Immigration

Our immigration team advises clients from different sectors on all aspects of immigration law. We provide advice to businesses and private individuals on UK immigration and nationality, corporate immigration, and private immigration.
  • Profile
  • Experience
  • Key contacts

UK immigration and nationality

Our immigration team provides an extensive range of UK immigration and nationality advice to private clients and corporate entities.

We can assist with obtaining:

  • Innovator visas.
  • Global talent visas.
  • Leave to remain as Investor migrants.
  • Skilled Worker and Global Business Mobility visas.
  • Temporary worker visas.
  • Student, graduate and high potential individual visas.
  • Family visas.
  • Visit visas.
  • Status under the EU Settlement Scheme.
  • British National (Overseas) visas.
  • Overseas Domestic Worker visas.
  • Ancestry visas.
  • Indefinite leave to remain/permanent residence.
  • British Nationality (Registration and Naturalisation).

Corporate immigration

UK employers who wish to hire non-settled workers will require corporate immigration advice.

There are various steps involved before a UK employer can sponsor a non-settled worker and we can assist with the end to end process.

We also assist UK employers with ensuring that they have procedures and policies in place which are compliant with their sponsor licence duties and responsibilities.

We work closely with our employment team who can advise on all matters in relation to UK employment law.

We can help you with:

  • Obtaining and renewing a UK sponsor licence.
  • Managing the Sponsorship Management System (SMS) to assign Certificates of Sponsorship for visa applications.
  • Assisting and preparing Skilled Worker visa applications, including applications for eligible family members (dependants).
  • Seconding workers from overseas office to the UK office.
  • Assisting with making necessary notifications on the SMS regarding the company and its sponsored workers.
  • Drafting and reviewing employment contracts and offer letters to ensure compliance with immigration and anti-discrimination laws.
  • Assisting with Home Office compliance visits.
  • Ongoing advice regarding changes to the immigration rules.

Private immigration

We regularly assist High-Net-Worth individuals and their family members with relocating to the UK.

Depending on the client’s background and planned activities in the UK, we can advise on the most appropriate UK immigration option(s).

We understand the intricacies of moving to the UK and how clients may need support in relation to pre-arrival tax planning, succession planning, finding a UK property, opening a UK bank account, setting up a UK business, or securing a placement at a school for their children.

We work closely with our private wealth, property, corporate and other teams in our full-service law firm. We also have contacts with intermediaries who can assist with a full range of personal matters.

We can help you with:

  • Determining the best immigration option(s) and advising on the requirements.
  • Advising on the documentation required for the application and the procedure for submitting the application.
  • Reviewing, drafting and collating documentation for the application.
  • Ensuring all requirements are met, including submitting the application and booking a biometrics appointment where necessary.
  • Liaising with the Home Office.
  • Advising on the ongoing obligations once the visa is granted.
  • Advising on future applications and the next steps to remain or settle in the UK.

Our pricing for immigration work can be found here.

Tier 1 Investor

We have assisted individuals to apply for Tier 1 investor visas globally, including individuals from the Middle East, Asia and Russia. We advised on the relevant requirements to adequately demonstrate their source of funds for the initial application and advised on the eligible investment options upon the grant of the visa. We advised on the post visa requirements and advised on the expedited routes to indefinite leave to remain.

Sole representative of an overseas business

We have advised senior employees of overseas businesses to obtain visas to set up branch or subsidiary of the overseas business in the UK. Our immigration teams advised on the requirements to obtain the visas and also advised on the process to extend their leave in the UK and also apply for indefinite leave to remain.

Skilled worker 

We regularly advise UK employees to obtain sponsor licences and sponsor Migrants under the skilled worker category; advising on their sponsorship duties and also assist with management their sponsorship management systems. 

EU Settlement Scheme

We have assisted numerous EEA nationals and their family members to obtain pre-settled and settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme. We have assisted individuals apply from inside and outside the UK. 

Lawyer

Jessica Yu Partner

T:  +44 20 7329 4422
M:  Email Jessica Office:  London

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© Stephenson Harwood LLP 2016. Any reference to Stephenson Harwood in this document means Stephenson Harwood LLP and/or its affiliated undertakings. Any reference to a partner is used to refer to a member of Stephenson Harwood LLP.