LS Legal News Bulletin
NHS Visa
Tuesday 10th December 2019
As general elections are approaching soon, all the political parties are in battle to secure votes. As part of the Conservatives manifesto, they have announced they will introduce a new "NHS Visa" which will allow overseas doctors and nurses to come and work in the United Kingdom.
Surprisingly the visa fee will only cost £464. The overseas doctors and nurses applying under this route will also be able to receive a quick decision through fast-tracked system, which means that they will know the outcome of their visa within the two weeks.
The advantage provided to overseas doctors and nurses under this category is that they will be able to repay the Immigration Health Surcharge in instalments through their salary. It shows that the government is thinking positively to provide relaxed rules for overseas NHS workers which could possibly allow exemption from the Immigration Health Surcharge for these Applicants.
Taken as a whole, it seems like the government is thinking to establish encouraged immigration system as we have heard from the Home Secretary Priti Patel that the new NHS visa route is "part of our plan for an Australian-style, points-based immigration system that allows us to control numbers while remaining open to vital professions like nurses".
It shows that the government has serious plans for the UK Immigration System although, we are uncertain whether these plans are to increase or decrease immigration to the United Kingdom.
