Visa scheme for HGV drivers and poultry workers launched

The Home Office has published a short statement of changes to the Immigration Rules. It is to implement the emergency temporary visa schemes for HGV drivers and poultry workers and therefore comes into force at 4pm today. Employers in those sectors will be able to request workers from four named recruitment agencies.

The visas will be granted under the existing Seasonal Worker route. Appendix Seasonal Worker is therefore being amended. In addition to the existing eligibility for “edible horticulture” workers, Seasonal Worker will be open to:

• the poultry production sector
• haulage driving involving transportation of food goods

The application deadlines for these visa routes are:

If the Certificate of Sponsorship confirms that the role is in the poultry production sector, the date of application must be 15 November 2021 or earlier.

If the Certificate of Sponsorship confirms that the role is in haulage driving involving transportation of food goods, the date of application must be 1 December 2021 or earlier.