Working in the UK

[wizzywizard]

Hi All,

As most people are aware now immigration in the UK are not extending work permits for Senior Carers if you have been in the UK less than 5 years. As you imagine this is causing a lot of problems.

What is the criteria now for extending work permits?
As the e-mail I got from my wife's employer, she works in a care home but is not effected by this, I can't seem to find any information apart from this memo.

I read somewhere that you have to have a qualification of NVQ Level 3 or higher to be able to apply for a work permit as a Senior carer.

I have a lot of filipino friends who are in this situation. Is there any advice that anyone can give me..

Please help,

Gordy

[Mrs Daddy]

Boss keith are you giving advices for working permit?thought your a spouse and fiancee visa specialist

[KeithD]

From what I hear you do need NVQ Level 3, but that is for all, no matter which country you were born in.

[nparvus1202]

According to this site, http://www.immigrationmatters.co.uk/this_edition.html , there is no mention about NVQ3. It's just that “the level of expertise to perform the duties of Senior Carer in the Independent Care Sector does not now meet the criteria for issuing a work permit for this position.”

[walesrob]

According to this site, http://www.immigrationmatters.co.uk/this_edition.html , there is no mention about NVQ3. It's just that “the level of expertise to perform the duties of Senior Carer in the Independent Care Sector does not now meet the criteria for issuing a work permit for this position.”

The whole issue of NVQ in the Care Home sector is a shambles quite frankly. I used to do admin at a Care Home, and annual inspections would insist one year that all care staff have NVQ2, then the next year, that would drop to 50%. Senior Carers are required to have NVQ3, but this can be at the discretion of the appropriate Authority. For example when the Care Home I was at was sold, the new owner and Manager didn't have any NVQ AT ALL, so the Inspection Authority allowed 1 year for them to gain NVQ3.

No wonder UK Immigration seem a bit unsure themselves.

[KeithD]

I know folk who have gone for jobs in care homes, and are now told NVQ3 only. Same with everything these days, so many laws & rules no one has a clue.

[nparvus1202]

Also I think that any 4 year work permit holder will have difficulty acquiring a NVQ 3, is it? Or even though they hold the NVQ 3, immigration still will not renew a four year work permit. Maybe this is the reason why they extend the ILR from 4 to 5 years so people with 4 year work permit will need to apply for renewal for a fee and then be denied? More money for the government but less work permit.

[joebloggs]

Also I think that any 4 year work permit holder will have difficulty acquiring a NVQ 3, is it? Or even though they hold the NVQ 3, immigration still will not renew a four year work permit. Maybe this is the reason why they extend the ILR from 4 to 5 years so people with 4 year work permit will need to apply for renewal for a fee and then be denied? More money for the government but less work permit.

yes i agree with you , another turn of the immigration screw, from 4 to 5 years, raising the spouse visa age from 18 to 21 which might happen soon, also recent immigration guidelines published by the home office, people who leave the country on an exisiting UK visa which subsequently expired while overseas, and come back with a new visa are said to have a broken period on their 10 years stay. I'm pretty sure a lot of students have done that as they go home while on holiday and renew visas there.

the gov cannot stop europeans coming into the UK, but they can make it harder for non europeans..

[wizzywizard]

thanks for your advice. Still a little bit unsure. Does this mean if you have less than 5 years that you will not be able to get a extension on your visa stay here?

my friend came here when your can apply for residence after 4 years then immigration changed the rules to 5 years. It does seem a bit unfair.

Gordy