Shocking visa loophole exposed despite crackdown – ‘It is an abuse’ | Politics | News

Ministers have been warned that despite pressure, migrants are still bringing “shocking” numbers of family members with them to the UK.

The outrage erupted after 12 Cameroonians successfully applied for 180 family members to join them in the UK by March.

And 257 Ghanaian healthcare workers brought 2,131 “dependents” to the UK in the same 12 months.

Under the Conservatives, the Home Office banned care workers from bringing family members with them.

However, the new strict rules do not apply to those already in the UK.

And Kemi Badenoch’s party has promised that care workers already living in the country will be banned from bringing their families to the UK.

Approximately 1,029 skilled worker visas were issued to Pakistanis who brought 6,155 family members. This equates to six dependents for every employee.

Meanwhile, 230 Nigerian workers sponsored 1,114 family members.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: “These shocking figures show too many family members, including those of people working in kebab shops and vape shops, are being allowed into the UK.

“The number of dependents is unacceptably high, with the burden of supporting them often falling on British taxpayers.

“Employee visas should not lead to thousands more family members entering the country, it is an abuse of the system.

“Too many people entered the UK on social care visas, and the previous Conservative government was right to end this. But today’s revelations show that those already here on social care visas are still bringing in too many dependents. This needs to be stopped urgently.

“Social care workers who are already here should not be able to get new visas for new dependents. We have seen hundreds of thousands of dependent care workers arriving here, more than the actual number of care workers, and this needs to stop urgently.”

Under Labour’s plan, migrants will be told to wait at least 10 years before applying for settlement rights.

Foreign nationals who arrived during the so-called “Boris wave” face a 10 to 15-year wait to apply for indefinite leave to remain.

And immigrants could be banned from receiving benefits unless they are British citizens.

Under Labour’s new proposals, those applying for indefinite leave to remain after 10 years must have no criminal record, speak A-level English and have no debts.

But Home Affairs Minister Shabana Mahmood is under pressure to soften her proposals.

Left-wing MPs, unions and health groups want the Home Office to exempt immigrants already in the UK from the new rules.

The Home Office said: “We have taken significant steps to reduce the number of dependents joining those working in the UK, which have contributed to an 82% reduction in overall net migration in just three years.

“This includes restricting dependents from all occupations below degree level, increasing language requirements and ending the recruitment of care workers overseas.

“With the introduction of these reforms, visa numbers for foreign workers have fallen by 50% from their peak in 2023, and we will double the path to settlement from five to 10 years, ensuring it is earned through contribution and integration.”