On 7 March 2006 the Department of Health announced that the Home
Office would be making changes to the immigration rules for
Postgraduate Doctors and Dentists
The changes aim to amend the current specific category within
the immigration rules which relate to Postgraduate Doctors and
Dentists. In future, the only doctors and dentists who will be
covered by the existing (“permit free”) arrangements are those who
have completed their medical degree in the UK and have been
appointed to a 2 year Foundation Programme.
The Home Office has also announced its longer term policy on
managing migration, based on a points based system for people
coming to the UK to work, study and train. The Home Office aims to
introduce the new system in stages to replace the current
arrangements and simplify the system for employers and
migrants.
Extract from letter to the College form Lord Layard, received on
21 June 2006:
"Any doctors and dentists who are currently in the UK with
immigration leave as a Postgraduate Doctor or Dentist can continue
to use this leave, as they would have done before the changes were
made. This means that they can continue to train in the UK, both in
their current post and any subsequent posts, while their leave
remains valid. However, they will only be granted an extension of
stay if they meet the new requirements."
The
Home Office website contains details of the changes.
Latest advice from
CoPMED.