After Brexit and the pandemic, there was an acute and severe shortage of workers in this country for the service industry and healthcare system.  

Under pressure from Business people and the public for healthcare workers, the previous government relaxed the rules. It granted Work Visas to Hundreds and thousands of workers in these two categories.

Contrary to the public perception and rhetoric of the anti-immigration lobby in this country, the UK has a chronic problem with the shortage of skilled workers.

Statistically, Britain requires skilled workers in every field.

This country’s life-saving organisation, NHS, cannot survive for one day without migrants.

The main reason for this shortage is that the British government has failed for many decades to invest in the training of young people.

Other Industrial countries like Germany and Japan do not have this kind of Problem.

They have various schemes of apprenticeship and training for their young people.

They are not dishing out Degrees in thousands every year like in the UK.

Our Degree holders roam around after graduation, not knowing what to do with their Degrees. However, due to this unusual and urgent demand for skilled workers in this country.

As usual, some unscrupulous elements and Predators in our society took advantage of the relaxed policy of ‘Sponsorship License Scheme’ for Employers to bring Foreign Workers into the country.

As a result, many immigrants paid £20,000 to £ 30,000 for work Permits from those countries for which there is already a lot of pressure on Immigration.

When these Permit holders with proper visas reach the UK, many of them can’t find their Employers and the workplace because they are non-existent.

Some were given jobs, but

Their employers told them they were not required to do the job a few months later. As a Sponsor, they informed the Home Office that they no longer need their employee’s services.

The Home Office, instead of asking the Employers for any reason or checking their credentials, how did they manage to obtain the

‘Sponsorship Licence’. In the very first place.

The Home Office sends letters to these helpless people telling them their visas have been curtailed or cancelled.

If the visa is curtailed, they are given 60 Days to find another Employer or leave the country.  They are asked to leave the country immediately if the visa is cancelled. In extreme cases, some Permit holders and visa holders have been declared illegal Entrants. It means their entry into the country is not legal.

It can happen for various reasons, for example, if someone has not reported to their Employer or in case a student did not report to the College or University.

As a result, some people with families and children have become destitute in this country.

They have no Jobs and are neither eligible nor entitled to any Benefits.

In my opinion, these people are victims of organised crime and exploitation. It is true that partially these people are also responsible for paying their life savings to these people.

They have sold everything in their country to migrate to the UK, and now they have become destitute in this country.

We have to raise this issue with the government.

I am sure the Labour government will consider it a Humanitarian Problem and will find some solution.

In the meantime, I will strongly urge these people to take legal advice if their visa is valid to keep their 3C (Continuity of leave)

Intact. If they have become Overstayers, they must still seek legal guidance to determine their options.

The above blog is written by our expert Mr. Dost Malik, a leading Senior Consultant and Advisor Immigration and Nationality Law Specialist. Connect with him at dmalik@faranitaylor.com / +44 (0) 207 242 1666.