Business Immigration
The UK immigration system places significant responsibilities on businesses that recruit and employ workers from overseas. Our specialist business immigration solicitors advise employers on all aspects of business immigration, from obtaining a sponsor licence and sponsoring individual workers to managing ongoing compliance with Home Office requirements. We work with businesses of all sizes and focus on giving practical advice that reflects the way the business actually operates. Whether you are applying for a sponsor licence for the first time, recruiting a particular employee from overseas or managing an established sponsor licence, we can guide you through the process and help identify and address potential issues before they become problems.
Sponsor Licence Applications and Ongoing Compliance
A UK business wishing to employ a worker under a sponsored immigration route will generally need to hold an appropriate sponsor licence from the Home Office. We advise businesses throughout the sponsor licence application process, including assessing whether the organisation is eligible and suitable to become a sponsor, identifying the appropriate immigration routes, advising on the documents required and assisting with the preparation and submission of the application.
Obtaining a sponsor licence is only the beginning of an employer’s responsibilities. Licensed sponsors are subject to ongoing duties relating to matters including record keeping, reporting, monitoring sponsored workers and notifying the Home Office of certain changes.
We advise businesses on sponsor licence compliance, including maintaining compliant systems and their day-to-day sponsor duties. We can carry out reviews of sponsor records and procedures, advise on issues identified internally and assist businesses in preparing for a Home Office compliance visit. We also advise on the outcome of a compliance visit, and can assist businesses facing suspension, downgrading or revocation of their sponsor licence. Where appropriate, we can also advise on challenging adverse sponsor licence decisions, including where a sponsor licence has been suspended or revoked.
Skilled Worker Sponsorship
The Skilled Worker route allows licensed employers to sponsor eligible overseas workers to work in the UK. Our business immigration solicitors advise employers on whether a proposed role and worker meet the requirements for sponsorship, including the applicable occupation and salary requirements. We can assist with assigning Certificates of Sponsorship, preparing Skilled Worker visa applications and advising on issues that arise when a sponsored worker changes role, salary or employment. We can also advise businesses that are considering sponsoring an existing employee or recruiting an individual who is currently outside the UK.
Global Business Mobility and Other Work Routes
The immigration system provides a number of routes for businesses and individuals with international operations, specialist skills or particular recruitment needs. We advise on the Global Business Mobility visa routes, including Senior or Specialist Worker, Graduate Trainee, UK Expansion Worker, Service Supplier and Secondment Worker, as well as the Scale-up route and other sponsored work routes where appropriate. We also advise on relevant unsponsored routes, including the High Potential Individual and Innovator Founder visa routes. We can help businesses and individuals identify the most suitable immigration route for their circumstances, including where a business is seeking to transfer personnel to the UK, establish or expand a UK presence, recruit overseas workers or support an individual coming to the UK to work or develop a business.
How We Can Help
Business immigration involves more than securing a visa for an individual employee. Employers must navigate detailed sponsorship rules while maintaining systems that comply with their ongoing Home Office obligations. Our business immigration solicitors advise at each stage, from obtaining a sponsor licence and sponsoring workers to dealing with compliance issues and responding to Home Office action.
Contact our immigration team to discuss your business immigration requirements and find out how we can help.
How to Get in Contact
We can assist wherever you are based. We can arrange an online or in person meeting where suitable.
Please note we do not offer legal aid.