UK public interest immigration services
We provide immigration assistance, advice, and support to UK employers in the healthcare and public services sector. From applications to compliance, we’ve got the experience and expertise to meet your immigration needs.
Contact a consultantWe have over 20 years of experience working in public interest immigration and are proud to assist some of the UK’s largest NHS trusts.
In addition to assisting with immigration issues and employee visa applications we also conduct regular training on immigration issues for HR staff. We can also assist with maintaining your sponsor licence duties by keeping all the necessary information updated on the Sponsor Management System (SMS) by acting as Level 1 and 2 users.
By outsourcing this responsibility to us, you can ensure this essential duty is taken care of so that your license remains active and compliant.
How we can help:
Visa applications
Immigration training
Sponsor licence applications
Immigration compliance
Sponsor licence maintenance
Exceptional immigration services
We assist with visa sponsorship matters and related immigration and citizenship applications for:
- Doctors (including General Practitioners and related staff)
- Dentists
- Nurses
- Paramedics
- Healthcare Assistants
- Physiotherapists
- Pharmacists
- Optometrists and Opticians
- Social Workers
- Prison Officers and Prison Service staff
- Local Authority workers
- Employees of the Armed Forces of the UK
- Employees of any UK Police Force
- Employees of any UK Government Department
- All professionals involved in areas supplementary to medicine not mentioned above
- Employees of Registered Charities (e.g., Barnardo’s)
Speak to public interest immigration experts
Supporting public interest employers
We provide the following range of services to support employers:
- Manage and maintain the existing sponsorship license on behalf of UK employers as well as assign and request undefined and defined Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS).
- Assist UK employers who wish to acquire a UK sponsor license for the first time.
- Assist with submitting in-country or out of country visa applications for sponsored workers and their family members. This includes applications for Health and Care visas, indefinite leave to remain (ILR) and later applications for British nationality.
- Provide right to work training for employers and give regular updates of any potential changes with the Home Office.
- Audit existing HR records to ensure compliance with Home Office requirements for sponsors.
The UK Health and Care Worker visa
The UK work visa specifically for healthcare professionals is known as the Health and Care Worker visa. This visa provides a skilled worker route for many jobs, including nurses, paramedics, and various technicians and therapists.
The Health and Care Worker visa is valid for five years with the option to extend it. After five years, you may be able to apply to settle permanently in the UK. You will need to apply for a status known as indefinite leave to remain (ILR). This gives you the right to live, work and study in the UK for as long as you like and apply for some benefits if you’re eligible. After a year of holding ILR, you may be eligible for UK citizenship.
You must score 70 points on the points-based immigration system, 50 of those points are mandatory and the other 20 points can be made up from what is known as tradeable points.
How points are allocated for the Health and Care Worker visa:
| Characteristic | Fixed/Tradeable | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Job offer by approved sponsor | Fixed | 20 |
| Job at the appropriate skill level (RQF 3 and above) | Fixed | 20 |
| English at the required level | Fixed | 20 |
| Salary criteria – one can be chosen from the following: | ||
| Salary of £20,960 but in the listed health/education job that meets the relevant national pay scale* | Tradeable | 20 |
| Salary of £20,960 (minimum) to £23,580 | Tradeable | 0 |
| Salary of £23,581 to £26,199 | Tradeable | 10 |
| Salary of £26,200 or above | Tradeable | 20 |
| Other Criteria - one can be chosen from the following: | ||
| Job in a shortage occupation | Tradeable | 20 |
| Education qualification: PhD in a subject relevant to the job | Tradeable | 10 |
| Education qualification: PhD in a STEM subject relevant to the job | Tradeable | 20 |
| Applicant is a new entrant to the job market | Tradeable | 20 |
Our Public Interest immigration service is regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA) in the UK to give immigration advice and has specialised in immigration for NHS staff since 1994.
Partner with Sable International today
Let us handle your NHS Trust’s immigration needs with expert support, faster processing and cost savings.
Contact us today to learn how we can help your Trust streamline immigration and focus on patient care.
UK immigration law experts
- Accredited consultants
Registered with IAA in the UK (Number: F2001-00004). - Successful results
Confirmed as the largest-by-volume UK immigration consultant in the world. - Long established
Advising on UK immigration for over 25 years.