Nanny's application for domestic worker visa - who should apply and pay?

[mushychutney]

Hi,

Have been searching MN threads on this particular issue but haven't found one that addresses this exactly so here goes: I'm looking to hire a nanny who is currently over here on a domestic worker visa (she came to the UK with another family last year). It expires in a couple of months and she's asked for us to sponsor her extension of stay.

According to the Home Office site, she is required to inform them of her change of employment and it sounds like she should be in charge of the application and payment as well. Has anyone done this before or have any suggestions on whether we should be applying and paying for this or it's her responsibility?

Looks like application must come from her, accompanied by letter from you, but that doesn't mean you can't reimburse her for payment, so I'd say there's no right or wrong. Her point of view could be that if you want me, I need a visa therefore you must pay. YOur point of view could be, you want to stay here, we are enabling you to do that, you pay.

Go halves?

Thanks flowerybeanbag, we were considering halving it. Thing is, we don't necessarily have to hire her as we can get another similarly qualified nanny but in case we do, don't want to fall out over a few hundred quid as she'll be taking care of our ds

I'm surprised they are allowed to change... given that the visa is designed for those who already work for their employer in another country. Though that website link says that they can... so, I would say that if your to-be-nanny wants to work for you, they will have to foot all costs of arranging a visa. Sorry, I feel we should not be encouraging immigration, when there are British people out of work.

Oh dear Nannynick, that would include me then! Please don't make me go home until George Bush is out of office!

nannynick I was very surprised that it was possible to change employers as well, seems to go against the principle of that visa and of the work permit system in general really.

I work with phillipino domestic wokrers and nannies daily and they can change the families they work for - just as long as a letter is sent to the home office, and they oay yearly for their renewal.

They make excellent nannies and houskeepers for the right families and as a bristich ex nanny myself they are much more flexible in their role and you would be very hard pushed to find a british person to take on their role and do a it as well as they do.