Immigration Law

Immigration for Businesses

Bricksdale Legal has a combined work experience of more than 20 years in the field of Immigration Law in the U.K. Our expertise extends to working with small businesses who are looking to set up in the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom prides itself on having a dynamic, business friendly environment that is ripe for investment and business development.

We are aware of the keen challenges that small business owners face. Often, whilst in theory a business-friendly country, the red tape and bureaucracy of UK immigration applications can, unfortunately, often slow down the development of a business. Our dedicated team of experienced lawyers cut through the red tape and guide you at every stage of your application in order to guarantee the highest possible chances of your visa being granted.

We pride ourselves in helping businesses of all sizes handle the different, complex and varied UK immigration requirements that they may face including:
Entrepreneur Visas to allow for businesses to be set up
Sole Representative, Intra Company transfers and Business visits to allow for foreign businesses to send staff to the UK
Making all applications for work permits under Tier 2 ; to allow UK businesses to employ foreign workers
Employee Vetting Services, to make sure that employees have legal permission to work
All forms of Civil Penalty Work – challenging any UKBA fines given to UK business for illegal workers

Medical Sector

The United Kingdom is one of, not only Europe’s leading countries for medicine. The NHS, in addition to ranking as one of the world’s biggest employers, has a staff of some 1.7 million people in the United Kingdom. In addition to its public health service, the United Kingdom attracts leading practitioners of medicine and researchers from across the World. In an ever-expanding society the importance of a functioning medical sector that can meet the needs of its growing population is vital.

The Home Secretary and Secretary of State for Health and Social Care have announced details of the new Health and Care Visa, creating a new fast-track visa route for eligible health and care professionals and delivering on a key manifesto commitment. We have further details on how the exemption to the Immigration Health Surcharge will work for health and care staff, who will now be permanently exempt from this charge.

The Home Secretary and Health and Social Care Secretary have together developed the Health and Care Visa to demonstrate the government’s commitment to deliver for the NHS and wider health and care sector. It is designed to make it easier and quicker for the best global health professionals to work in the NHS, for NHS commissioned service providers, and in eligible occupations in the social care sector.

The new Health and Care Visa will come with a reduced visa application fee compared to that paid by other skilled workers, including exemption from the Immigration Health Surcharge. Health and care professionals applying on this route can also expect a decision on whether they can work in the UK within just three weeks, following biometric enrolment. Those working in health and social care who do not qualify for the Health and Care Visa will still be able to claim a reimbursement from the Immigration Health Surcharge if they have paid this on or after 31 March.

This new visa is part of our new immigration system making it quicker, cheaper and easier for the best and brightest health and care professionals from around the globe to work in our brilliant NHS.

Health and care professionals from all over the world have played a vital role in hospitals and care homes across the country fighting coronavirus. The introduction of the Health and Care Visa follows a number of unprecedented measures to show the UK’s gratitude to health workers from overseas.

Our health and care system has always had a proud tradition of welcoming overseas staff to work, train and live in the UK, and I’m proud that the NHS is a destination of choice for talented people from around the world.

The unwavering commitment, skill and compassion staff have shown during the fight against this deadly virus is nothing short of phenomenal, and the reimbursement of the immigration health surcharge recognises the enormous contribution of those who have come to the UK to work in health and social care.
Right across the immigration system the Home Office is already supporting frontline healthcare staff through initiatives such as visa extensions and the creation of the bereavement scheme.

As part of the launch of the Health and Care Visa, those who apply via the visa and their dependants will be exempt from the Immigration Health Surcharge. The government has already begun refunding Immigration Health Surcharge payments for any healthcare professionals on Tier 2 visas who have paid since 31 March 2020, and this process will continue. More information will be published on the Immigration Health Surcharge GOV.UK pages for customers to contact us directly if they believe they are due a refund. The Department of Health and Social Care is currently working with the sector to set up operational arrangements for reimbursing health and social care staff outside the scope of the Health and Care visa. These arrangements will commence from 1 October in 6 month reimbursements.
The new Health and Care Visa will apply to eligible roles within the health and care sector. The events of recent months have illustrated just what a crucial role the care sector plays in UK society. The government is working closely with the sector to support and recognise the contributions of care workers. This includes a widespread focus on training and introducing a proper career structure to provide opportunities for those in the sector and makes it an attractive profession for prospective carers.
The independent Migration Advisory Committee has been very clear that immigration is not the answer to the challenges in the social care sector and, as we implement the new immigration system, we want employers to focus on investing in our domestic workforce.

Please contact the specialist team at Legal Allianz for further clarifications on any aspect of UK immigration Laws.

Immigration for Individuals

Visa application process
New immigration routes have opened for applications to work, live and study in the UK.
You can apply and pay for your visa online.
When you apply, you’ll be asked to provide your biometric information. The process for this is:
EU, EEA and Swiss citizens
For most visas you’ll provide a digital photo of your face using a smartphone app. You will not have to give your fingerprints.
For some routes you’ll need to go to an overseas visa application centre to have your photo taken.
Non-EU citizens
You’ll continue to submit your fingerprints and a photo at an overseas visa application centre.

Skilled workers

The points-based system includes a route for skilled workers who have a job offer from an approved employer sponsor.
The job you’re offered will need to be at a required skill level of RQF3 or above (equivalent to A level). You’ll also need to be able to speak English and be paid the relevant salary threshold by your sponsor. This will either be the general salary threshold of £25,600 or the going rate for your job, whichever is higher.
If you earn less than this – but no less than £20,480 – you may still be able to apply by ‘trading’ points on specific characteristics against your salary. For example, if you have a job offer in a shortage occupation or have a PhD relevant to the job.
Details of how the points system works are in the further details document.
There is no general route for employers to recruit at or near the minimum wage.
If you’re not already a licensed sponsor and you think you’ll want to sponsor migrants through the skilled worker route, you should apply now.

Global talent scheme

The global talent scheme has been opened up to EU, EEA and Swiss citizens. It allows highly-skilled scientists and researchers to come to the UK without a job offer.
International students and graduates

Student visa routes have been opened up to EU, EEA and Swiss citizens. You can apply for a visa to study in the UK if you:
• have been offered a place on a course
• can speak, read, write and understand English
• have enough money to support yourself and pay for your course
A new graduate immigration route will be available to international students who have completed a degree in the UK from summer 2021. You’ll be able to work, or look for work, in the UK at any skill level for up to 2 years, or 3 years if you are a PhD graduate.

Visiting the UK

EU, EEA and Swiss citizens and other non-visa nationals do not require a visa to enter the UK when visiting the UK for up to 6 months. All migrants looking to enter the UK for other reasons (such as work or study) will need to apply for entry clearance in advance.

Getting married

You must apply for a Marriage Visitor visa if you want to visit the UK to get married or register a civil partnership.
If you or your family are from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein
You will not need a Marriage Visitor visa if you come to the UK on or before 30 June 2021.
From 1 July 2021, you’ll need to apply for a Marriage Visitor visa unless one of the following applies:
• you have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme
• you have applied to the EU Settlement Scheme, and you have not got a decision yet
• you’re an Irish citizen

EU citizens who were living in the UK by 31 December 2020

If you’re an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen and you were resident in the UK on or before 31 December 2020, you should not apply for a visa under the points-based immigration system. You and your family should instead apply to the EU Settlement Scheme. Applications are free and the deadline for applying is 30 June 2021.
Crossing the UK border
Citizens of Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, the United States of America, Singapore and South Korea – with a biometric chip in their passports – can continue to use ePassport gates to pass through the border on arrival. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens can also use ePassport gates (this will be kept under review).
Until at least January 2026 we’ll continue to recognise identity cards used for travel by EU citizens and their EU family members who are both resident in the UK before the end of the transition period and hold status under the EU Settlement Scheme. We will also recognise ICAO compliant identity cards from this group beyond 2026.
For newly arriving migrants, we intend to phase out the use of insecure identity documents and will set out further details on this shortly.
Proving immigration status in the UK

EU citizens

EU, EEA and Swiss citizens can use an online service to view their immigration status and to prove their status to others.
Employers, landlords and public service providers can continue to accept EU citizens’ passports and identity cards as evidence of their immigration status until 30 June 2021.

Guidance for employers is available on carrying out right to work checks on EU citizens and their family members in the UK.

Non-EU citizens

Non-EU citizens can continue to use a physical document to prove their immigration status.
Those with a valid, current Biometric Residence Permit, Biometric Residence Card or status granted under the EU Settlement Scheme can also prove their right to work to an employer using an online service. Guidance for employers is available advising how to carry out a physical document check or online check.