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Immigration Fees for Healthcare Workers
30 January 2023
Lead MP
Tonia Antoniazzi
Gower
Lab
Responding Minister
Robert Jenrick
Tags
ImmigrationEconomyEmploymentMental Health
Word Count: 12322
Other Contributors: 7
At a Glance
Tonia Antoniazzi raised concerns about immigration fees for healthcare workers in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
The petition asks for reduced ILR fees for healthcare workers and a joined-up approach from government to improve the lives of those using the system and enable a strong and sustainable health sector. Tonia Antoniazzi urges the Government to ensure that the choice to stay in the UK is an easy one for essential healthcare workers.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
The NHS relies heavily on healthcare workers who are not British nationals; about 16.5% of NHS England staff and over half of new doctors working in the NHS come from overseas. The expensive indefinite leave to remain (ILR) process is pushing key workers away, with costs reaching £2,404 per person. Healthcare professionals report financial hardships due to low salaries and a high cost of living, leading to mental health issues and difficulty saving for ILR fees. Some workers are considering leaving the UK for better opportunities abroad, citing exploitative practices by employers who use immigration status as leverage.
Clapham and Brixton Hill
The NHS relies on staff from all over the world, including those from the Windrush generation who were treated badly. She highlights that healthcare workers are paid less and face in-work poverty due to high costs of living and visa fees. Reducing visa application costs would address recruitment and retention issues.
Janet Daby
Lab
Lewisham East
She supports GMB's campaign to grant indefinite leave to remain for NHS cleaners and carers and questions whether the current costs are too high, suggesting a need to show more gratitude to health workers who worked during the pandemic. Many constituents have contacted me expressing that the current fees are too expensive, questioning why the Government maintains these high costs without reducing them. My hon. Friend is making an excellent speech. She questions the Government's approach of encouraging skilled professionals to come to the UK while simultaneously making it difficult for them to settle. I hope the Minister will address biometric residence permits delays, which prevent NHS workers from engaging in society and suggest the Home Office needs to manage and speed up this work.
Margaret Ferrier
Ind
Rutherglen and Hamilton West
She is concerned that the costs of the immigration scheme for care workers are unaffordable, particularly for those in at-home care who earn some of the lowest wages. 28% of respondents to the Petitions Committee's survey on immigration fees for healthcare workers have delayed applying for indefinite leave to remain in the UK due to high costs. She asks how Ministers have engaged with the Scottish Government regarding immigration policies that impact healthcare staffing resilience.
Nigel Mills
Con
Amber Valley
The scheme has been extended by 12 months, but care workers are among the lowest paid and these fees represent significant costs. He agrees with the hon. Lady's concerns about the impact on the NHS.
Rob Roberts
Con
Rob Roberts highlighted the issue of high fees for immigration and citizenship, which disproportionately affect healthcare workers from abroad. He cited a real-life case of Carrie, an NHS worker who incurred significant debt due to visa renewal costs and ILR applications. The fees for ILR and citizenship are over £4,000, posing a substantial financial burden on NHS staff trying to establish permanent residency. He points out that beyond visa application costs, there are additional expenses such as repeated English language tests and biometrics fees which significantly add to the financial burden on healthcare workers applying for ILR or citizenship. Asked the shadow Minister about his and his party's opinion on non-degree-based routes into nursing, suggesting that nurses used to learn on the job with mentorship without needing academic qualifications. Questions whether NHS workers are being used to cross-subsidise other areas of the system and raises concerns about financial barriers such as inability to get a mortgage for people on temporary visas.
Stephen Kinnock
Lab
Aberavon Maesteg
He thanked fellow MPs for their contributions and highlighted the importance of the petition signed by 34,392 people. He discussed Labour's approach to work-based migration, supporting a points-based system but emphasizing fair treatment of migrant workers. He also addressed education issues in healthcare recruitment and the need for comprehensive reviews of immigration policies.
Stuart McDonald
Lab
East Renfrewshire
Praised the international NHS staff for their contribution during the pandemic and highlighted significant vacancy rates in the NHS. Cited statistics showing a shortage of nursing staff and costs incurred by employing agency staff. Criticised the Home Office for increasing fees for ILR visas, which he argued are deterring healthcare professionals from applying for permanent residency or considering careers outside the UK. Refers to figures showing significant numbers of healthcare workers deciding not to apply for ILR, questioning whether the Home Office recognises this as a problem and calls for a cross-Government review of the implications for taxpayers.
Government Response
Robert Jenrick
Government Response
I am grateful to the hon. Member for Gower, who opened the debate with a constructive tone and thanked Mictin for creating the petition. The Minister highlighted the NHS's reliance on international workers, noting that although domestic recruitment is crucial, foreign workers will continue playing significant roles. He discussed efforts by the Home Office to improve services for recent arrivals, addressing concerns about biometric appointments, and explained that fees are set in line with the Immigration Act 2014, reflecting processing costs, border system expenses, and benefits enjoyed by successful applicants. The Minister mentioned the financial burden of running a migration and borders system at £4.8 billion annually, emphasizing that funding must come from some combination of general taxation and visa fees to avoid taxing taxpayers excessively.
The petition noted significant measures taken by the Government, such as extending visas without cost during the pandemic and refunding fees for those affected. The Minister detailed a 50% reduction in health and care visa application fees compared to skilled worker routes, noting that no immigration health surcharge is required for these applicants. He also addressed concerns about individuals leaving due to high ILR costs, stating there are options for continuous sponsorship if they cannot afford the settlement application.
The Minister defended the current system's financial sustainability and mentioned that fees charged in the UK compare favourably with those of other developed countries such as New Zealand and Australia. He acknowledged the importance of integration into UK society and supported the 'Life in the UK' test, believing it fosters better understanding and commitment to the country.
Finally, he thanked all hon. Members for their contributions and reiterated the Government's ongoing efforts to ensure a fruitful experience for international healthcare workers who choose to make a life in the UK.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.