Our specialist employment law firm can help employers and employees navigate the complex area of business immigration. Whether you are looking to recruit your first overseas employee, are an individual looking to work in the UK or just need advice on work visas in general, our solicitors can help.
Typical services we can help with
Here at Julian Taylor HR solicitors we can help both employers and employees with a range of business immigration issues. There are a range of work visas. The main types of visa and other processes for employers are set out below:
Cat 1 - Visas with a job offer
Health and Care Worker visa
Skilled Worker visa
Cat 2 - Work in the UK for an overseas employer
Senior or Specialist Worker visa (Global Business Mobility)
Overseas Domestic Worker visa
Graduate Trainee visa (Global Business Mobility)
Secondment Worker visa (Global Business Mobility)
Service Supplier visa (Global Business Mobility)
UK Expansion Worker visa (Global Business Mobility)
UK Expansion Worker Visa
Representative of an Overseas Business visa
Service providers from Switzerland visa
Cat 3 - Temporary work visas
Seasonal Worker visa (Temporary Work)
Government Authorised Exchange visa (Temporary Work)
Creative Worker visa (Temporary Work)
Religious Worker visa (Temporary Work)
Charity Worker visa (Temporary Work)
International Agreement visa (Temporary Work)
Cat 4 - Start a business
Start-up visa
Innovator Founder visa
Cat 5 - Other work visas and permits
International Sportsperson visa
Minister of Religion visa (T2)
Scale-up Worker visa
Cat 6 - Right to work checks
Checking a job applicant’s right to work
Check a job applicant’s right to work: use their share code
Check if a document allows someone to work in the UK
Cat 7 - Sponsors and sponsorship
Employees: if your visa sponsor loses their licence
UK visa sponsorship for employers
UK visa sponsorship management system
Common Immigration Issues
Can I get UK citizenship through business?
There are various routes to obtain UK citizenship through carrying out business or working in the UK. It will depend on the type of visa you hold. In general if you are at least 18 years old and have been granted indefinite leave to remain in the UK you may be able to apply for British Citizenship.
Can I employ someone from overseas?
This will depend on many factors including the job on offer, the salary you are offering, the country the individual is from and whether or not they are already in the UK. This list is not exhaustive and each case needs to be considered individually. But in general, if the individual does not have settled status and does not have other immigration permissions you will need to apply to the Home Office for a Sponsor Licence and issue them with a Sponsorship Certificate.
What do foreign workers need to work in the UK?
They need the ‘right’ or ‘permission’ to work in the UK. This right is given by their visa. You can check this online or by looking at their original documents.
Can my employee bring their family to the UK on a work visa?
Family members can usually come to the UK with a person on a work visa. They will need to apply for a dependent visa. This visa is reliant on the main applicant securing their work visa first.
How long can my employee stay in UK on a work visa?
It depends on which visa your employee has. A skilled worker visa can last up to 5 years. The expiry date of the visa will be shown on it.
What happens if I lose my job or resign?
If you are on a skilled worker visa your employer has 10 days from the date your employment terminates to inform the Home Office that you are no longer employed. You have 60 days, or until your visa expires if earlier, to find an alternative job with a sponsored employer or leave the country. You will receive a Notice Of Curtailment from the Home Office which sets out the date your visa expires.
Can I stay in the UK if I start a business?
If you want to start a business in the UK you can apply for an Innovator Founder visa. If you are already in the UK on a different visa you may be able to switch to an Innovator Founder visa.
What is the golden visa in the UK?
The Tier 1 Investor visa was often called the Golden visa. It enabled individuals investing at least £2 million or more a route to residency in the UK at a speed depending on the amount invested. This visa is now closed to new applicants.
Can I extend my work visa in UK?
Skilled worker visas may last up to 5 years. If you have lived and worked in the UK for 5 years on this type of visa you may be able to apply for settled status also known as indefinite leave to remain. You will need to fulfil the relevant criteria including salary.
Do all work visas lead to settled status?
No, not all visas entitling you to work in the UK will enable you to apply for indefinite leave to remain. For example, The Global Business Mobility Visa: Senior or Specialist Worker Visa (previously the Inter-Company Transfer visa) does not lead directly to settled status.
Do I need to check the right to work for all employees?
In short yes. How you do this will depend on the immigration status of a potential employee.
What is a Home Office online check?
It is a Home Office online service enabling an employer to check the right of an individual to work in the UK. Not all checks can be carried out this way. Whether or not you can use this service will depend on an individual’s immigration status.
Here at Julian Taylor HR we're a small but very experienced team of employment law solicitors. What makes us different to other firms is that you're going to be working directly with one of us - we won't pass your case off to a junior, or someone else working behind the scenes.
JULIAN TAYLOR
JAYNE SINCLAIR
Chambers 2025 "The service provided by the firm is quick and efficient."
Julian Taylor is a well-regarded employment practitioner recognised for advising his clients on an array of HR-related disputes as well as negotiating senior employee exit terms. He is additionally adept at handling unfair dismissal claims and is noted for his experience in contractual issues and post-termination restrictive covenants.
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Employment boutique Julian Taylors Solicitors acts for both employers and employees on the full spectrum of employment-related mandates, with particular expertise in complex disputes with discrimination elements. Name partner Julian Taylor is recommended for contentious work and is praised by clients as 'always very responsive and reassuring in his approach'.
- Julian Taylor is a small yet highly knowledgeable employment law solicitor practice that offers exceptional and personalised service to its clients. The team at Julian Taylor is known for their expertise in dealing with complex employment matters while keeping the people involved at the heart of the matter.
- Julian Taylor is a highly experienced professional who leads most of our complex and sophisticated issues. He works closely with us to empower us to make informed decisions confidently. His knowledge of our business and expertise sets him apart from his competitors.
Business Immigration Solicitors in Oxford.
At Julian Taylor HR we’ve advised many businesses on issues relating to business immigration, from advising on work visa issues through to assisting with right to work checks, sponsors and sponsorship issues.
Reach out to us today if you would like specialist business immigration support from one of our solicitors.