Chair urges Government to address visa delays for seasonal agricultural workers

Committee chair urges Government to resolve visa delays that could undermine workers pilot scheme

Metadata
Provider: 
UK ParliamentUK Parliament
URL: 
http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/scottish-affairs-committee/news-parliament-2017/future-of-scottish-agriculture-post-brexit-evidence-17-191/http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/scottish-affairs-committee/news-parliament-2017/future-of-scottish-agriculture-post-brexit-evidence-17-191/
Retrieved on: 
Friday, April 26, 2019
Information
Tags: 
Money, Economy, Human migration, Travel visa, Finance, Visa Inc.
Summary
Key Points: 
  • The Chair of the Scottish Affairs Committee has written to the Home Office and the FCO after hearing evidence that agricultural seasonal workers might not reach Scottish farms in time for harvest season due to a back-log of delayed visa applications.
  • In an evidence session with the operators of the Governments seasonal agricultural workers pilot scheme held on Tuesday, the Scottish Affairs Committee heard that there was a risk that Scottish agricultural produce might be left to rot as workers from Ukraine and Moldova face heavily delayed visa processing.
  • The operators stated that this delay was partially due to workers finding it difficult to book appointments at the UK visa offices, with the visa office in Moldova only open two days a week.
  • The letter also expresses concern about the up-front costs of the visa and administration, which could be acting as a deterrent to some workers.
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