Visa extensions welcomed
Public services union UNISON has responded positively to a government decision that health and care workers from overseas – and their families – whose visas are due to expire before 1 October will now have them automatically extended for free.
The announcement also stated that the family members and dependants of healthcare workers who have died from Covid-19 will be offered indefinite leave to remain.
UNISON had campaigned for the move. Its head of health, Sara Gorton, commented: “We’ll continue to work with allies to push for changes to the Home Office approach to immigration rules for the future, but this extension will save additional worry for thousands of staff currently involved in the Covid-19 response.”
UNISON had also publicised the plight of families of staff from overseas who have died from coronavirus.
“We are really pleased to see that these families have been granted immediate and indefinite leave to remain – nothing can bring back their loved ones, but at least these families will be spared potential deportation,” Gorton added.