The UKVI fee increases are going to affect some 70,000 UK companies currently finding their skilled talent from the overseas market - what will the impact of UKVI fee increases be?  Join our Linkedin audio event to find out more

Join our next Linkedin audio event where Karen Kaur, our Legal Director will be discussing tips on how to find overseas talent.

The landscape of UK immigration for 2024 is poised for significant changes. From adjustments to minimum salary requirements for skilled workers, to the potential replacement of the shortage occupation list, as well as many other changes to long standing practices.

After the controversial hike in skilled worker minimum visa salary recently announced, what else lies on the agenda for immigration policy next year, and how can employers prepare?

New Home Improvement Group are a leading building company based in Oxfordshire, we assisted with a sponsor licence application with a quick turnaround, and application of a certificate of sponsorship for an employee who was in the UK under the graduate visa route which was due to expire. 

Change is the norm in UK immigration law, and 2023 has been no exception.  This article summarises changes we have seen this year and it's far from over!

Our Managing Director, Jonathan Beech speaks to HR Magazine about his UK immigration and policy predictions for 2023.  Read the full article here

The unprecedentedly high net immigration are the result of the UK’s reliance on overseas labour to fill job vacancies as skills shortages continue across many key sectors including life sciences, healthcare, engineering and tech, according to our Managing Director, Jonathan Beech

Delays in the assurance of Biometric Residence permits and delays in the approval of Defined Certificate of Sponsorships are just some of the things we are seeing in UK immigration this month.

On 27 October 2021, the UK government announced some important updates for those with pre-settled and settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme.

Recent investigations have found that overseas workers and students are being targeted by brokers selling UK visa appointments for hundreds of pounds.  Read our article on how to avoid being scammed

Migrate UK are pleased to announce FIS membership to provide immigration legal assistant for the finishes and interiors sector to sponsor overseas workers to help to ease skills shortages

Monitoring visa expiry dates is a crucial part of organisational compliance duties as a sponsor licence holder, make sure you don't miss any which are coming due over the holiday season.

Migrate UK are pleased to announce NFRC membership to provide immigration legal assistant for roofing contractors to sponsor overseas workers to help to ease skills shortages

The EU Settlement Scheme has ongoing issues, we explore late applications, pending applications and loss of status in this article.

Hiring overseas talent to help fill skills gaps in the roofing industry.  The UK Government has added roofers, tilers and slaters to the shortage occupation list, find out how you can employ the talent you need to fill your skills gaps.

Every licenced sponsor who hire individuals to work in the UK from overseas must follow the duties ands responsibilities set out by the UK Immigration system.  We provide guidance on what you as an employer need to do to stay compliant.

The Home Office has officially increased their application fees across a range of immigration and nationality routes, including those individuals coming here to live, work and study at a time of record high migration numbers.  Find out what this means to UK Businesses

Graduates will only be allowed to switch to the skilled worker route if they can provide the evidence to UKVI on completion of studies on the date of making their application, read on for more details.

On 26th August 2021 the Home Office published the UK’s PBS sponsorship roadmap outlining changes planned for the sponsorship process this year, in 2022 and beyond.

In a bold move, the UK government has just proposed an alarming increase in fines for those caught illegally employing migrant workers, making compliance an urgent priority like never before.  Read our article to make sure you stay compliant and avoid the risks of being fined unto £60,000.

A good character requirement is when the Home Office assess an application from anyone aged ten or over seeking to naturalise or register as a British citizen. In an effort to crack down on serious criminals from claiming British citizenship and abusing the UK’s Immigration and nationality system, the government has introduced stricter rules on the “good character” requirements.  

Graduate visas give individuals permission to stay and work unsponsored for two years after successfully completing their degree.  Read our guidelines to help businesses in switching their graduate migrant employees to a skilled worker visa.

UK Government announce rise in fines for businesses who knowingly employ illegal migrants.  This also applies to landlords who knowingly rent property to illegal migrants.  UK businesses who employ overseas workers must ensure they are compliant with all UK immigration laws.

UK Employers are ultimately responsible for ensuring their employees have the right to work in the UK. Employers fooled by forged documentation is not common, however Migrate UK advises that UK employers obtain a “share code” and use the “online digital employer right-to-work check where possible.

With job vacancies still rising and many workers still to be tempted back into the workplace, here are some ways HR can ease the most critical skills shortages this year.

An Employer Sponsorship Licence provides a UK employer with the ability to employ non-settled citizens to fill a skilled vacancy in the UK. 

UKVI announce intention on streamlining the process for pre-settled status extensions and those switching to settled status.  From September 2023, individuals with pre-settled status under the EUSS will automatically get a further two years extension nearer the time of expiry date.

The UK Government recently confirmed immigration fees increases in order to fund the public sector pay deal, Migrate UK give their advice to HR on what they need to be aware of when hiring overseas talent.

The Home Office published a new statement of changes to the immigration rules. The new statement is mainly concerned with changing rules to stop the abuse of immigration rules.  The changes relating to the student route and consequential changes to work routes came into effect on 17th July 2023. 

Submitting a UK visa application with mistakes can lead to longer wait times. Here are some common mistakes we have been seeing this month and how to avoid them to process your application smoothly.

UKVI announce increase to NHS surcharge immigration fee to be paid by workers entering for a period of six months or more and the family members of migrants and British citizens alike

The horse racing industry is experiencing a recruitment crisis, find out how you can recruit the talent you need from the global talent pool

Construction industry occupations such as bricklayers, masons, roofers, roof tilers slaters, carpenters, joiners and plasterers added to UK Government Shortage Occupation List.  Those working in a shortage occupation role benefit from paying lower visa fees and can be paid 80% of the job's usual going rate.

Find out how to employ overseas skilled workers in the UK from applying for a UKVI sponsorship licence to compliance guidelines and costs involved.

Know the difference between volunteers versus voluntary workers and what overseas visitors in the UK can legally do in either case.

Big-name companies such as Amazon and Microsoft are in the news this week for pledging to hire thousands of refugees across Europe. We look at the legal implications from an immigration compliance perspective that HR and employers in the UK should consider before hiring asylum seekers

Canine beauticians to vet chick sexers. We’ve uncovered the ‘hidden’ job shortages following analysis into the Appendix Skilled Worker job list. 

UK Government announce new restrictions to student visa routes removing the right for international students to bring dependants unless they are on postgraduate research programmes. Read to find out more.

The EU Settlement Scheme deadline has passed. Applications for EU, EEA and Swiss citizens and their family members who were resident in the UK by 31 December 2020 needed to be submitted by Wednesday 30 June 2021.

Our managing director, Jonathan Beech spoke to HR Magazine about the UK’s confused visa system, and the increasing burden of proof for employers whenever the government changes visa rules. 

We are often surprised that there is a low level of awareness of UK business’s ability to recruit great talent from overseas. There are over 1.2 million vacancies in the UK and many UK organisations are struggling to find the talent they need to maintain and grow their business.

Is hiring skilled overseas talent a viable option for your business?  Our team regularly get asked by UK organisations to explain or justify whether this route could work for them

The Home Office have recently updated ‘An employer’s guide to right to work checks’ which reflects changes due to come into effect on 6 April 2022.

The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has recently reviewed the current Shortage Occupation List, read on to find out what this means

Our managing director, Jonathan Beech spoke to Personnel Today about the significance of data sharing between the UK Home Office, DWP, HMRC and other government departments which have an impact on HR compliance.

Our managing director Jonathan Beech shared his insights in CEO digital on how mergers and acquisitions can increase skills shortages in some enterprises and how they can be avoided.

Immunocore, are a pioneering, commercial-stage T cell receptor biotechnology company.  Regularly, the business acquires some of the most talented individuals across the global market to work in their offices within the UK on life transforming projects whilst remaining compliant with UK Immigration rules.

To allow the business to complete a recent 12 month transformation project, it required some of the best talent across their global enterprise to work in their offices within the UK on structured projects often on a tight timescale and whilst adhering to the UK Immigration rules.

Tokamak Energy, is a leading global commercial fusion energy company based near Oxford, UK. Recently, we assisted with an intern from the USA to join the team for an initial period of 2 months.