Our leading Immigration Law Team will gladly listen to your circumstances and your plans and wishes, and we will then tell you whether it is possible for you to achieve those aims and how to best to go about it. We can give you general advice on Immigration Law and can also help you with the detail and the procedures that are involved.
To help you understand which Immigration laws apply to you, we need first to look at which part of the world you are coming from -
- If you are an EEA (or Swiss) national
Under Immigration Law, you are free to work in the UK or set up in business here without permission, though you may wish to apply for a REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE to confirm your right to live and work in the UK. You will need to complete an EEA1 application form. Our Immigration Law team can assist you with your application.
After five years of working in the UK you should be eligible for permanent residence in the UK. Again we can assist you in completing your application (on an EEA3 form). Your dependants are able to live here and work here too whilst you are economically active and they can apply for a RESIDENCE CARD on an EEA2 form. After five years of living here with you they too can apply for permanent residence in the UK, although if you decide to leave the UK permanently or if you split up from them, they will need help and advice if they want to stay here.
If you are a national of Romania or Bulgaria you may need to apply for an Accession Worker Card and your prospective employer may need to apply for a work permit for you.
All you need to do if you wish to speak to us - free of charge and without obligation - is click on " "Please Contact Me Now" or call us on 0845 567 5000.
- For people from all other parts of the world
For workers from all other parts of the world, the UK operates what is called the "points-based” Immigration Law system. Under this, a person from other parts of the world can generally only work in the UK if they have enough points. Those points are awarded according to various criteria and factors as follows :
- General permission to work in the UK (called Tier 1 General permission)
If you are in the UK already you may still be able to extend your permission to stay here under Tier 1 though it is too late to make an application from outside the UK. If you are here in an eligible capacity you can make an application to extend your permission, and points will be awarded on the basis of your age, your qualifications, any experience of work or study that you have completed in the UK, and on your earnings in the last 12 months. You will need to speak English to the requisite standard and to have sufficient money to support yourself. If you achieve the requisite number of points, you will be able to work in the UK.
- Permission to work here when your studies are completed (Tier 1 Post study permission)
If you achieve the requisite number of points, this Tier allows you to work in the UK for up to 2 years. You must have completed a course of study in the UK within the last 12 months and must have held sufficient funds for at least 28 days before you make an application. Unfortunately the category in its current form will come to an end in April 2012. A new version of the category is being considered at the moment.
- Tier 2 Permission
UK companies can become what are called "licensed sponsors”, which makes it easier for them to employ foreign nationals. If a UK company is a licensed sponsor, then in order to employ you they can issue you with a CERTIFICATE OF SPONSORSHIP. You can use this to apply for permission to enter into or to remain in the UK. This Tier applies to specialist roles - for example when an employer cannot recruit the people it needs from within the European workforce. If permission is granted for you to enter or to remain in the UK, you will only be able to work for the company that is actually sponsoring you.
Immigration Law - what can we do to help?
As we say above, we can help you to formulate your plans and we can also help you to deal with the immigration applications, administration and even the hearings and appeals that are part of the UK Immigration system.
All you need to do if you wish to speak to us - free of charge and without obligation - is click on "Please Contact Me Now" or call us on 0845 567 5000.
We can assist you in ensuring that you are eligible in terms of the points you need under UK Immigration Law, and can advise you on the supporting documents to submit with your application. Careful preparation is vital as applications are often refused due to minor errors with the paperwork.
We can also advise your prospective employers on the ways to obtain and operate a licence so that they can help you with your application for permission to enter or remain in the UK.
As we say, we are always there for people and families who are in our PURPLE LEGAL scheme. We invite you to join PURPLE LEGAL now. By joining PURPLE LEGAL, you can have all your legal enquiries answered free of charge by simply booking a SolicitorSlot for a time and date that suits you. Alternatively if you wish to speak to us now, please click on "Please Contact Me Now” or call us on 0845 567 5000. We look forward to always being there for you.
