NHS worker: Can I get Skilled Worker Visa within UK? Do I need to go back to my home country for the application ?

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Ans: Yes, as a NHS worker going to be, you can get a Skilled Worker Visa without returning to your home country at this moment. It is possible due to the Covid pandemic. 

 I met several people who had successfully got their visa within the country. 

I tried to call UKVI for this, two times. Both times, the answer is a NO!

This post aims to help IMG. Please be aware that it could have changes subject to the latest policy. You should always refer to the UKVI website which stated that " You must leave the UK and apply for a skilled worker visa from abroad if you fall into certain categories" 


What do you have to do? 

Step 1: email ukvinhsteam@homeoffice.gov.uk to ask for permission for the application within the country 

         *  I attached a copy of the sample letter below.  You are supposed to have a cover letter related to your own situation. 

        * Usually they reply within the same day. 


Step 2:  Then, you can apply for the visa as a standard pathway and attached it along with the email reply from the UKVI NHS team (from step 1). https://visas-immigration.service.gov.uk/product/skilled-worker


update October 2023: check the difference between a health care worker visa versus a skilled worker visa. 


Here is the sample letter


Respected Sir/ Madam,

RE: TURNING ONTO SKILLED WORKER VISA

I am writing to inquire about commencing employment and turning onto a skilled worker visa, I would very much appreciate your kind help and guidance. My GMC number is XXXXXXX.

Name: XXX

Date of birth: X

Nationality: X

Passport number: X

Name of Employer: XXX

Expected work start date: 1st March 2022

Certificate of sponsorship (COS): XXX (if you have it, if not you can just omit it)

 I came to the UK on XX-XX-XX  as a (visitor /Standard Visitor Visa) to give my PLAB 2 exam which I have completed and have passed. I have also received my GMC registration.

I have a job offer from XYZ  NHS FOUNDATION TRUST at XYZ Hospital to start from XX/XX/2022 as Trust Doctor (Clinical Fellow) in Emergency Medicine and they have asked me to start as soon as subject to Visa approval. I have attached the Official employment offer letter from the Trust.

I am a fully qualified doctor with a license to practice in the United Kingdom, and my goal is to be of service to the NHS during this pandemic, especially when the Emergency Department which severely affected.

My current Visit visa expires on XXXX 2022. The job is scheduled to start in JAN, 2022. I have attached my passport and Visa for your reference.

Traveling back to (country of origin) and applying for Skilled Worker Visa would add to the delay because of the current present quarantine rules and travel restrictions in XYZ. The travel would increase the health risk of me getting infected as at this moment XYZ recorded the highest number of covid daily infections presently.

Would it be possible for me to turn into Skilled Worker Visa while I am in the UK? If so, would it be possible to provide confirmation of the same so that I could include it in my visa application?

 

I have attached pdf copies of the following documents:

1.      My passports – the first pages and the entry on XXXXX 2021

2.      Employment Letter from XYZ Trust

 

I hope the aforementioned documents will be sufficient. However, if you need any other documents from please do not hesitate to contact me.


Thank you.


Yours Sincerely,



*****

                                                                                                                Date*** January 2022


This was what the UKVI NHS team replied to me. 




All the best for my dear IMG. I wish you to have a smooth path in this journey. 

I hope this helps dear IMG to reduce your financial burden and to avoid traveling in this Covid pandemic, apart from serving the NHS. 


I give credit to Dr. Madan and Dr Abhijith for sharing the information. 


Here is the table of contents for other topics: https://helenngjourney.blogspot.com/2022/02/table-of-contents.html



Comments

  1. AnonymousJune 10, 2022 at 4:58 PM

    Would you be willing to share your cover letter that you used for your TIER2 visa application in these circumstances?

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousJune 16, 2022 at 12:57 AM

    Dear Helen, thank you for the post. I also mailed UKVI NHS now. I also got the same reply. Do we get same reply for all? Is that ok? Thank you

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousJune 20, 2022 at 3:24 AM

    I got the same reply, I don't know if this means I can switch

    ReplyDelete

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