The UK Government continues to place significant emphasis on English language proficiency for foreign nationals applying for a visa. For many visa categories, meeting specific English language requirements remains essential and completing the wrong test, or failing to meet the correct standard, may result in your application being refused. With recent updates to the Immigration … Continued
Managing your Sponsor Management System (SMS): best practice for UK employers The Sponsor Management System (“SMS”) is the Home Office’s online platform through which licensed sponsors manage their day-to-day sponsorship activities. From assigning Certificates of Sponsorship (“CoS”) to reporting changes in worker or organisational circumstances, the SMS sits at the heart of sponsor licence compliance. … Continued
British citizenship applications reach a record high Recent figures show a significant increase in applications for British citizenship. According to Home Office data analysed by the Migration Observatory, just over 315,000 people applied for British citizenship in the year ending June 2026 – the highest number on record and 17% higher than the previous year. … Continued
If you are an engineer planning to build your career in the UK, you may be deciding between the Skilled Worker visa and the Global Talent visa. On paper, the distinction looks simple. The Skilled Worker route is based on a sponsored job, whereas the Global Talent route is based on your professional achievements or … Continued
Lisa Uttley, Immigration Partner at Gherson Solicitors, contributed to The Legal Diary on the regulatory and immigration implications of the Dolfin Financial case. Lisa highlights weaknesses in the compliance framework surrounding the former Tier 1 (Investor) visa route, including the reliance on intermediary-generated documentation and the lack of independent verification of qualifying investments. Looking ahead … Continued
The right-to-work landscape for UK employers is about to change significantly. From 1 October 2026, new legislation under Section 48 of the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025 will fundamentally expand the scope of mandatory right-to-work checks and substantially increase businesses’ potential exposure to civil penalties. If your business engages labour beyond traditional employees, … Continued
Do you need a new Skilled Worker visa when changing employers? A Skilled Worker visa allows you to work for a specific employer in the UK in a specified role. This means that a Skilled Worker visa is not transferable to a different job with a different employer. Although you can change employers while in … Continued
Reading time: 9 minutes For many Skilled Worker visa holders, being offered shares or a directorship is a significant career milestone. Whether you are joining a fast-growing start-up, receiving equity as part of a remuneration package or being invited to become a company director, these opportunities often reflect your increasing value to the business. However, … Continued
When you apply for a UK visa or settlement, you will usually need to provide details of your travel history, including arrival and departure dates, destinations and information on previous visas. Submitting this information accurately can help you avoid delays, refusals or facing the need to re-apply. The type of application and visa route will … Continued
Business acquisitions, share sales, mergers and restructurings can have immediate consequences for a UK sponsor licence. Since a sponsor licence is not transferable, an ownership change may require a new licence application within 20 working days, as well as coordinated reporting for every sponsored worker affected. Immigration compliance should form part of the transaction plan … Continued
Planning to recruit international talent before the end of the year? We explain the immigration and sponsor licence considerations, key visa timelines and practical steps UK employers should take to avoid recruitment delays. For employers aiming to hire an international professional before the end of 2026, immigration planning should begin alongside the recruitment process – … Continued
It is natural to feel uneasy if, having submitted a UK visa application, you then come across a headline announcing a new immigration policy. It would be completely understandable to find yourself asking questions such as “Does this development apply to my case?” or “Will my application now be assessed against requirements that did not … Continued