Immigration support for business owners and HR professionals
Our business immigration team provides strategic advice on workforce planning and sponsoring migrants to businesses of all sizes. Our legal team also provides sponsorship licence support to HR teams.
Helping business to meet the legal requirements when sponsoring overseas workers
Success in sponsor licence applications is determined by the information that you provide about the business and whether your organisation has passed a pre-registration audit (if selected). Even if you are successful in obtaining a sponsor licence, you must comply with a set of sponsorship duties. Our immigration lawyers are able to assist you to apply for a sponsor licence and provide you with ongoing support.
Our sponsor licence services:
Renew or apply for a sponsor licence
Sponsor licence compliance and management
Our immigration lawyers will review your policies and procedures to ensure that you are compliant with your sponsor licence duties and policies for right to work checks. We can also be retained to carry out functions of a Level 1 User on your sponsor licence.
Challenging a sponsor licence refusal, suspension or revocation
On-site mock audits
UKVI can visit sponsor licence holders to assess their compliance. Our business immigration lawyers can conduct mock audits (both on-site and remotely) to help you prepare for UKVI audits. As part of this we audit your HR practices and policies and interview those involved in your sponsor licence management and recruitment. A written report is then produced outlining your strengths as well as areas requiring improvement.
Immigration law training
Challenging employer civil penalties
Skilled worker sponsorship
Our immigration lawyers have significant experience of advising businesses on the sponsorship process for skilled workers. Our business immigration lawyers advise on the requirements to issue a certificate of sponsorship to the worker and then in turn advise the worker with the requirements with the skilled worker visa application.
Assisting businesses and entrepreneurs to set-up in the UK
As part of our business immigration services, our business immigration lawyers regularly advise entrepreneurs and businesses who are looking to establish a presence in the UK.
Why choose Paragon Law?
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Adaptable. Regardless of the size of your business our business immigration lawyers are able to adapt their approach to suit your needs. For instance, some businesses may be best suited to outsourcing functions and processes to our team, but others may be better working collaboratively with us.
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We build long-term relationships and get to know our client’s business, objectives and requirements. We provide ongoing support, legal updates and strategic advice when there is a change in the law.
- We are knowledgeable and have a deep understanding of the sponsor licence process. We remain up-to-date with changes in law and policy and always communicate this to our clients.
I’ve worked with Paragon Law across three different businesses. Regardless of the size and importance, the service is the same with no compromise. The team is able to pick up if one person is out.
UK HR Director
Meet Kirin Abbas
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Kirin Abbas
Kirin Abbas is a founder and director at Paragon Law. Kirin advises exclusively on sponsor licence applications, sponsorship of skilled workers and sponsor licence applications. Her work in business immigration has been recognised by peers, clients and legal directories such as the Legal 500. Clients value that Kirin is approachable, provides precise and quick advice. Kirin has worked closely with organisations in sectors as diverse as technology, sports, engineering, higher education, health care and food manufacturing.
We sought advice from Paragon Law when making applications for a sponsor licence, certificate of sponsorship and visa application (for a student to move to a Skilled Worker general). We were successful in our application and this is entirely due to the support given to us. The service was really personal and made a very daunting process manageable. Their advice was clear and accessible and we never felt hurried. I couldn’t recommend this firm highly enough.
Frequently asked questions
How do you assess your fees?
We understand that no two clients are the same, and so, there cannot be one fee that is applied to all cases. Therefore, we offer an initial consultation. This consultation allows you to explain your objectives, allows us to assess your options, if the legal requirements will be met and if you require us to manage the application or if you require advisory services. After the initial consultation we will advise clearly on our fixed fee approach and inform you of this in writing.
How do I arrange a consultation?
To arrange a consultation with one of our business immigration lawyers you can either complete the enquiry form below or email us at [email protected]. We will be in touch with you to arrange a meeting with one of our business immigration solicitors. Depending on your preference the initial consultation will either be a video or telephone call.
What makes Paragon Law different from other immigration law firms?
Paragon Law is one of the UK’s largest and longest established immigration law firms. We have assisted businesses of all sizes to apply for a sponsor licence and remain compliant in their sponsorship duties. We are a safe, knowledgeable law firm with a proven track record.
Sponsored Work Routes |
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| Skilled Worker (experienced hire) | GBM - Senior or Specialist Worker | Expansion Worker | Scale-up Worker | |
| Purpose of route | A Skilled Worker visa allows individuals to come to the UK to do an eligible job with an approved employer. | The GBM – Senior or Specialist Worker visa allows employees who are being assigned by their overseas employer to a linked entity in the UK. | An Expansion Worker visa allows individuals to set up a branch of an overseas business in the UK. | A Scale-up Worker visa allows individuals to do an eligible job for a fast-growing UK business. |
| Licence required? | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ sponsorship only required for initial 6 months. |
| Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) | £239 | £239 | £25 | £25 |
| Immigration Skills Charge (ISC) | £1,000 per year for medium/ large sponsors or £364 per year for small or charitable sponsors. | £1,000 per year for medium/ large sponsors or £364 per year for small or charitable sponsors. | No | No |
| Immigration Health Surcharge (HIS) | £1.035 per year for each applicant or £776 per year for each applicant under 18. | £719 (3 years or less) or £1,420 (more than 3 years). | £1.035 per year for each applicant or £776 per year for each applicant under 18. | £1.035 per year for each applicant or £776 per year for each applicant under 18. |
| Visa fee | £719 (3 years or less) or £1,420 (more than 3 years). | £719 (3 years or less) or £1,420 (more than 3 years). | £298 | £822 |
| Minimum salary | £38,700, or the occupation-specific threshold, whichever is higher. Discount applies to new entrants. | £48,500, or the occupation-specific threshold, whichever is higher. | £48,500 or the occupation-specific threshold, whichever is higher. | £36,300 or the occupation-specific threshold, whichever is higher. |
| Overseas experience with entity | Not applicable (N/A) | 12 months, unless applicant is a high earner with a salary of £73,900. |
12 months, unless applicant is a high earner (£73,900 per year) or is a Japanese national seeking to establish a UK branch or subsidiary of the sponsor group under the UKJapan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. | Not applicable (N/A) |
| English language requirement? | ✔ | Not applicable (N/A) | Not applicable (N/A) | ✔ |
| TB Test | ✔ if in a TB listed country. | ✔ if in a TB listed country. | ✔ if in a TB listed country. | ✔ if in a TB listed country. |
| Skill level | RQF Level 3 or above (UK A-Level). | RQF Level 6 (Graduate equivalent) . | RQF Level 6 (Graduate equivalent). | RQF Level 6 (Graduate equivalent). |
| Financial Requirement | £1,270, or maintenance can be certified by sponsor. | £1,270, or maintenance can be certified by sponsor. | £1,270, or maintenance can be certified by sponsor. | £1,270, or maintenance can be certified by sponsor. |
| Maximum period of stay | No set limit | 5 years in any 6-year period (if gross annual salary is less than £73,900) or 9 years in any 10-year period (if high earner with a gross annual salary of £73,900 or higher). | 2 years and must not exceed cumulative permission in GBM routes totalling 5 years in any 6-year period. | 2 years. Leave can then be extended by 3 years, as many times as required. |
| Leads to Settlement | ✔ 5 continuous years. | Not applicable (N/A) | Not applicable (N/A) | ✔ 5 continuous years. |
| Dependants can accompany | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Timeframe | Approximately 3 weeks from attendance at a biometrics appointment, or 1 week if priority service used. | Approximately 3 weeks from attendance at a biometrics appointment, or 1 week if priority service used. | Approximately 3 weeks from attendance at a biometrics appointment, or 1 week if priority service used. | Approximately 3 weeks from attendance at a biometrics appointment, or 1 week if priority service used. |
Find out more about our fees
Our fees reflect the service required and the complexities of the case. For a tailored quote please consult one of our immigration lawyers. As an immigration law firm, we offer our clients an initial consultation with an immigration lawyer in order to get more detail about your case.
Speak to our expert immigration lawyers
Every client is different in terms of their requirements. There is no one price or service that fits all. We tailor our advice for each client. Please complete the form below and in turn a business immigration lawyer will be in touch to discuss how we can work together.