Over 32,000 Sign Providers Unite Petition for Immigration Visa Reform
Providers Unite, which represents care and support providers nationwide, has delivered a substantial petition to the Chancellor containing more than 32,000 signatures, voicing serious concerns about recently announced changes to immigration policy affecting healthcare workers.
The Treasury has confirmed receipt of the correspondence, according to the advocacy group.
Posting on LinkedIn, Katrina Hall, one of Providers Unite‘s founders, issued a thank you to supporters:
“We’ve now had confirmation that our letter to the Chancellor has been successfully received. The final signature count stands at 32,378k in just 12 days.
“Care providers. Care workers. Associations. MPs. Nurses. Doctors. Businesses-One letter! One message! One united sector.
“That is an incredible turnout, and it shows exactly what happens when people come together and refuse to stay quiet.
“A massive thank you to every single person who signed, shared, encouraged others, and backed this from start to finish. This wasn’t one person’s effort it was a collective push, and you should all be proud of what we’ve achieved.
“I’ll keep you updated as soon as we hear more. For now, take a moment to recognise the power of this movement because this is what unity looks like.”
Extended Settlement Timeline Proposed
Under new government proposals detailed in ‘A Fairer Pathway to Settlement’, workers arriving on Health and Care Worker visas in lower-paid roles would face a significantly extended timeline before becoming eligible for indefinite leave to remain. The waiting period would increase from five years to 15 years, marking a substantial policy shift.
The changes form part of wider immigration reforms that include elevated salary requirements and new restrictions on overseas recruitment for care positions, with tighter controls set to take effect from July 2025 onwards.
Sector Voices Concerns
The organisation has maintained a critical stance on the proposals since their announcement, arguing they could create substantial challenges for workforce planning across the social care sector.
During a seminar held on Friday 12 December, care home operators and organisations from across the UK gathered to discuss pressing issues affecting the industry. The session, hosted by founders Nadra Ahmed and Katrina Hall and attended by Peter from Carer Editor, saw participants sharing their perspectives on operational challenges, with international recruitment restrictions featuring prominently in discussions.
The gathering highlighted the sector’s concerns about maintaining adequate staffing levels as new visa rules take effect, with providers expressing uncertainty about how to address potential workforce gaps.
The government has stated the reforms aim to create a more sustainable immigration system, though industry representatives continue to press for reconsideration of measures they believe could impact care delivery.
