Sitemap

• About this site
• Ask Us A Question

Personal

Global Mobility

• What is the Global Business Mobility route?

• Who is the Global Business Mobility route aimed at?

• What is the Senior or Specialist Worker visa?

• How is the Senior or Specialist Worker visa different from the Intra-Company Transfer visa?

• Can I bring my family to the UK with me?

• How long can I have a Senior or Specialist Worker visa for?

• Can I settle/obtain ILR in the UK with a Senior or Specialist Worker visa?

• Do I have to be sponsored by a UK company for a Senior or Specialist Worker visa?

• How long do I have to have worked for my employer for to be transferred to the UK under a Senior or Specialist Worker visa?

• What is the minimum salary I have to earn for a Senior or Specialist Worker visa?

• Does my job need to meet a minimum skill level for a Senior or Specialist Worker visa?

• Do I need to provide evidence of maintenance funds?

• Do I need to prove my English language ability?

• How do I apply for a Senior or Specialist Worker visa?

• How much does it cost to apply for a Senior or Specialist Worker visa?

• How much is the Immigration Health Surcharge?

• What supporting documents do I need to provide with my application?

• Do I need to provide translations of my supporting documents for my visa application?

• Can I switch from a Senior or Specialist Worker visa to a Skilled Worker visa?

• How long will it take for my application to be considered?

• Services and pricing

• What is the Graduate Trainee visa?

• What are the key eligibility criteria for the Graduate Trainee visa?

• How long can I stay in the UK with this visa?

• What is the UK Expansion Worker visa?

• What are the key eligibility criteria for the UK Expansion Worker visa?

• What is the difference between the UK Expansion Worker visa and the Sole Representative visa?

• How long can I stay in the UK with this visa?

• What is the Service Supplier visa?

• What are the key eligibility criteria for the Service Supplier visa?

• How long can I stay in the UK with this visa?

• What is the Secondment Worker visa?

• What are the key eligibility criteria for the Secondment Worker visa?

• How long can I stay in the UK with this visa?

EU Settlement Scheme

• What happened on 1 January 2021?

• What is the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS)?

• Why is the date 30 June 2021 important?

• What if I didn’t apply under the EUSS by 30 June 2021?

• What is the difference between settled and pre-settled status?

• Can pre-settled status or settled status expire?

• Do holders of settled or pre-settled status need to update this when they move house or if they get married and change their name?

• Do Irish citizens have to apply under the EUSS?

• If eligible, should I apply for an Irish passport?

• What if I have permanent residence or indefinite leave to remain?

• Are British citizens affected by the UK leaving the EU?

• Can EEA nationals become British citizens?

• Can individuals still travel overseas after 1 January 2021 for business?

• Can my employer ask me for evidence that I have applied under the EUSS?

• If I cannot evidence my settled or pre-settled status after Brexit, can my job offer be retracted?

Skilled Worker visas (for individuals)

• What is the Skilled Worker visa?

• What is the Skilled Worker visa?

• What is the Health and Care Worker visa?

• What are the benefits of the visa?

• Who qualifies?

• Can I be sponsored for a visa as a Care Assistant?

• How long will these changes be in place for?

• What is the minimum salary for the role of a Care Assistant?

• What are the benefits of these roles being on the Shortage Occupation List?

• How to apply

• What supporting documents do I need to provide with my application?

• Services and pricing options

• Do we still have to complete the Resident Labour Market Test?

• How is the Skilled Worker visa different from the Tier 2 General visa?

• How do I get sponsored for a Skilled Worker visa?

• Do I need a job offer to be eligible for this visa?

• What is the minimum salary I have to earn for a Skilled Worker visa?

• Does my job need to meet a minimum skill level for a Skilled Worker visa?

• What is the Shortage Occupation List?

• What do I do if my employer doesn’t have a sponsor licence?

• How do I apply for a Skilled Worker visa?

• How much does it cost to apply for a Skilled Worker visa?

• Can I claim a refund for the Immigration Health Surcharge?

• What supporting documents do I need to provide with my application for a Skilled Worker visa?

• Can I bring my family to the UK with me?

• Do I need to leave the UK to apply for a Skilled Worker visa?

• Can I switch from a Student visa to a Skilled Worker visa?

• How long can I have a Skilled Worker visa for?

• Can I extend my Skilled Worker visa?

• Can I settle/obtain ILR in the UK with a Skilled Worker visa?

• Can I change employers on a Skilled Worker visa?

• Can I move to a new role with my current sponsor on a Skilled Worker visa?

• My visa has been curtailed what do I do?

Global Talent

• Overseas tech talent – the Global Talent (Tech Nation) visa

• Case Study

• Case Study

• Case Study

• Introduction to the Global Talent visa for research professionals

• What is the Tech Nation Global Talent visa?

• Services and pricing options

• What is the Global Talent visa?

• How do I apply for a Global Talent visa?

• Do I need a job offer to be eligible for this visa?

• Can I start my own business with the Global Talent visa?

• How much does it cost to apply for the Global Talent visa?

• Can I bring my family to the UK with me?

• How long can I have the Global Talent visa for?

• Does the Global Talent visa lead to settlement/ILR in the UK?

• What is the fast-track pathway for prestigious prize winners?

• How do I get endorsed for the Global Talent visa?

• How do I apply for endorsement?

• Can my endorsement application be fast tracked?

• How long until I receive a decision on my endorsement application?

• What supporting documents do I submit with my endorsement application?

• Should I apply under Exceptional Promise or Exceptional Talent?

• My endorsement application was refused, what can I do?

• What is the eligibility criteria for endorsement?

• What do I do once I have been endorsed?

• Digital technology applicants

• Arts and culture applicants

• What is the eligibility criteria for arts and culture applicants for the Global Talent visa?

• What is the eligibility criteria for fashion applicants for the Global Talent visa?

• What is the eligibility criteria for architecture applicants for the Global Talent visa?

• What is the eligibility criteria for film and television applicants for the Global Talent visa?

• Science, engineering, humanities and medicine applicants – eligibility criteria

• How do I make my Global Talent visa application?

• Can I switch to the Global Talent visa?

• Do I have to submit my passport with my visa application?

• How long will it take to decide my visa application?

• Do I need to prove my knowledge of English as part of my visa application?

• What supporting documents do I need to provide with my Global Talent visa application?

Settlement and British Citizenship

• Introduction

• Absences

• English language requirement

• Employer letter

• Timing of the application

• Processing times

• Summary

• I have ILR, can I apply for British Citizenship?

• What are the residency requirements for citizenship applications?

• What are the other eligibility requirements?

• Can I hold dual citizenship?

• When should I apply for British Citizenship?

• How much does it cost to apply?

• How do I apply?

• How long will it take to get a decision?

• What is a citizenship ceremony?

• What happens after I get my certificate of citizenship?

• Case Study

• Case Study

• Services and pricing options

• How do I settle in the UK?

• What is Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)?

• Who can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain?

• Which visa types lead to Indefinite Leave to Remain ?

• Can I settle in the UK with a Skilled Worker visa?

• What is 10 year long residence ILR?

• Can my family members apply for ILR?

• How much does an application for ILR cost?

• How long will it take for my ILR application to be decided?

• Can I lose my ILR?

• What is the eligibility criteria for ILR?

• What is the continuous residence requirement for ILR?

• I have been in the UK for 5 years, can I apply for ILR?

• Which visas allow me to apply for ILR in 2 or 3 years?

• How quickly can I apply for ILR?

• What is the English language requirement for ILR?

• What is the Life in the UK test?

• How do I apply for ILR?

• What supporting documents do I need to apply for ILR?

Investor Visa

• Services and pricing

• What are the eligibility criteria to extend my Investor visa?

• What is the Investor visa?

• How long can I have a Investor visa for?

• Can I bring my family to the UK with me?

• Can my children study in the UK as dependants of a Tier 1 Investor visa holder?

• Once I have an Investor visa, can I travel and live outside the UK?

• How long does it take to settle/obtain ILR in the UK with an Investor visa?

• To apply for ILR under the Investor visa, how many days absence from the UK can I have?

• Once I have obtained ILR, do I need to maintain my investment in the UK?

• Can ILR be revoked if I live outside the UK?

• Can I apply for citizenship if I have an Investor visa?

• Are there any changes expected to the Tier 1 Investor visa category?

Entrepreneurs

• How do I make my Innovator Founder visa application?

• How long will it take to decide my Innovator Founder visa application?

• What supporting documents do I need to provide with my Innovator Founder visa application?

• Can I switch to the Innovator Founder Visa from my current visa?

• What is the Innovator visa and is it still open to new applicants?

• Am I eligible for the Innovator Founder visa?

• How do I apply for the Innovator Founder visa?

• How much do I have to invest to apply for the Innovator Founder visa?

• Can I be employed whilst holding the Innovator Founder visa?

• How much does it cost to apply for the Innovator Founder visa?

• Can I bring my family with me?

• How long can I have the Innovator Founder visa for?

• Does the Innovator Founder lead to settlement/ ILR in the UK?

• How do I get endorsed for the Innovator Founder visa?

• What criteria do I need to meet if I want to extend my Innovator Founder visa or switch to the Innovator Founder visa if I was previously endorsed and held an Innovator, Start-up or Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) visa?

• Which endorsing body is most appropriate for my application?

• What happens once I have been endorsed?

• Can I extend my Start-Up visa

• Is the Start-up visa open to new applicants?

• Can I apply for ILR in the UK if I already have a Start-Up visa?

• What is the Innovator visa and is it still open to new applicants?

• How long can I have the Innovator visa for?

• Does the Innovator visa lead to settlement/ILR in the UK?

• Is the Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) Visa scheme still open to new applicants?

• Can I extend my Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) Visa?

• Can I apply for settlement/ILR in the UK if I already have a Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) Visa?

• Is the Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) Visa scheme still open to new applicants?

• Can I switch to a Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) Visa from my current visa?

• Can I extend my Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) Visa?

• Can I apply for settlement ILR in the UK if I already have a Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) Visa?

Students

• Overview

• Who is the visa for?

• Which Universities are eligible for the High Potential Individual visa?

• What can you do once granted the visa?

• How long after graduation must you apply?

• How much does it cost?

• What is the English language requirement?

• How long can you stay once granted the visa?

• Who can switch to a High Potential Individual visa?

• Do I need a visa to study in the UK?

• Do I need to be sponsored for a study visa?

• How do I know if my education provider can sponsor me for a student visa?

• What is a “CAS” (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies)?

• Can I use a CAS more than once?

• How long before my course begins can I apply for my visa?

• Can I obtain a CAS to extend my studies in the UK?

• Can I obtain a CAS to start a new course of study in the UK?

• Can I apply for ILR/to settle in the UK with a student visa?

• Can I bring my family to the UK with me under my student visa?

• What is the Tier 4 (General) student visa route?

• What is the Student visa route?

• Who does the Student visa route apply to?

• Can I extend my Student visa?

• How is the Student visa route different to the old Tier 4 (General) Student visa route?

• I am an EU citizen, do I need a visa to study in the UK?

• What is the financial requirement for the Student visa route?

• What is the English language requirement for the Student visa route?

• What is the Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS)?

• Under the Student visa route, how long am I able to study for in the UK?

• Can I switch from my current UK visa to the Student visa?

• What documents do I need to provide with my Student visa application?

• Can I be employed under a student visa?

• Can I work full time with a student visa?

• What counts as inside and outside ‘term-time’?

• What information do I need to give my employer to prove that I can work?

• When is the earliest date I can apply for a Student visa?

• What are my visa options after my course of study ends?

• What is the Graduate Route?

• When did the Graduate Route open?

• What are the eligibility requirements for the Graduate Route?

• What is a ‘relevant qualification’?

• Is there an English language or maintenance requirement?

• How much will it cost to apply?

• Can I apply for the Graduate Route from overseas?

• Do I need to complete the course in the UK?

• What if I have been unable to enter the UK due to Coronavirus?

• Do I need a job offer to apply for the Graduate Route?

• What are the Conditions of Grant for this visa?

• How long can I stay in the UK under the Graduate Route?

• What about dependants?

• Is there a maintenance requirement for Dependants?

• Will time spent in the UK under the Graduate route lead to ILR/settlement?

• How long will my application take to be decided?

• When should I make my application?

• What if I cannot apply online?

• How will I receive my decision?

Scale-up Visas

• What is the scale-up visa?

• What is a Scale-up business?

• Do I need to have a sponsor?

• What do I need to do to be granted the scale-up visa?

• How much does it cost?

• How long is a Scale-up visa granted for?

• Does time spent in the UK on a Scale-up visa count towards settlement/ILR in the UK?

• What can I do under a Scale-up visa?

• Will I be employed or self-employed when I have the Scale-up visa?

• Is there anything I am not allowed to do under a Scale-up visa?

• Can my family join me under this route?

Youth Mobility Visa

• What is the Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) Visa?

• Can I apply under the YMS from any country?

• What is the YMS ballot?

• How does the YMS ballot work?

• What about if I am from India or Iceland?

• Are there any additional eligibility requirements I need to meet if I am from India?

• Do I need a sponsor before I apply?

• Is there an age limit to apply under the YMS visa?

• If I apply when I am 30 will I still be granted a 24 month visa?

• Do I have to have a job before I apply under the YMS?

• Are there any financial requirements associated with the YMS visa?

• Is there an application fee?

• Do I have to pay the healthcare surcharge?

• Will I need to provide any documents to support my application?

• How long can I stay in the UK under a YMS visa?

• Can I enter the UK at any time?

• What does the YMS visa permit me to do?

• Is there anything I can’t do with a YMS visa?

Partner Visas

• Services and pricing options

• What is the accommodation requirement?

• Do I need to prove my knowledge of English as part of my visa application?

• What is the financial requirement for this visa?

• Can I work and/or study whilst holding this visa?

• How long can I have this visa for?

• If my spouse and I had an arranged marriage, will this prevent us from obtaining a spousal visa?

• What supporting documents do I need to provide with my partner visa application?

• How much does it cost to apply for this visa?

• How long will it take to decide my visa application?

• Can I switch to this visa from my current visa?

• Can I extend this visa?

• Does this visa lead to settlement/ILR in the UK?

• Who is this route for?

• Do I need to be married/ be in a civil partnership with my partner to apply for this type of visa?

• I am married/in a civil partnership – what requirements do I need to meet?

• I am a fiancé/proposed civil partner – what requirements do I need to meet?

• We have been living together for 2 years – what requirements do I need to meet?

• What is the difference between the fiancé/proposed civil partner visa and the marriage visitor visa?

• I have been married/in a civil partnership before – will this affect my application?

• What happens if I divorce or separate from my partner when I have my visa?

Business

The UK Immigration System

• What does the current UK immigration system look like?

• What did the old immigration system look like?

• What changed on 1 January 2021 regarding Brexit and EEA staff?

• What are the main differences between the old and new immigration systems?

• Under the old system, there were restrictions on being able to switch from one visa to another, is this still the case?

• Recruiting from overseas – an immigration law update

• Immigration support for the NHS

Sponsor licences

• Renewing the Undefined CoS Annual Allocation

• Resident Labour Market Test scrapped – but what now?

• What is the requirement for ‘key personnel’?

• How to apply for a sponsor licence

• Case Study

• Services and pricing options

• About the Sponsorship Management Service

• Skilled Worker Sponsor Management training course

• Right to Work training

• Immigration compliance audit

• What is a sponsor licence?

• Which employees do I need a sponsor licence for?

• Who are the ‘Key Personnel’?

• What is the Sponsor Management System (SMS)?

• How do I apply for a sponsor licence?

• What supporting documents do need I for a sponsor licence application?

• How much is the sponsor licence application fee?

• What is the average timeframe to gain sponsorship?

• Can this process be expedited?

• What is the Resident Labour Market Test (RLMT)?

• Do we have to carry out a full recruitment process?

• What is the Shortage Occupation List?

• Is it relevant if the job an employer wants to sponsor for is on the shortage occupation list?

• Has there been any changes to the jobs which are on the shortage occupation list?

• What is the process that an employer has to go through at present to recruit and sponsor an EEA or a non-EEA worker for a visa?

• What is a SOC Code?

• What is a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)?

• What are Defined and Undefined CoS?

• How do I get a CoS?

• What happens when a CoS has been issued?

Sponsor duties

• Compliance with sponsor licence duties

• About the Sponsorship Management Service

• Skilled Worker Sponsor Management training course

• Right to Work training

• Immigration compliance audit

• What are my ongoing duties as a sponsor?

• How is sponsor compliance monitored?

• What happens during a UKVI compliance visit?

• What are the consequences for non-compliance?

• What happens if the sponsor licence is suspended?

• What happens if the licence is downgraded?

• What happens if the sponsor licence is revoked?

• What happens if a visa is curtailed?

Skilled Worker (for businesses)

• What is the Skilled Worker visa?

• What is the Health and Care Worker visa?

• What are the benefits of the visa?

• Who qualifies?

• Can we recruit Care Assistants under the Health and Care Worker Visa?

• How long will these changes be in place for?

• What are the benefits of these roles being on the Shortage Occupation List?

• Is the Immigration Skills Charge payable for sponsorship of a Care Assistant?

• How to apply

• What other steps do I need to take if I am a sponsor?

• Services and pricing options

• About the Sponsorship Management Service

• Skilled Worker Sponsor Management training course

• Right to Work training

• Immigration compliance audit

• What is the Skilled Worker visa?

• How is the Skilled Worker visa different from the Tier 2 General visa?

• Who does the Skilled Worker visa apply to?

• Can my company sponsor an employee for a Skilled Worker visa?

• What type of Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) is needed for sponsorship under a Skilled Worker visa?

• How do I get a CoS?

• My employee has asked that the company ‘certifies their maintenance’, what does this mean?

• How much does it cost to apply for a Skilled Worker visa?

• How much is the Immigration Skills Charge?

• What is the minimum salary for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship?

• What counts as salary for these purposes?

• Are there any circumstances in which you can pay a lower salary than £26,200?

• Can employers pay a lower salary if they are sponsoring a student?

• What is the minimum skill level for a Skilled Worker sponsored job?

• What is the Shortage Occupation List?

• Can we sponsor a student for a Skilled Worker Visa?

• What is a ‘new entrant’?

• How long should we sponsor a Skilled Worker for?

• Can we promote a sponsored worker?

• Can my sponsored worker move to a new employer?

• What happens when we dismiss a sponsored worker or their employment ends?

• Can the visa holder claim a refund for the Immigration Health Surcharge?

Right to work checks and civil penalties

• IDSP practical tips and key considerations

• What is a Right to Work Check?

• Who should carry out a Right to Work Check?

• Who should I carry out a Right to Work Check for?

• Why do I need to carry out Right to Work checks?

• What is the ‘statutory excuse’?

• Can I outsource the Right to Work Check?

• Do I have to carry out a Right to Work Check for contractors and the self-employed?

• Should I check the Right to Work of apprentices?

• When should I carry out a Right to Work Check?

• How to carry out an online Right to Work Check

• Can I check someone’s appearance over video call?

• Do you still need to check the passport or BRP if you have carried out an Online Right to Work Check?

• When can I conduct a Home Office Online Right to Work Check?

• What is an Identity Service Provider (IDSP)?

• Does the employer still have to carry out the right to work check if using an IDSP?

• Can an IDSP conduct a right to work check using an expired passport?

• What if the employee does not wish to prove their identity using an IDSP?

• How do I find a suitable IDSP?

• How do I carry out a manual right to work check?

• How to establish a statutory excuse for right to work checks

• What is the Employer Checking Service?

• Right to work – recent developments

• Right to work checks – three top tips

• What’s the difference between settled and pre-settled status?

• Once an individual has pre-settled status or settled status, does it have an expiry date?

• Can we ask employees to provide evidence of their settled or pre-settled status, or evidence that they have applied under the EU Settlement Scheme?

• How do we know if an EU national has the right to work?

• What right to work check should be done for EU nationals employed by us on or before 31 December 2020?

• What right to work check should be done for EU nationals recruited between 1 January and 30 June 2021?

• What right to work check should be done for EU nationals whose employment commenced on or after 1 July 2021?

• Do employers need to carry out retrospective checks on EU employees?

• What happens if an employer finds out that an employee didn’t apply under the Scheme or had their application refused?

• How do we check EU nationals’ right to work without discriminating?

• Can UK residence cards be used to evidence right to work after 30 June 2021?

• What should employers do if there are EU employees whose right to work hasn’t been checked in the past?

• Do I need to check the right to work of Irish nationals?

• What if employees didn’t apply under the EU Settlement Scheme by 30 June 2021?

• How to carry out a right to work check online

• How to carry out a paper-based right to work check

• Right to work checks post Brexit

• Right to work checks for students

• Case Study

• Right to Work training

• What documents can I accept for a Right to Work Check?

• Can I carry out a manual right to work check using a candidate’s Biometric Residence Permit?

• Can a driving licence be used to evidence Right to Work?

• Can an expired passport be used to evidence Right to Work?

• What evidence do I need to retain of the online Right to Work Check?

• Can adjusted checks put in place during the Covid-19 pandemic still be used to check right to work?

• Will we need to carry out retrospective checks if the Covid-19 temporary measures have been used?

• How long do I have to retain evidence of a Right to Work Check?

• Do I need to repeat the Right to Work Check?

• What additional evidence do I need to retain for students?

• Who is an illegal worker?

• What do I do if someone cannot prove their Right to Work?

• What are the risks of non-compliance?

• How much is the illegal working civil penalty?

• Can I challenge or appeal a civil penalty?

Global Mobility

• What is the Global Business Mobility route?

• Who is the Global Business Mobility route aimed at?

• What is the Senior or Specialist Worker visa?

• How is the Senior or Specialist Worker visa different from the Intra-Company Transfer visa?

• How long can a worker stay in the UK for on a Senior or Specialist Worker visa?

• How much does it cost to apply for a Senior or Specialist Worker visa?

• Which is better – Skilled Worker visa or a Senior or Specialist Worker visa?

• Do we need a different sponsor licence for Senior or Specialist Worker visas?

• Is there a minimum salary payable for sponsorship under the Senior or Specialist Worker visa?

• Are allowances and bonuses included in the minimum salary?

• Does the job need to meet a minimum skill level for a Senior or Specialist Worker visa?

• How long does the worker have to have been employed overseas before they can be transferred to the UK?

• What type of Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) is needed for sponsorship under a Senior or Specialist Worker visa?

• Services and pricing

• Sponsorship Management Service

• Senior or Specialist Worker Sponsor Management training course

• Right to Work training

• Immigration Compliance Audit

• Graduate Trainee

• UK Expansion Worker

• Service Supplier

• Secondment Worker

• Visa and legal services