IMMIGRATION MATTERS

By Charles Kelly Immigration Adviser & Director of Overseas Consultancy Services and Co Author of “How 2 Come to the UK to Live Work Study or Visit”

Renewing a Work Permit or Visa is not a Formality

Renewing or extending a Work Permit and Leave to Remain should be straightforward, but be warned, treating the process in a casual manner can lead to casualties.

Hundreds of nursing homes have employed overseas staff through specialist recruitment agencies, which arranges the work permit and visa as part of the service. For instance, Bison Management UK (www.recruitnurse.com Tel. 0044 (0)208 905 1822) supplies nurses and carers on a two year contact and arranges the permit for the same period. Before the end of the two year period the work permit and Leave to Remain must be extended if employer is retaining the worker. A large proportion of Bison’s staff choose to remain with the employer.

Most employers return to the agency’s legal team to assist with the work permit extension, however, many choose to submit the application themselves. The forms (WP1X) are available on the Home Office website (www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk) and some assume that extending a work permit is a “rubber stamp” job. Nothing could be further from the truth and you may be asked to submit almost as much documentary evidence as you did for the original application. You also need to download an FLR form to extend their Leave to Remain and evidence of earnings will be required to ensure they are complying with their visa conditions. The Home Office charges £153 for the Work Permit and £335.00 for the FLR.

Bison Management has a special promotional price at the moment and charges just £250 plus VAT to extend a work permit, including dependants.

Treat applications with care, and if in doubt take legal advice. I meet so many workers whose employer has failed to extend their work permit. They are left with no permit or visa and are often forced to return to their country to avoid illegally staying in the UK. Some are even willing to cover their own legal costs if they can find an employer.

We are currently dealing with a group of Adaptation Nurses and Senior Carers who were accepted by a nursing home group, who subsequently cancelled the job order, leaving the candidates in a difficult position. If any employers are willing to employ them, there will be no fees or Work Permit charges. Interested? Please email us.

If you should have any questions concerning any of the above issues please email Charles Kelly Info@overseasconsultancy.com or call 0870 458 0417