Petition received: 17 September 2007

Principal Petitioner: Rosario Mercedes Misajon

Number of Petitioners: 50

Petition to oppose the retrospective changes to the work permit regulations for foreign nurses and other care staff

Please find enclosed a petition to oppose the retrospective changes to the work permit regulations and the right to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain. We believe that this is a matter of national concern as so many foreign nurses and other care staff work in the NHS and nursing homes in Wales. It would be a great help to our case if the National Assembly could make representations to the Home Office on this matter.

Petition to Save our Overseas Senior Carers (SOS)

We the undersigned request the Petitions Committee of the National Assembly for Wales to take into consideration the following:

With thousands of Work Permit holders and their families facing the threat of removal from the UK, something must be done to ‘Save Our Overseas Senior Carers’. As reported by Immigration Matters, the Border and Immigration Agency (BIA) are refusing virtually all Senior Carer Work Permit applications. The tough line taken by the BIA is affecting new and existing overseas care workers already in the UK renewing their permits. In 2006 the rules were changed on permanent residency (ILR) extending the time required to qualify from 4 to 5 years. Care homes are also expecting the worst, bracing themselves for the news that their overseas staff will be thrown out like yesterdays newspapers. Is this a fair way to treat people?

The below signatures are from Qualified Nurses, Senior Carers, Carers, Service Users and relatives of Service Users who will be greatly affected if the new ruling from the home office is allowed to continue. We urge you to assist us in our fight to be able to renew out work permits and apply for Indefinite Leave to remain in the United Kingdom.