Immigration law is an increasingly significant issue for UK businesses. Post Brexit businesses across different sectors have been finding it difficult to recruit new workers or even retain their existing staff. We help businesses navigate the new immigration laws which now make no distinction between EEA and non-EEA nationals.
We will help you determine whether a sponsorship licence is appropriate for your business and assist with the application process. Our immigration practice can advise in relation to the Skilled Worker visa route and on alternative visa categories with the right to work in the UK. We also advise on every step of the process from recruitment issues to right to work checks, ongoing duties as an employer, and can provide training to HR teams on all aspects of business immigration.
For individuals we can advise on other visa options that might be suitable for them, including the Innovator and Start-up visa routes and the Global Talent visa.
Not all jobs are eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route. We will help determine whether the roles for which you are recruiting are eligible and assist you in applying for a sponsorship licence from the Home Office or renewing an existing licence.
There are several visas which do not require employer sponsorship, but which allow individuals to work in the UK. We will advise in relation to the Youth Mobility Scheme, UK Ancestry visa, British Nationals (Overseas) visa, Graduate visa, Family visa and High Potential Individual visa and whether these may be a more appropriate route.
The penalties for breaching UK immigration law can be severe and in extreme cases may include fines and/or imprisonment. We will advise you on the legal issues at every step from the recruitment process and right to work checks, to record keeping and on how best to report concerns or problems to the Home Office. We also help to prepare for compliance audits and inspections.
The Home Office expects that any staff involved in recruiting migrant workers will know their duties. We provide training on the immigration topics that are relevant to your business and will help you comply with your duties as an employer.
Entrepreneurs may be considering setting up a business in the UK; leaders and potential leaders in fields such as academia, the arts and digital technology may be looking to relocate here. In such cases we will advise in relation to the Innovator and Start-up visa routes and the Global Talent visa.
Useful resources & guides related to Vialex Immigration Law
Following an earlier article on student visas and the right to work in the UK, Steven Dunn, Vialex Head of Immigration law now turns his attention to the Graduate visa route, highlighting what employers and individuals should know about this potentially useful option.
With the end of the academic year already upon us, Steven Dunn, Vialex’s head of immigration law, offers a timely reminder for international students and employers alike of what the rules say about their right to work.
Steven Dunn, Head of Immigration Law at Vialex considers whether the conflicting views often expressed about migration, and its potential role in filling gaps in our labour market, might be putting the UK at risk of competitive disadvantage.
It was important to us that our legal advisers were aligned to our business values, and we were impressed by the approach Vialex took to support our business by offering a ‘virtual’ in-house legal team who look after our day-to-day legal needs.
We use the Vialex Legal Counsel Service as our day-to-day support for all our contracts and legal issues. They act as an extension of our own team and work with us to help us achieve our commercial goals. The subscription means we can get the advice we need when we need it for a fixed cost.
Company Registration Number: SC360307. Registered address: Vialex Limited / Floor 3, 1 – 4 Atholl Crescent, Edinburgh, EH3 8HA
