Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many dependants of care worker and senior care worker Skilled Worker visa holders continually employed in the UK since before 11 March 2024 have been refused extensions to their leave to remain; and what guidance has her Department issued to caseworkers on handling such applications.

The information requested is not centrally held and could only be collected and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.

The immigration rules and caseworker guidance set out how visa applications should be handled. Dependents of care workers (SOC code 6135) or senior care workers (SOC code 6136) can apply to join a Skilled Worker, if the lead applicant has continuously had permission as a Skilled Worker since before 11 March 2024 and this is to extend their dependent visa.

Further information can be found in Appendix Skilled worker of the Immigration Rules at SW32A.2 (a)(i). Information for caseworkers can be found on page 8 of the dependent caseworker guidance: Dependent family members in work routes.