The UK government is under scrutiny over how it monitors skilled worker visa overstays, after a report revealed serious gaps in tracking whether foreign workers leave the country when their visas expire. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) said the Home Office had failed to assess exit data since the skilled worker visa route was introduced in 2020.
Since its launch, over 1.18 million people have applied to enter the UK through this route. However, the Home Office cannot confirm how many have stayed past their visa terms. The PAC called this a basic oversight and said the department showed little curiosity about how the system was functioning.
The skilled worker route, introduced after Brexit to replace the Tier 2 visa, expanded in 2022 to address shortages in healthcare and social care. That expansion, driven by the former Conservative government, contributed to record net migration numbers. Despite this, the Home Office still relies on airline passenger data to verify departures and has not analysed the data since 2020. The report urged the department to clarify how it plans to track when people leave the country.
The PAC also cited growing evidence of abuse in the system. Many visa holders face exploitative conditions, long hours, and debt bondage. The committee accused the Home Office of reacting slowly and ineffectively to such reports.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper acknowledged the report’s findings. She admitted the system has been too weak and that reform will take time. Speaking to the BBC, Cooper said biometric tests at workplaces will help verify whether people live and work in the UK legally. She added that the government plans to go “substantially further” in addressing the issue.
Home Office Permanent Secretary Dame Antonia Romeo also admitted that overstaying is a real problem that the department is actively working to fix. However, experts remain concerned about the lack of transparency in how the Home Office helps skilled migrants transition to new jobs. Dr. Madeleine Sumption from the Migration Observatory at Oxford said current procedures don’t appear to be effective and predicted the problem will persist.
A Home Office spokesperson defended recent changes, pointing to tougher visa rules and enforcement. They said the former government’s relaxed visa controls led to nearly one million arrivals in 2023. The spokesperson added that the department has suspended a record number of skilled worker sponsor licenses, raised skill thresholds, and banned overseas recruitment in the care sector.
The government’s new Immigration Whitepaper aims to lower net migration, increase skill levels, and restore public trust. However, until the Home Office can track and respond to skilled worker visa overstays effectively, concerns about enforcement and exploitation will likely continue.
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