How to Extend a Health Worker Visa
When you are a busy healthcare professional you may need immigration law help with extending your UK health and care worker visa. Our immigration solicitors answer your frequently asked questions on how to extend your health worker visa.
UK Online and London-Based Immigration Solicitors
For advice on immigration law call the expert London immigration lawyers at OTS Solicitors on 0203 959 9123 or contact us online.
Can you extend a health worker visa?
The formal name of the health worker visa is the health and care worker visa and it falls within the skilled worker visa route under the UK points based immigration system .
You can apply to extend or renew a health worker visa as many times as you wish. There is no limit on extension applications for this visa.
How long can you extend a health worker visa?
You can apply to extend a health worker visa for up to 5 years. At the end of your visa, you can make another renewal application but it is best to speak to an immigration solicitor to see if you meet the eligibility criteria to apply for indefinite leave to remain so you can settle in the UK.
If you obtain indefinite leave to remain you will not be subject to UK immigration controls. That means you no longer require a sponsoring employer to sponsor your employment in the UK, giving you a wider choice of employers and job roles.
Health worker visa expiring – what should I do?
If your health worker visa is going to expire soon it is vital that you apply to extend the visa, or apply to switch visas, or apply for indefinite leave to remain (if you meet the ILR residence requirement) before your current health worker visa expires. That’s because if you overstay your visa, it may affect whether or not you can successfully get another visa or settle in the UK.
If you have left it to the last minute to renew your health and care worker visa, call our specialist immigration solicitors on 0203 959 9123 or contact us online.
What should I do if I am changing job and I am in the UK on a health worker visa?
If you are changing your sponsoring employer as you have got a new job then you do not need to apply for a new health worker visa. All you need to do is to update your current visa and then remember to apply to extend your health and care worker visa before it expires.
Am I eligible to apply to extend my health worker visa?
You can apply to extend your health worker visa if:
- You are still working for the same sponsoring employer as you were when you were allocated a certificate of sponsorship and applied for the visa
- You are still doing the same job role with the same standard occupational classification code
- Your sponsoring employer has allocated you a new certificate of sponsorship that will cover your visa renewal period
- Your employer is paying you at least the minimum salary threshold for the job they are sponsoring you to do
What is the minimum salary threshold for a health worker visa extension application?
The minimum salary threshold for a health worker visa extension application is the same as your first application for a health and care worker visa.
The exact minimum salary threshold depends on the nature of your healthcare employment and the type of work visa you have. The minimum salary threshold rules say:
- If you are on a health and care worker visa the minimum salary threshold is the higher of a salary of at least £25,600 gross per year, £10.10 per hour, or the Home Office issued going rate for the standard occupational classification code allocated to your job
- If you were allocated a certificate of sponsorship before 24 November 2016, and you renew your health worker visa before 24 May 2023, the minimum salary threshold is the higher of a salary of £20,800 gross per year or the going rate for your job
- If you were allocated a certificate of sponsorship after 24 November 2016, and you apply to renew your visa before 1 December 2026, the minimum salary threshold is the higher of a salary of at least £25,600 gross per year, £10.10 per hour, or the going rate for your job
What is the lowest salary for sponsorship on a health worker extension visa?
Although the minimum salary threshold is normally set at £25,600 gross per year, your salary can reduce to a minimum of £20,480 gross a year or between 70% and 90% of the going rate for the job (whichever is higher) provided:
- Your job is on the shortage occupation list or
- You are under the age of 26 or you are a recent graduate or you are in professional training
- You have a postdoctoral position in science or you have a PhD in science, technology, engineering, or maths
If you are not sure if your salary meets the minimum salary threshold for the health worker visa extension (for example, because you are now over 26 or you have stopped your training) then call our immigration solicitors on 0203 959 9123 or contact us online.
How to apply for a health worker visa extension
To apply for a health worker visa extension, you need to take the following steps before your current health and care worker visa expires:
- Get a new certificate of sponsorship from your sponsoring employer
- Apply for the health and care worker visa and provide your supporting paperwork
- Pay the visa extension application fee
- Sort out your biometrics
In addition, if you are accompanied by family, they will need to apply for an extension to their dependant visa.
If your health and care worker visa ends whilst your extension application is pending with the Home Office then you can continue to work for your sponsoring employer until your application is processed.
What is the health worker visa extension application fee?
The extension application fee is £247 for a visa of up to 3 years. The fee rises to £479 if the extension application is for more than 3 years.
Do you need to pay the immigration health surcharge when you extend a health worker visa?
You don’t need to pay the immigration health surcharge when you apply to extend your health and care worker visa.
How can the immigration lawyers at OTS Solicitors help with your health worker visa extension application?
Our specialist individual immigration solicitors can help you with:
- Health and care worker visa extension applications
- Advice on alternate visa options, such as a spouse visa
- Advice on UK settlement and an indefinite leave to remain application
- Dependant visa applications
- Advice if your health and care worker visa has expired or your extension application has been refused by the Home Office
UK Online and London Based Immigration Solicitors
For advice on immigration law call the immigration lawyers at OTS Solicitors on 0203 959 9123 or contact us online.
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