she really intending to turn the crisis in social care into a complete disaster, or is this simply an oversight? Dame Patricia Hewitt Thornham, Norfolk SIR – During my recent second career as a local councillor, I discovered that many social care workers were women in their late thirties and forties who above all wanted flexible working arrangements so they could be home for the children after school and during school holidays, and available during any child illnesses. This cohort, by and large, were not so interested in securing generous public sector pensions, but wanted a good rate for a difficult job with reasonably flexible working hours. I was informed, however, that there was no scope within local government pension rules to allow such a trade-off, and that flexible employment contracts would not be agreed by the unions. The only way to offer flexibility was to use expensive agency workers, often from overseas. This is something the Government should act upon if it is to encourage these carers back into the market. Alan Law Streatley, Berkshire SIR – I read Jane Shilling's column ('The elderly need to be recognised for their skills, not as a burden', May 12) with interest and agreement. I get the impression that this Government considers them a burden, rather than a demographic that still contributes to society in many ways through voluntary and paid employment. Now with the crackdown on immigration, care homes will no doubt be tearing their hair out and may face closure. The patronising tone from Labour is outmoded. Just treat us with more actual respect and then we will willingly give it back. Judith A Daniels Great Yarmouth, Norfolk
Daily Mail
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Labour accused of 'ripping off' Tory proposals on migration as it looks to introduce tougher requirements for staying in the UK
Labour has been accused of 'ripping off' Tory policies amid reports the Government will introduce tougher requirements for migrants. An immigration White Paper, due next week, is likely to include measures to raise the level of English required from migrants who apply for a work visa. They would need the equivalent of an A-level in future, rather than the GCSE standard currently demanded. Some migrants will also be made to wait as long as ten years before they can apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR), rather than five years. Both ideas were part of a package proposed by the Conservatives earlier this year, Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said. He added: 'This Labour Government is so bereft of ideas on migration that it has resorted to trying to rip off parts of Conservative migration policy. 'Kemi Badenoch and I made clear earlier this year that citizenship of this country must be a privilege, not an automatic right, and laid out a series of new proposals to increase the time needed to gain indefinite leave to remain. And what did Labour do? Vote these measures down in Parliament.' The Tories brought an amendment to a government immigration Bill in February which would have increased the ILR qualification period to ten years, but Labour against it. A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, following a small boat incident in the Channel last month This week the Opposition also set out a Deportation Bill which included automatic deportation for illegal migrants and the removal of the Human Rights Act in immigration court cases. The Prime Minister's official spokesman said ministers were 'focused on bringing down the last government's record-high levels of migration'.
The Independent
06-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
How many visas for work or study are issued to Indian nationals?
Indian nationals accounted for the highest proportion of work visas issued to people applying to come to the UK last year, along with the second highest proportion of study visas. Some 369,419 work-related visas were issued in 2024, of which Indian nationals made up 22% (81,463), according to the latest available data from the Home Office. This was well ahead of the next highest figures, which were for nationals from Pakistan (9%), followed by Nigeria (7%), the Philippines (6%), and Zimbabwe (5%). Of the 81,463 Indian nationals who were granted a work visa last year, 34,954 (43%) were classed as main applicants and 46,509 (57%) were classed as dependants, or immediate family members. The most common categories of work visa issued to Indian nationals in 2024 were the health and care worker visa (30,301 out of 81,463, or 37%) and the skilled worker visa (27,922 or 34%). Among the smaller categories were senior or specialist business workers (6,219 nationals), creative workers (1,860), international sportspeople (241), religious workers (148), seasonal workers (101) and religious ministers (70). The total number of work visas issued to Indian nationals has halved year-on-year, from 162,655 in 2023 to 81,463 in 2024 (a drop of 50%). This is likely to reflect changes in legal migration rules introduced in early 2024 by the previous Conservative government, including a ban on overseas care workers bringing family dependants, and a steep rise in the salary threshold for skilled workers to £38,700. The number of main applicants from India granted work visas fell 53% year-on-year, while the number of dependants dropped 48%. A separate 419,312 study visas were issued by the UK in 2024, of which 92,355 (22%) were for Indian nationals – the second highest proportion after China (103,561 or 25%). Almost all of the 92,355 visas were for main applicants: 88,909, or 96%. The remaining 3,446 (4%) were for dependants. International students cannot apply for a study visa unless they have an unconditional offer of a place on a course with a licensed student sponsor, such as a school, college or university. The total number of study visas issued to Indian nationals has dropped year-on-year, from 159,371 in 2023 to 92,355 in 2024: a decrease of 42%. This is again likely to reflect changes in migration rules implemented at the start of 2024, which stopped students bringing family members to the UK apart from those doing postgraduate research courses or on government-funded scholarships. While the number of main applicants on study visas from India has fallen by 26%, from 119,970 in 2023 to 88,909 in 2024, the number of dependants is down by 91%, from 39,401 to 3,446.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Democrat floats work visa suggestion in response to Trump admin's $1,000 self-deportation offer
The Department of Homeland Security is offering $1,000 to illegal aliens who opt to self-deport via the CBP Home App, but Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., floated the idea of charging fines and granting work visas instead. "Why don't we make them pay a $5k fine, go through a background check and give them a work visa for a few years, renewable with good behavior," he asked in a Monday post on X. Gallego suggested in another post that immigrants would pay for the cost of their background check. Dhs Unleashes Possible Money-saving Measure For Illegal Aliens To Self-deport: 'Safest Option' As the U.S. government offers illegal aliens $1,000 to self-deport, Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., floated an alternative idea that involves granting work visas instead. "Make them pay. That is what we do now for other immigrants. Part of the filing fee," noted Gallego, who defeated Republican Kari Lake in Arizona's 2024 U.S. Senate contest. The $1,000 offer comes as the Trump administration cracks down on illegal immigration and seeks to conduct a mass deportation effort. Read On The Fox News App Ice Nabs Illegal Migrant After Blue City Authorities Drop Home Invasion, Child Abduction Charges "Any illegal alien who uses the CBP Home App to self-deport will also receive a stipend of $1,000 dollars, paid after their return to their home country has been confirmed through the app," a DHS release noted. "Even with the cost of the stipend, it is projected that the use of CBP Home will decrease the costs of a deportation by around 70 percent. Currently, the average cost to arrest, detain, and remove an illegal alien is $17,121." DHS also indicates that illegal aliens will receive travel assistance to return to their home country. Illegal Immigrant Released By Biden Admin Pleads Not Guilty To Murder Of Georgia Grandmother "The first use of travel assistance has already proven successful. An illegal alien that the Biden Administration allowed into our country recently utilized the program to receive a ticket for a flight from Chicago to Honduras. Additional tickets have already been booked for this week and the following week," DHS noted. Original article source: Democrat floats work visa suggestion in response to Trump admin's $1,000 self-deportation offer
Fox News
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Democrat floats work visa suggestion in response to Trump admin's $1,000 self-deportation offer
The Department of Homeland Security is offering $1,000 to illegal aliens who opt to self-deport via the CBP Home App, but Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., floated the idea of charging fines and granting work visas instead. "Why don't we make them pay a $5k fine, go through a background check and give them a work visa for a few years, renewable with good behavior," he asked in a Tuesday post on X. Gallego suggested in another post that immigrants would pay for the cost of their background check. DHS UNLEASHES POSSIBLE MONEY-SAVING MEASURE FOR ILLEGAL ALIENS TO SELF-DEPORT: 'SAFEST OPTION' "Make them pay. That is what we do now for other immigrants. Part of the filing fee," noted Gallego, who defeated Republican Kari Lake in Arizona's 2024 U.S. Senate contest. The $1,000 offer comes as the Trump administration cracks down on illegal immigration and seeks to conduct a mass deportation effort. ICE NABS ILLEGAL MIGRANT AFTER BLUE CITY AUTHORITIES DROP HOME INVASION, CHILD ABDUCTION CHARGES "Any illegal alien who uses the CBP Home App to self-deport will also receive a stipend of $1,000 dollars, paid after their return to their home country has been confirmed through the app," a DHS release noted. "Even with the cost of the stipend, it is projected that the use of CBP Home will decrease the costs of a deportation by around 70 percent. Currently, the average cost to arrest, detain, and remove an illegal alien is $17,121." DHS also indicates that illegal aliens will receive travel assistance to return to their home country. ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT RELEASED BY BIDEN ADMIN PLEADS NOT GUILTY TO MURDER OF GEORGIA GRANDMOTHER CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP "The first use of travel assistance has already proven successful. An illegal alien that the Biden Administration allowed into our country recently utilized the program to receive a ticket for a flight from Chicago to Honduras. Additional tickets have already been booked for this week and the following week," DHS noted.
