Appendix English Language: Requirements for Applicants
When applying for a visa to come to or stay in the UK, applicants will often need to meet an English language requirement as set out under Appendix English Language of the UK’s Immigration Rules. The following practical guide for applicants on the English language requirement looks at what these rules say and who is […]
Immigration Skills Charge FAQs
The Immigration Skills Charge (ISC) is payable by employers each time they sponsor a worker under the Skilled Worker or the Senior or Specialist Worker visa, with limited exemptions. Since all UK employers are required to have a sponsorship licence to employ migrant workers from 1 January 2021 under certain work visa routes, the Immigration Skills Charge has […]
UK Visitor Visa Rules to be Relaxed in 2024
Following a change in the UK Immigration Rules, visitor visa permissible activities are to be relaxed from 31 January 2024 as follows: Individuals can undertake activities relating to their employment overseas remotely from within the UK, providing this is not the primary purpose of their visit. An employee of an overseas based company may: (a) […]
UK General Work Visa Options
For UK-based employers looking to recruit migrant workers, there are various different visa options available under the UK’s Immigration Rules. Although there is no actual ‘general work visa’ – one which covers every scenario when it comes to hiring an overseas national – the skilled worker visa is one of the most commonly-used visa routes […]
How To Sponsor Someone For A Work Visa
UK-based employers will typically need to have a valid licence to sponsor someone for a work visa in the UK In this guide, we take a practical look at the rules on sponsoring overseas workers, the eligibility requirements you’ll need to meet and the process to make an application for a sponsorship licence. What […]
Entrepreneur Visa UK
Under current rules, if you’re looking to come to the UK set up your own business, you should apply for the Innovator Founder visa. If you want to set up UK-based operations for an overseas company, you would apply for the UK Expansion Worker visa. In this guide, we look at both business visa options, […]
Right to Work Checklist & Acceptable Documents
As a UK employer, you are required by law to check and record the immigration status of every employee, in order to verify they have the Right to Work in the UK. Put simply, your organisation must have in place appropriate HR systems to check and record your employees’ immigration and working status in line […]
SMS Level 1 User Guide
SMS Level 1 Users are responsible for the day-to-day administration of an organisation’s sponsorship licence using the Sponsorship Management System (SMS). Failure to carry out these duties correctly can result in enforcement action against the sponsor licence holder. This makes it critical to ensure all level 1 users understand their responsibilities and are trained to […]
Prevention of Illegal Working Guide for Employers
All UK employers are under a duty to prevent illegal working in the UK, regardless of whether they employ foreign nationals. Failure to meet these duties risks enforcement action by the Home Office, including substantial fines. To comply with the so-called Right to Work requirements, there are practical steps that employers must take to help […]
Immigration Fee Clawback: Employers’ Rights
UK immigration fees are substantial. If your organisation employs or sponsors migrant workers, you may offer to fund certain immigration, visa or sponsorship fees on behalf of the worker as part of the pre-employment negotiations. If you do take on immigration costs for a worker, what are your rights if the worker leaves your organisation, […]