Immigration Rules Changes 19 February 2024: Care Workers & Ukraine Visa Schemes

The Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules HC 556 was published by the Home Office today, 19 February 2024, focusing primarily on care workers and the Ukraine visa schemes.

Changes affecting care workers

Following publication of its Five-Point Immigration Plan in December 2023, the Home Office has confirmed that the proposed changes affecting care workers will take effect from 11 March 2024.

Under the new rules, sponsored care workers will no longer be permitted to bring their dependants to the UK.

In addition, care providers in England applying to sponsor migrant workers will first need to be registered with the industry regulator, the Care Quality Commission (CQC). This requirement will not apply retrospectively; care workers already in the route will be able to extend their permission with the same sponsor, and settle, without the CQC regulation requirement applying to them. They will also be able to bring dependants, including in cases where they change jobs to another sponsor who meets the CQC regulation requirement.

Changes affecting Ukrainian visa schemes

The UK’s three existing Ukraine visa schemes are effectively being rationalised and extended.

A new Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme (UPE) is being launched to enable Ukrainians to apply for a further 18 months’ permission to stay in the UK on expiry of their current visa.

Applications for the existing the Ukraine Family Scheme (UFS) closed on 19 February 2024. Existing applicants are unaffected.

The Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme (HFU) is also being amended to become the single route for all Ukrainians seeking to come to the UK. New visas issued under the route will be reduced from the current 3 years of leave to only 18 months.

Several grounds for refusal under the Immigration Rules that had previously been omitted for Ukrainians will also now be applied.

Children born in the UK after 18 March 2022 to individuals with permission under the Ukraine Scheme (including the now-closed Family Scheme) are now eligible to apply for the Ukraine Extension Scheme beyond its closure date.

 
Last updated: 19 February 2024