UK Immigration update - November 2010

Earlier this year, The Home Office introduced a temporary cap for work visas for non-EU nationals.

From April 2011, this limit will be replaced by permanent measures.

The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) published its report regarding the annual limit on immigration through Tiers 1 and 2 of the points-based system.

It is anticipated that the government will cut the number of migrant workers coming to Britain from outside Europe by 13% and 25%.

You can download the MAC's report here

Nurses are under the Tier 2 (Skilled Workers) category.
It is already quite hard for Overseas Nurses to find employment in the UK.

If you are a bit lost about the current immigration process for Overseas Nurses, please see below.

Immigration and Information about the Certificate of Sponsorship

Currently a Certificate of Sponsorship (equivalent to the old Work Permit)is only being issued to nursing personnel who will be working in Theatres, Anaesthetics, Recovery, ICU and NICU.

Certificate of Sponsorship can only be applied for by the Hospital once a job has been offered and accepted.

Certificate of Sponsorship is issued for a maximum of three years.

When approved by the Home Office, a sponsorship number is forwarded to the applicant who must then file an Out of Country Application with the British Embassy in their home country.
This must be done within 3 months from date of issue.

Certificate of Sponsorship may be obtained for nurses not on the skills shortage list ONLY if hospitals can prove that they have unsuccessfully tried to recruit within the UK and EU.

Please remember: all nurses wanting to work in the UK must be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)
Details Here

Here is also a very good article I found in the Guardian today: Article

To view all our current jobs and get help with your job search, please visit: www.nursefindersuk.com