Significant developments came into force on 6 April 2021 in the UK immigration and visa services, following the Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules published on 4 March 2021. A few additions in the health and care sector in the UK announced, which will enable South African citizens to have higher prospects in securing a job opportunity.
The UK has been offering many job opportunities to South African citizens building on a mutual benefit for many years now. There are almost 225,000 South African citizens working in the UK currently, which is likely to increase after the latest additions in the Shortage Occupations List.
South African citizens can apply through the Skilled Worker visa to enter and work in the UK after securing employment with a Home Office approved employer. The Home Office will evaluate the qualified professionals based on the new points-based system introduced in December 2020.
Read More – South Africans To Apply For A UK Visa
Here is the updated list of 8 new job roles in the health and medical care sector:
The Shortage Occupation List (SOL) is a feature of the existing Skilled Worker route. It lists occupations whether employers face a shortage of suitable labour, and it is sensible to fill those shortages with migrant workers.
The occupations on the list are given some special provisions (e.g. exempt from having to meet a higher salary threshold, lower visa fees) within the Immigration Rules designed to make it easier for employers to hire migrant workers in those areas of identified shortage.
The Government periodically commissions the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to recommend which occupations should be placed on the Shortage Occupation List; however, the ultimate decision regarding any changes remains with the Government.
The Shortage Occupation List includes many other categories of jobs for a Skilled Worker route. A comprehensive list is of the jobs can be found here.
The Skilled Worker Visa route allows an applicant to live in the United Kingdom while working in a job of the appropriate skill level with an approved employer.
The South Africans have been increasingly seeking opportunities in the UK to work, and the UK has been offering more opportunities to them in return. Recently, with eight new job roles adding to the already existing skilled occupation list, a significant gap is expected to get filled.
An applicant will need a minimum of 70 points to qualify for the Skilled Worker route as below.
The Skilled Worker Visa can be valid for up to 5 years. Before the expiring visa date, an applicant can apply to extend their visa.
It is also beneficial to note that once the overseas skilled worker has lived in the UK for a continuous period of 5 years, they could be eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK and eventually British citizenship.
An applicant can apply for the Skilled Worker visa up to 3 months before the day they are due to start work in the UK (as confirmed in the Certificate of Sponsorship).
The application form is available online on the gov. uk. Different forms are available depending on whether the applicant is applying from overseas or switching to the Skilled Worker Visa from within the UK.
After the online application has been submitted, the applicant must book an appointment at a UK Visa Application centre to prove their identity and provide relevant documents.
An applicant is expected to receive a decision about a Skilled Worker Visa within three weeks of confirming his identity if the application was submitted from overseas or within eight weeks if the application was submitted within the UK.
An applicant should consider all the cost associated with the Skilled Worker visa. These include:
The current applications fees are as follows:
The UK market is offering lucrative job opportunities like never before. The newly introduced Shortage Occupation jobs are set to fill the gaps in the health sector owing to the current world crisis. South African citizens can take this opportunity to move to the UK and become a contributing force to the world’s 5th economy and savour better lifestyle, work, stay and higher education opportunities for their dependants.