The UK government has announced new visa regulations aimed at care providers, skilled workers, and students, which are set to take effect in April 2024. Under these measures, employers in the care sector will be required to prioritize hiring foreign workers who are already residing in the UK before seeking new recruits from abroad.

This change, outlined in Parliament, is part of the government's strategy to diminish reliance on international recruitment and address the high levels of immigration into Britain.

Starting on April 9, care providers will need to demonstrate that they have made efforts to hire individuals already in the UK who require new visa sponsorship, according to the Home Office.

The government posits that this approach will support the integration of foreign care workers already in the country and contribute to the stability of the social care workforce.

Additionally, the minimum salary threshold for Skilled Worker visas is set to increase from £23,200 to £25,000 per annum or £12.82 per hour, reflecting the recent rise in the national minimum wage.

Stephen Kinnock, Minister of State for Care, emphasized the importance of international care workers in the sector, stating that their contributions are vital in providing support to vulnerable populations across the UK.

In a parallel initiative aimed at the student sector, the government is imposing stricter regulations on the short-term student visa route.

New powers will enable caseworkers to reject applications suspected of being non-genuine, amidst concerns that some individuals may abuse the system, intending to remain in the UK beyond their study period.

The Home Office acknowledged an upward trend in the misuse of this visa category by individuals claiming to study English for six to eleven months.

From July 2022 to December 2024, the UK government rescinded more than 470 sponsorship licenses in the care industry, reflecting ongoing efforts to regulate overseas recruitment practices.

Provisional data indicates a significant decline in visa applications, with 547,000 received between April and December 2024, a drop of 42% compared to the same timeframe in 2023. Notably, applications for health and care worker visas plummeted by 79%, from 299,800 to 63,800 in the corresponding periods.

In a related incident, a British tourist, Rebecca Burke, aged 28, faced detainment by US authorities for ten days due to visa issues while attempting to cross from Canada into Washington state.

Burke, a graphic artist from Monmouthshire, was travelling on a four-month backpacking trip and had planned to stay with a host family in exchange for domestic chores.

However, upon her arrival, she was informed that she needed a working visa, not a tourist visa.

Burke was subsequently transferred to a detention facility in Washington state, where she has been held under challenging conditions without legal representation.

Her father has expressed concern about her well-being and the lack of clarity regarding her release.

The UK Foreign Office is currently providing assistance to Burke and is in contact with US authorities regarding her situation.

The local MP for Monmouthshire, Catherine Fookes, stated that her office is actively pursuing urgent measures to facilitate Burke's return home, emphasizing the distress experienced by her family during this ordeal.