UK immigration insights: news, guidance and legal updates
Our UK immigration blog provides up-to-date news, legal updates, and practical guidance on visas and immigration. Explore expert insights on spouse visas, work visas, and moving to the UK.
Securing a Skilled Worker visa for the UK can be a lifeline for employers struggling to fill roles in sectors where domestic talent is limited. However, sponsoring overseas workers is not without risk. Even a small error can result in the refusal of a Skilled Worker visa or the loss of a sponsor...
When global passport rankings are released each year, many people quickly scan the list to see which country tops the charts. In 2025, the latest Henley Passport Index revealed that the British passport currently ranks 6th worldwide, giving UK citizens visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 191...
When you are dealing with unfamiliar territory and having plenty of details to provide, it is possible to perceive the process of applying for a spouse visa as a big challenge. A detailed plan and understanding of the immigration rules will save a significant amount of time and effort. Paying...
Your 2025 guide to moving from the US to the UK By Mulgrave Law | UK Immigration Lawyer August 2025 Key Takeaway from this article In recent years, more and more Americans have been making the leap across the Atlantic to start a new chapter in the United Kingdom — some to be closer to...
Securing a UK spouse visa involves more than simply submitting an application form. Applicants must meet strict legal requirements, provide detailed evidence, and demonstrate compliance with the changing immigration rules. Even minor oversights can lead to refusals, resulting in personal distress or...
Visa applications are not as simple as they appear to be, mainly for couples who plan on reuniting or building a life together in the UK. A small oversight in the documentation leads to delays, refusals, or costly appeals. For the families who are under huge financial and emotional pressure, it...
Key Takeaway Summary: Starting April 2, 2025, EU nationals and other visa-exempt visitors to the UK will need to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before traveling for short stays of up to six months. ETA is not a visa, but a digital permission to travel—it does not guarantee entry...
Key takeaway: London offers diverse attractions; it is the beating heart of the UK! London, a vibrant city brimming with history and innovation, offers an array of attractions that cater to diverse interests. Visitors can enjoy panoramic views from the London Eye, explore contemporary art at the...
Biometric Residence Permits (BRP) are issued by the Home Office. They are physical cards confirming identity, containing all biometric information, immigration status and the conditions of the visa holder’s stay in the UK. There is a drastic change in how the Home Office will manage this...
The Skilled Worker visa allows individuals, who are eligible, to work in the UK. The sponsoring company needs to be approved by the Home Office and the role needs to be eligible for sponsorship. We, Mulgrave Law, immigration lawyers in London, assist both the company sponsoring as well the candidate...
Last year, the UK government announced a series of changes to its immigration rules. These changes, described as a “five-point plan” to reduce immigration, are set to take effect from spring 2024. This will affect not only businesses but also private individuals. Let’s take a...
Artificial Intelligence is all the rage and quite rightly so, it is in fact amazing for many professions but is it ready to offer guidance on UK immigration on a one-to-one basis? We decided to put ChatGPT to the test by posing common immigration questions and examining its performance. The quality...
If you’re in a relationship with a British or Irish citizen, a person with indefinite leave to remain in the UK or have settled/ pre – settled status, and you wish to join or stay your partner in the UK, then you’ll need to apply for a UK Spouse Visa. The application process is complex...
Applying for a visa can be a daunting and costly process. The UK Home Office has strict requirements that must be met, and failure to meet them can result in a visa refusal. This can be upsetting, as it not only wastes time and money, but can also cause significant stress and uncertainty of people’s...
The 10-Year Long Residence Route: The 10-year-long residence route offers a pathway for migrants who have lawfully lived in the UK, irrespective of the types of visas held during that period. Achieving ILR through this route allows individuals to reside indefinitely, work, establish businesses...
Are you a business owner looking for immigration legal advice in London? Look no further than Mulgrave Law. We are a niche practice of immigration lawyers dedicated to providing exceptional service to businesses. The team of lawyers at Mulgrave Law have a meticulous understanding of the law and a...
How can I apply for a UK Spouse Visa? If you are married to a British citizen or a person with settled status in the UK and you want to join them in the UK, you may be eligible to apply for a UK Spouse Visa.Here are the steps to apply: Step 1: Check your...
The Returning Resident Visa could be applicable to you if you previously lived in the UK and obtained indefinite leave to remain but have been residing outside the UK for more than two consecutive years. With this visa type you may be eligible for a returning resident visa that allows you to settle...
The UK Skilled worker application refers to a specific type of visa for individuals who wish to work in the UK. This type of visa is designed for individuals who are offered a job by a UK company. The application process typically involves demonstrating eligibility criteria, such as having a job...
If you are coming to the UK for 6 months or longer, you will be required to pay a fee known as Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) in order to access any healthcare services offered by the National Health Service (NHS). The fee is paid in addition to the application fee. The IHS must be paid...
The High Potential Individual route is a new immigration route due to be implemented on 30 May 2022. The route will be available to recent graduates of top global universities who wish to work or look for work in the UK after completion of a course equivalent to a UK bachelor’s degree or above...
You can apply to switch into a spouse visa (5 years route) if you are married to a British national or a person who is present and settled in the UK. To do so, you must meet the eligibility requirements for switching to a spouse visa. The application for switching into spouse visa under the 5 years...
The health and care visa falls under the skilled worker route and allows eligible health workers to come or stay in the UK to work for the NHS, an NHS supplier or in adult social care. The benefits of the health and care visa are fast-track entry, reduced visa application fees, exemption from paying...
The Home Office has introduced a paid service where businesses seeking to apply for a sponsor licence can now request for their application to be processed within 10 working days. The standard processing time for a sponsor licence application is up to eight weeks. How do you apply for the priority...
Applicants from non – English speaking countries are required to pass an approved English language test when applying for a UK visa (in most cases) or citizenship application. Types of tests There are 2 different types of tests assessing English language ability at different levels and the...
As Brexit has now brought free movement to an end, many sectors across the UK have been struggling to recruit staff. The UK now lacks skilled workers in number of different industrial sectors like, technology, finance, hospitality, medical etc. Due to the shortage of staff that employers are now...
On 1 December 2020, the Skilled worker visa route was introduced replacing the Tier 2 (General) work visa. This route enables UK employers to hire skilled workers from overseas if they are unable to recruit from within the UK. In order to be eligible for a Skilled worker visa, you will need to earn...
The shortage occupation list sets out jobs that are deemed to be in shortage in the UK. These roles can be filled by skilled worker from outside the UK as employers are unable to easily find workers from within the UK to fill these vacancies. Which Sectors are Currently on the UK Skills Shortage...
Most UK immigration categories impose a restriction that the visa holder must not be outside the UK for more than 180 days in any 12-month period. This requirement is to be met when applying for Indefinite leave to remain. Fortunately, if you are in the UK as a spouse or a partner of a settled...
The UK Fiancé visa is a category that allows a non-UK citizen to enter the UK to marry or a form a civil partnership with a person who is a British national (or a person who is settled in the UK- please see below for further details). Applicants will be granted a 6-month visa to...
If you need to submit a UK immigration application an Immigration lawyer can make the process seamless and provide crucial assistance which will ensure that your application is successful. UK Immigration laws can be complex and difficult to navigate. Given below are a few examples how a lawyer’s...
The Home Office has recently announced that EU citizens and their family members who apply late to the EU Settlement Scheme will have their day-to-day rights protected whilst that application is being considered The Home Office has encouraged people to submit their applications under the EU...
Under most immigration routes you can bring your dependants to the UK including the Skilled Worker route. Who can be considered your dependants? Spouse/Civil Partner Unmarried Partner if you have been living together in a relationship for at least two years Children under the age of 18 If your child...
To meet the financial requirement under Appendix FM of the Immigration rules, you will need to have an annual income of atleast £18,600. This amount will increase if there are dependent children. Cash savings over the amount of £16,000 can count towards meeting the financial requirement. £16,000 is...
Applying for the correct type of visitor visa: There are various types of visit visas that are most commonly used to enter the UK. The below are some of the most frequently used: Standard Visitor visa – You can enter the UK as a standard visitor if you wish to visit family, for tourism, to...
Due to COVID-19, the Home Office introduced temporary adjustments to allow employers to carry out virtual right to work checks between 30 March 2020 and 20 June 2021. The Home Office have now confirmed that the adjustments will continue to apply until 31 August 2021. Employers will maintain a...
A Certificate of Sponsorship is an electronic document with a unique reference number that a Sponsor (Employer) must issue to the migrant worker to enable them to submit a visa application under the sponsored routes such as Skilled worker, ICT and Temporary worker. A CoS must confirm the migrant...
Under the current Immigration Rules, family members of EEA nationals are eligible to apply for either Settled or Pre-Settled Status if they have been resident in the UK prior to 31 December 2020. Family members of EU nationals are still eligible to apply to join an EEA national in the UK, even if...
Ever since the UK left the European Union, the Home Office data suggests that there has been an influx in naturalisation applications from EU citizens. EU nationals with settled status can also apply for British Citizenship; however you must bear in mind that the Home Office has updated their ‘good...
The Home Office has published its official guidance for those applicants whose ‘continuous residence’ in the UK under the EU settlement scheme might have been affected by the pandemic. Continuous qualifying period In order to obtain settled status, a person must have a ‘continuous residence’ of...
These are just two of the most common questions we get asked at Mulgrave Law. A UK spouse visa application can be notoriously complicated. Most people find themselves walking an unfamiliar path as the rules are extremely complex and strewn all over the place and not user friendly. What steps do I...
If you are considering sponsoring an employee as a Skilled worker, it is important to be aware of the cost from the outset. Sponsor Licence If your business does not already have a sponsor licence, you will first need to obtain a sponsor licence to be able to hire migrant workers who require...
If you are an international student, you are probably wondering what options are available to you after you have completed your course. We at Mulgrave Law, have been often asked the above questions. Here we cover information about the graduate route. Graduate Route: The Home Office have confirmed...
From the 31st January 2021, the UK government has opened a new visa route. This visa route allows Hong Kong residents who have British National (Overseas) passports and their eligible dependants to live and work in the UK and eventually obtain full British citizenship. This immigration route is...
If you want to recruit a skilled foreign worker from outside the UK, your organisation will need a sponsor licence.A sponsor licence allows a UK based employer to employ skilled workers from overseas or from within the UK (if they are switching from an alternate visa category). How to obtain a...
Please note: These articles provide general information only and should not be taken as legal advice. Immigration rules change frequently, so please seek professional advice for your individual circumstances.