Sir Sadiq Khan has urged the Government to pause the introduction of new visa rules that could result in between 200 and 300 Transport for London staff being deported.
The mayor said many TfL staff, who had joined the organisation from abroad on graduate visas, had been “left in limbo” and unsure whether they could remain in the UK.
It came after he was told that some staff are unable to sleep and fearful of being evicted within weeks. One woman who is pregnant fears being forced out of the UK before her baby is born.
Many of the TfL staff affected work as customer service assistants in Tube stations and had expected to transition onto skilled worker visas.
But their job security was thrown into jeopardy when the Government, with just three weeks’ notice in July, increased the salary threshold for obtaining a skilled worker visa to £41,700 and removed key transport roles, including station assistant and rail travel assistant, from the “skilled worker” list.
Sir Sadiq, responding to questions from Green party assembly member Caroline Russell at Mayor’s Question Time on Thursday, said his deputy mayor Seb Dance had written to the immigration minister Mike Tapp to request a pause in the introduction of the new rules.
The mayor said: “Our experience is that a number of TfL staff have been left in limbo, unclear about whether they can stay in the UK and continue the important work they do for [TfL].
“It doesn’t just affect [TfL]. It affects hospitality, it affects social care, it affects construction. Some of these jobs are crucial jobs. At the very least, we are asking for immediate transitional protections.”
Many TfL station staff began their employment on the London Underground on two-year graduate visa schemes believing they could move into skilled worker positions.
Last month the RMT and TSSA Tube unions mounted a protest outside the Home Office.
Ms Russell, leader of the Green party at City Hall, said 200 to 300 TfL staff were at risk.
She had heard directly from 10 TfL staff facing deportation. “They are now at risk of losing their jobs and their regular visa status,” she said.
“One of them told me he is married, he can’t sleep, he doesn’t know what to tell his wife,” Ms Russell told the mayor. “He left everything to come here, and he feels that politics has taken everything from him.
“These are people who have done everything right. They have applied to TfL for a graduate visa, they have studied, they have done a second degree, they have paid their tuition fees, they have paid their NHS fees, they have joined TfL and they are now left in this terrible limbo.”
Speaking afterwards, Ms Russell said: “It's encouraging to see the mayor take a firm stand in lobbying the Government and defending TfL workers on graduate visas who have been left in limbo unable to transition to skilled worker visas following the sudden legislative changes in July.
“I’ve heard directly from TfL workers who feel abandoned by a system they trusted. One worker told me he can’t sleep at night; he doesn’t know what to tell his wife and family.
“Another, expecting her first child, should be filled with joy, but instead she’s terrified she’ll be forced to leave the country before her baby is even born.
“These are workers who took jobs with TfL on graduate visas, with every reason to believe they could transition to a skilled worker visa and continue to build their lives in London.
“They’ve spent thousands of pounds to be here, worked hard to gain qualifications, invested everything and now they’re being told they have no place here and to just look at a website for advice as their dreams of a future with TfL are shattered.
“It’s a complete betrayal of the promise they were given and I’ll keep pushing TfL to provide more compassionate support and advice for workers who have been so seriously let down by the Government's abrupt immigration changes.”
RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey said: “We welcome the mayor’s support and his call for the Government to pause these unnecessary visa changes.
"Transport workers who were hired under clear visa arrangements are facing needless uncertainty which should have been avoided.
"These RMT members are people doing essential front-line jobs and helping to keep London moving every day.
"The Government needs to halt these changes, protect those already in post, and work with the transport sector on a solution that supports staff and services alike.”
The Home Office said Mr Tapp had received the deputy mayor’s letter and would respond in due course.
