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Home Office extends bereavement scheme to NHS support staff and social care workers

News story

Home Office extends bereavement scheme to NHS support staff and social care workers

The bereavement scheme has been extended to the families and dependants of NHS support staff and social care workers who die as a result of contracting coronavirus (COVID-19).

The Home Office is extending the offer of indefinite leave to remain, free of charge, to the families and dependants of NHS support staff and social care workers who die as result of contracting coronavirus.

The offer of indefinite leave to remain will be effective immediately and retrospectively.

Home Secretary Priti Patel said:

Every death in this crisis is a tragedy, and sadly some NHS support staff and social care workers have made the ultimate sacrifice in the pursuit of saving the lives of others.

When I announced the introduction of the bereavement scheme in April, I said we would continue to work across ..

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NHS frontline workers visas extended so they can focus on fighting coronavirus

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NHS frontline workers visas extended so they can focus on fighting coronavirus

Doctors, nurses and paramedics with visas due to expire before 1 October 2020 will have them automatically extended for one year.

As part of the national effort to combat coronavirus, doctors, nurses and paramedics will automatically have their visas extended, free of charge, for one year.

The extension, announced today (31 March) by the Home Secretary Priti Patel, will apply to around 2,800 migrant doctors, nurses and paramedics, employed by the NHS whose visa is due to expire before 1 October.

The extension will also apply to their family members, demonstrating how valued overseas NHS staff are to the UK.

By giving them the peace of mind that they do not need to apply for a visa extension, this will allow those at the frontline – working around the clock in hospitals to treat the most seriously ..

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Visas extended for those currently unable to return home due to COVID-19

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Visas extended for those currently unable to return home due to COVID-19

Leave extended to 31 May for individuals who are currently unable to return home at the end of their visa.

Visa nationals who cannot return home due to the COVID-19 pandemic will be able to extend their visa.

The extension, announced today (24 March) by the Home Secretary Priti Patel, will apply to anyone whose leave expired after the 24 January and who cannot leave the country because of travel restrictions or self-isolation.

This will last until 31 May but will be kept under regular review in case further extensions are needed.

A dedicated COVID-19 immigration team has been set up within UKVI to make the process as straightforward as possible. Anyone in this situation just needs to contact this team, via this email address CIH@homeoffice.gov.uk, to let them know their visa has expired and they will be issue..

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Landmark Immigration Bill to end free movement introduced to Parliament

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Landmark Immigration Bill to end free movement introduced to Parliament

The bill will end free movement and give the government full control of UK borders for the first time in four decades.

The Immigration Bill will be introduced to the House of Commons today (Thursday 5 March) ending the European Union’s rules on free movement.

It represents an important milestone in paving the way for the new UK points-based immigration system.
It will be introduced by the Minister for Future Borders and Immigration, Kevin Foster, and marks an historic moment in the country’s history, following the UK’s departure from the EU on 31 January 2020.

Minister for Future Borders and Immigration Kevin Foster said:

Today we’ve taken the momentous first step to end free movement and take back control of our borders, delivering on the people’s priorities.

Our firmer and fairer points-based immigration s..

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New Director General appointed to HMPO and UKVI

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New Director General appointed to HMPO and UKVI

Abi Tierney has been appointed as the new Director General of Her Majesty’s Passport Office (HMPO) and UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).

Abi Tierney, the former Business Development Director for Serco Health, has today been announced as the lead for HMPO and UKVI.

In this role, Ms.Tierney will be responsible for leading a workforce of around 10,000 UKVI employees and 3,500 HMPO employees, based in locations around the UK and overseas.

UKVI manages approximately 4 million visa applications a year from those who wish to come to the UK to visit, study or work, as well as thousands of decisions on asylum and resettlement.

HMPO issues approximately 7 million passports and 1 million birth, adoption, death, civil partnership and marriage certificates each year. It also receives approximately 1.8 million life-event registrations from partners in the local registratio..

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Home Secretary announces new UK points-based immigration system

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Home Secretary announces new UK points-based immigration system

New points-based immigration system will open up the UK to the brightest and the best from around the world.

Home Secretary Priti Patel will today (Wednesday 19 February) launch a new points-based immigration system which will open up the UK to the brightest and the best from around the world.

The new system, which takes effect from 1 January 2021, will end free movement, reassert control of our borders and restore public trust.

It will assign points for specific skills, qualifications, salaries or professions and visas will only be awarded to those who gain enough points.

The government has listened to the clear message from the 2016 referendum and the 2019 General Election and will end the reliance on cheap, low-skilled labour coming into the country.

Overall levels of migration will be reduced, with tighter security and a ..

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Windrush Compensation Scheme extended by 2 years

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Windrush Compensation Scheme extended by 2 years

Changes are being made to the Windrush Compensation Scheme to make it more flexible and to keep it open for longer.

The Windrush Compensation Scheme has been extended to give people more time to make a claim for compensation, the Home Secretary announced today (Thursday 6 February).

Extending the scheme by another two years is one of several measures the Home Secretary is bringing forward as part of the ongoing work to right the wrongs experienced by the Windrush generation.

To make the scheme more flexible to those who have suffered losses, the mitigation policy – the criteria by which financial settlements are made – is also being amended to take a wider range of circumstances into account.

The change means people will no longer only be expected to show they took immediate steps to resolve their immigration status.

For example, if someone lost their jo..

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More than 3 million applications to the EU Settlement Scheme

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More than 3 million applications to the EU Settlement Scheme

The milestone was reached less than a year after the scheme was fully launched to the public, with more than 2.7 million already granted status.

Home Secretary Priti Patel has today (6 February 2020) announced that there have been more than 3 million applications to the EU Settlement Scheme, according to the latest internal figures.

The EU Settlement Scheme is designed to make it straightforward for EU citizens and their family members to continue living in the UK after 30 June 2021.

To apply they only need to complete 3 key steps – prove their identity, show that they live in the UK and declare any criminal convictions.

Home Secretary Priti Patel said:

I’m delighted that there have already been more than 3 million applications to the hugely successful EU Settlement Scheme.

It’s the biggest scheme of its kind in British history ..

Press release

Boost for UK science with unlimited visa offer to world's brightest and best

Press release

Boost for UK science with unlimited visa offer to world's brightest and best

Top scientists to be given fast-tracked entry into the UK.

Top scientists and researchers to be given fast tracked entry to the UK
No cap on who can benefit
£300 million made available for research into advanced mathematics

A new, fast-track visa scheme to attract the world’s top scientists, researchers and mathematicians will open on 20 February.

This follows a commitment by the Prime Minister last summer to put science, research and innovation on the top of the government’s agenda.

The bespoke Global Talent route will have no cap on the number of people able to come to the UK, demonstrating the government’s commitment to supporting top talent.

The Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, said:

The UK has a proud history of scientific discovery, but to lead the field and face the challenge..