Relief for Senior Carers as

Government reviews

Policy on Work Permits

by Charles Kelly

07 December 2007  

Bison UK offers Free ‘Senior Carer’ Immigration Surgery

The Border and Immigration Agency (BIA) is set to offer a lifeline to the thousands of overseas Senior Carers who have lost their jobs due to the Border and Immigration Agency’s “minimum salary” requirement on Work Permit renewals.

They also plan to drop both the minimum £7.02 “going rate” salary requirement, brought in last August on Senior Carer Work Permit renewals, and the ‘Skills Requirement’ for Work Permit holders who “joined the scheme at the beginning of 2003”.

Although no official announcement has been made, in an email to Gwyneth Dunwoody, MP, who has lobbied the Government on behalf of Senior Carers filing an Early Day Motion, the government has indicated that workers will be offered the choice of renewing their permits with their existing employers provided they agree to pay at least £7.02 per hour or finding an alternative employer willing to pay the “going rate”.

Sources inside the BIA have revealed to Bison UK that if Senior Carers switch to another employer the new stringent skills criteria, which effectively blocked job movers forcing hundreds to leave the UK, will be waived.

Bison UK has extensive links with Care Home employers throughout the UK.

Bison UK can not only provide advice on Immigration, Work Permits and Visas, but also arrange jobs and placements through their CSCI registered Recruitment and Employment Agency – www.recruitnurse.com.

In summary Senior Carers will have the following options:

Option 1, apply for an extension with your existing employer at the going rate of £7.02 per hour.

Option 2, find work with a new employer at the going rate of £7.02 per hour

In a further concession, in addition to the above two options, Senior Carers whose Work Permits were issued in 2003 or before can apply for an extension, with their existing employer. In this case, the skills criteria and minimum salary requirement (£7.02 an hour) pay will be waived.

Cynthia Barker, leading Immigration Adviser at Bison UK said:

“We congratulate all those who have supported the Senior Carer’s campaign and a special ‘thank you’ to the 2418 people who signed the ’Save our Carers’ Prime Minister’s Petition, set up by Immigration Matters last June see:  http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/SaveCarers/.

“We have been overwhelmed by the number of people calling at our office and all our advisers have been working flat out to find new jobs for our candidates.”

The care industry will welcome the change of heart on the issue, which was set to cause a major staffing crisis. Welcome relief also for the 20000 overseas care workers facing deportation and financial ruin.

Southern Cross alone, unable to increase salaries, will be forced to sack up to 1000 workers who until now had nowhere else to go.

Filipino and Indian Senior Carers have become a vital part of the care industry’s staffing needs in recent years.

Where can you get help with your Work Permit Renewal?

If you are affected by this announcement, you are invited to join Bison UK’s emergency 5 Day FREE ‘SENIOR CARER’ IMMIGRATION SURGERY;

Monday, 17 December 2007, 10-5pm

Tuesday, 18 December 2007, 10-5pm

Wednesday, 19 December 2007, 10-5pm

Thursday, 20 December 2007, 10-5pm

Friday, 21 December 2007, 10-5pm

No appointments required, just turn up for FREE CONSULTATION.

Cynthia Barker and her team have dedicated the entire week to Senior Carers

and their immigration problems in order to give them some piece of mind

before the Christmas season.

If you wish to set up a confirmed appointment, contact Bison UK on 020 8905 1822

Bison UK’s address:

Bison Management UK

3 Penta Court

Station Road

Borehamwood

Herts

WD6 1SL

U.K.

Tel: 020 8905 1822

Fax: 0870 429 2701

Email: cbarker@immigrationmatters.co.uk

Nearest Train Station: Elstree and Borehamwood Station

Penta Court Building is located opposite the train station

For immigration updates, see www.immigrationmatters.co.uk