Business Immigration
Practical Immigration Support for Employers and Entrepreneurs Hiring overseas talent or establishing a UK business? We help organisations and founders manage visa routes, sponsor duties and Home Office scrutiny.
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Featured Business Immigration lawyers
Business immigration advice with commercial context
Recruiting internationally or moving a business leader into the UK involves more than selecting a visa category. Employers must consider sponsor eligibility, recruitment plans, right-to-work controls and ongoing Home Office compliance. Entrepreneurs need a route that fits both their immigration position and the way they intend to build a business. Arona St James Solicitors provides practical business immigration advice to employers, overseas founders, senior executives and HR teams.
We take time to understand the organisation, the proposed role or venture, and the people involved. Our advice explains the legal requirements in plain language and identifies the evidence, internal processes and realistic next steps. Immigration decisions remain with the Home Office, so we do not promise that a licence or visa will be granted.
Support for UK employers
A UK organisation will usually need the appropriate sponsor licence before it can sponsor an overseas national under a sponsored work route. A licence application requires the organisation to demonstrate that it is genuine, operating lawfully and able to carry out its sponsor duties. The Home Office may examine corporate records, staffing structures, HR systems and the proposed roles, and may conduct a compliance visit.
We can advise at the planning stage, review supporting documents, help prepare the application and explain how the sponsor management system fits into ongoing compliance. Existing sponsors can seek support with reporting duties, record keeping, right-to-work checks, changes within the business and preparation for a Home Office audit. Where concerns have led to a downgrade, suspension or threatened revocation, early advice is important because response periods may be limited.
We also advise on visa applications for sponsored workers, including the Skilled Worker route and other work categories where relevant. Sponsorship should be considered alongside the individual applicant’s eligibility, the job, salary requirements in force at the time and the organisation’s available certificate allocation.
Entrepreneurs and founders
Overseas entrepreneurs looking to establish an innovative business in the UK may consider the Innovator Founder route. It requires endorsement by an approved endorsing body and an assessment of the business idea against the applicable criteria. Immigration approval and commercial endorsement are separate processes, and careful preparation is needed for both.
We help founders understand the immigration framework, organise the evidence relevant to their application and consider how their personal circumstances interact with the proposed venture. The dedicated service page explains the Innovator Founder route in more detail. We do not provide investment or business-plan assurance, but we can work alongside a client’s commercial and financial advisers where the immigration issues overlap.
Senior executives and international operations
International groups may need to transfer senior managers, specialists or graduate trainees to a UK operation. Depending on the facts, a route within Global Business Mobility or another sponsored category may be relevant. The correct choice can turn on the relationship between overseas and UK entities, the nature and duration of the assignment, previous employment and the individual’s longer-term plans.
We assess the corporate structure and proposed move before advising on the likely route. This is particularly important where a temporary assignment route may not lead directly to settlement, or where a business is establishing its first UK presence.
Compliance throughout the sponsor lifecycle
A sponsor licence is not a one-off approval. Licensed sponsors must retain prescribed records, monitor sponsored workers, report relevant changes and maintain systems capable of meeting their duties. Failures can affect both the organisation and the immigration status of sponsored staff.
We aim to make compliance workable in practice. That may involve reviewing policies and files, clarifying responsibility between HR and management, identifying gaps before an audit, or advising after a reportable event. Legal advice is tailored to the size and structure of the organisation rather than based on a generic compliance pack.
What to expect from an initial consultation
For an employer, we will usually ask about the business, trading history, ownership, workforce, HR systems and proposed roles. For an individual or founder, we will consider nationality, immigration history, business or assignment plans and relevant dates. Bringing corporate documents, Home Office correspondence and a clear outline of the proposed move helps us give focused advice.
At the meeting, we will identify the questions that need to be resolved, discuss the route or licence process and explain foreseeable compliance issues. If we can assist further, we will provide a written scope and quote. Costs depend on the work required; we do not list a standard fee where the circumstances and level of support may differ materially.
Speak to our team
If your organisation plans to recruit from overseas, faces sponsor compliance concerns, or needs to move a founder or senior executive to the UK, contact our business immigration team. We will assess the immediate issue and explain the practical next step.
FAQs
A business will usually need the relevant sponsor licence before it can sponsor an overseas national under a sponsored work route such as Skilled Worker. Some people have immigration permission that allows them to work without sponsorship, so the position should be checked for the individual and role.
It is an immigration route for eligible overseas founders proposing an innovative, viable and scalable UK business. The applicant needs endorsement from an approved endorsing body as well as meeting the Home Office requirements. The dedicated service page explains the route in greater detail.
The Home Office considers whether the organisation is genuine and operating lawfully, whether relevant roles are suitable for sponsorship, and whether the organisation has trustworthy personnel and systems capable of meeting sponsor duties. It may request further evidence or carry out a compliance visit.
Sponsors must keep required records, monitor sponsored workers, carry out compliant right-to-work checks, report specified changes within the required times and maintain effective HR systems. Duties continue throughout the life of the licence and should be allocated clearly within the organisation.
Processing times vary and can change. GOV.UK publishes current information, and a priority service may sometimes be available but is not guaranteed. Requests for further documents or a compliance visit can extend the process, so businesses should plan recruitment timelines conservatively.
Yes. We can review the Home Office correspondence, assess the alleged compliance failings and help prepare a response or advise on an available challenge. Deadlines are often short and the consequences can affect sponsored workers, so obtain advice promptly.
The answer depends on the corporate relationship, role, assignment length, previous employment, sponsor status and the executive’s long-term plans. Skilled Worker or a Global Business Mobility route may be relevant, but an individual assessment is needed before choosing a route.
Business Immigration services
Client reviews
What clients say about our business immigration team
“I highly recommend Arona Sarwar an immigration solicitor from Arona St James for her expertise with my ILR case as a child dependent to a skilled worker especially as I am now an adult. We had to work with the firm about my dependency and explore the continuous residence carefully, the case worker guidance was looked at as this can change throughout the several months and a grant emerged. I was nervous as I could not travel at firm due to my studies and time out exceeded the period but was discounted in the end which settled my anxiety over a possible refusal. My case as you can see had a few complications, but the immigration solicitors understood how children under support of their parents don’t live independently for some time once they turn 18. Arona Sarwar insights helped us a lot through this process and I can now just enjoy being young again without what the news alarming me that my future is uncertain. I highly recommend this small female run law firm which to me is incredibly knowledgable, well established, and diverse. I highly recommend this law firm for skilled worker dependents ILR advice.”
“I recently used the checking-in service offered by Arona St James Solicitors for my British citizenship application, and I was thrilled with the results. Arona Sarwar checked my application for merit and eligibility, ensuring every detail was in order once I had provided all the necessary documents. One aspect that particularly stood out was her assistance with a challenging question about my marital status on the form. Despite the seemingly straightforward nature of the question, I was uncertain about how best to answer it to avoid any doubts from the Home Office agent reviewing my application. Arona provided me with two clear and simple sentence options to address this concern. I submitted my application on August 20th, 2024, and by October 7th, I received an email from UKVI confirming that my application had been successful. The entire process was efficient, and stress free, thanks to Arona’s guidance. This wasn't my 1st positive experience with Arona St James Solicitors. They also successfully assisted me with my settlement application in 2019, providing the same level of expertise. I wholeheartedly recommend the checking-in service provided by this firm.Their attention to detail and efficiency at untangling complex situations truly set them apart. If you are looking for reliable and efficient assistance with your immigration matters, look no further than Arona St James Solicitors. Thanks Arona for making this process easy and ensuring my success!”
“I have known Arona Sarwar, Solicitor, for over 5 years, and she handles all my immigration affairs and other advice when I need it; she is supportive, highly knowledgeable and a very tactical solicitor. Her staff are friendly and also assist, so you feel supported by her team. I have just got my British Passport and now run a successful small business in London. I highly recommend those applying to seek her advice, as she is one of the best immigration solicitors out there and should be shouted about a lot more. I celebrate Arona St. James Solicitors as a firm enriched with diversity, my money goes to support the right business with huge expertise and will not be forgotten from my side, highly value this firm.”
“Arona is an excellent solicitor, has supported me and my family with applying as a skilled worker dependent route from Brazil with an EEA child as well, two processes, managed with care and precision on orientations, always responding to our questions, guided and successfully helped us to achieve such important step of our lives. Thank you very much!!”
“ILR secured We have been with London based Arona St James Solicitors from the start of our journey. They were part of my employers recommended solicitors and I have had researched the firm before hand. From the outset the advise from Arona an expert with over 20 years was clear considered and looked ahead. It helped me feel confident someone that has been practicing in the field could navigate our case with minimal disruption and she did; from entry clearance as a skilled worker five years ago to settlement today. In these turbulent times a solid immigration firm is vital. I am so grateful to our immigration solicitors helping us get our ILR. Our case was not straightforward, with skilled worker settlement, spouse and child dependent applications, continuous residence issues, more than 180 days outside the UK, and our child now being an adult. They guided us through everything with their expertise and were clear in their advice guidance and professional in their approach. The firm stands out as I and my family were always supported by them answering any issues looking back over any updates which we felt might impact us from what we were hearing in the news often out of hours as we were worried during the process. More so as we have uprooted our work our studies our home and developed our family life in the UK and we did this through hard work and successfully. We would highly recommend Arona an immigration lawyer from Arona St James solicitors to anyone dealing with a complex immigration case. ***Original review 5 years ago*** SKILLED WORKER SECURED I had a difficult and complicated application for Skilled worker visa that has been approved, thanks to the knowledge and professionalism of Arona in handling our delicate case. Words can not express my gratitude and appreciation for all involved. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED”
“I have lived in the UK for over 10 years relied on other solicitors but this firm changed my life, worked hard during this pandemic to help me successfully win my case and I would always recommend this firm as brilliant set of solicitors to work with expertise is formidable and very outcome based. I had the head of the team Arona Sarwar and her caseworker Emma work together to secure my win. Highly recommend”
“As an Egyptian who applied for asylum (international protection) in the UK I met with several immigration lawyers. They were helpful to me but the most helpful, and the person who had the most in-depth knowledge of both the conditions in Egypt and of my situation as a gay man was Arona Sarwar of Arona St James. She impressed me because she knew exactly what information was relevant to support my claim for international protection and she knew how to draft an effective personal statement and eliminate background information that was not relevant. I would therefore recommend her to anyone and especially to people from the Middle East who want a solicitor that has insightful and she is in my opinion, an outstanding solicitor who will guide you through this very difficult process. I got a distinction in my Master’s and I can’t wait to settle down in my career and build my home in the UK.”
“I had been here in 9years and fought to get international protection. I had 5 firms before I found Arona St James so I can compare the legal team here against others. From the outset firm had time for me, they listened to me, where I felt defeated and low they encouraged me to get to a happy place and then took my history. I felt supported that I could talk freely more to them which made the difference and I have no doubt this helped me secure my stay. This firm is incredibly knowledgeable and have years of experience within the field of immigration law and with dealing with a person’s case through to succession. A lot of the media talk about hostile environment faced by immigrants so having a strong law firm that supports you I think he is key when selecting your legal representative. The biggest step for me was first meeting with them and being told that they would act. I would encourage those who have strong cases and poor representation to go to Arona St James and you will find a brilliant Immigration Law firm, that will be honest and engaging with you. If they take on your case they will fight it like no other firm that I have dealt with in the past. They followed up on my immigration case, which had been stagnate for years at the Home Office, they accompanied me to my appointments and advised me throughout ( by phone, by email, and through our meetings) so I was confident handling myself more. They prepared my evidence for my hearing and instructed an exceptional barrister, again it was important that I felt relaxed around her, and from my initial meeting I knew she understood my plight, it was clear she had read the papers and fought my case. My solicitor Arona Sarwar is a powerful solicitor, when you meet her and work with her you know you are in safe hands, she is strategic and her legal expertise in this field is obvious, her presence is felt. Arona St James prepared my case for the hearing and for UKVI and this assisted my win. Without this firm I would not have secured my stay and I highly recommend them to all immigration clients.”
“I was recommended to Arona Sarwar of Arona St James. I am from Yemen and worked all my adult life as a police officer in the Dubai Police Force. I lost my job and my residency, whilst I came to visit my wife in the UK. Recently I was awarded Humanitarian Protection thanks to Arona Sarwar, as it is unsafe for me to return to Yemen. I am restarting my life with my family. I am now in a safe place and away from harm’s way. Yemen is a place of unrest and remains an unsafe country. This law firm has a great team of Immigration caseworkers who work long and hard on cases. I was accompanied to all my interviews and represented. I felt supported throughout and you noticed how determined Arona was to fight for me. She ensured she got to know me, my family before finalising my arguments. Also my family were pleased with having her on board. I would recommend her to those who want an intelligent confident solicitor that just makes you feel she will not give up. You know from the beginning she has the experience and will do what’s best for you. I am protected and sleep well at night now. My life has changed for the better. A big Thank you to everyone at Arona St James Solicitors”
“I am Hungarian EEA national. I applied for my permanent residence with my husband and was treated very poorly by the Home Office, they raided my home. The officers were quite hostile to me as my husband had moved out and I had not informed them. I thought up until I divorce I am still married, so could not see why they were shouting at me …….that I had lied to them and that It was too late and I would have to leave the UK. I have been in a relationship with my husband since 2009 and they made me feel like a criminal. I spoke with Arona about the visit, she intervened and made urgent representations addressing them that my husband would qualify for stay under retained rights as if I had divorced my husband he would still qualify and resolved matters for us both swiftly. This was important for me as well as I was securing my permanent residence and the whole process was unfair, they took three months and I was in limbo about my rights and my husbands. I have known Arona since 2010, she helped us secure our residence certificates. What I would like to say Arona Sarwar was very supportive, patient, understanding during our difficult period and her expertise just shines through, the ease at which she is able to unpick the mess and present it fairly and transparently helped us resolve all our affairs properly. For me she is one of the best Immigration solicitors around. Words can not express how grateful we are to her and her team. We can get on with our lives now Arona Sarwar is best of the best out there. Highly recommend her for her expertise and the best person to turn to on complex cases.”
“My journey with my solicitor, Arona Sarwar, is one of Tier 1 Investment client through to settlement. I came to the UK initially as an undergraduate student and remained one until I had secured my doctorate. As time passes, I realized that I belong here, and I started to nest. I slowly but surely moved much of my possessions over from New York including my prized Steinway piano and consequently decided to switch to an investment visa. Arona had helped me with the initial transition and then helped again to apply for my extension. On both occasions, I had elected the Super Premium Service. During the extension, I fell short in the investment funds that were invested due to a logistical error on my part, but she argued my case with the investment team at UKVI and successfully secured my grant, too my relief. I maintained my investments and recently applied for settlement. I am pleased to confirm that Arona had secured this for me despite the fact that I had only given her instructions a day before the expiration of my visa. She had dropped everything and worked very hard to resolve any issues which have arisen as a result. I can state that she is knowledgeable, meticulous, versatile and exceptionally talented immigration solicitor that I could and do always turn to whenever I need advise. Having a relaxed approach towards clients combined with a very tough and confident approach with the other side can be seen with time. One can notice the ease, at which she works, and that is reflection on her years of experience, which gave me comfort that I was in safe hands. I would advocate any commercial, high-networth immigration applicants to ensure they contact Arona for a honest opinion and successful approach. She certainly went on a journey with me, and I will no doubt turn to her when it is time to apply for nationality as I do have every confidence in her having ability and temperament to help me again in the future.”
“I have known Arona Sarwar through my business dealings with her for several years, through my accountancy practice, as she advices many of our high net worth business clients on business visa’s and investment routes into the UK. She is a highly regarded and respected practitioner. Our practice has instructed magic circle firms but have found her knowledge and legal service outshines their, her hands on approach and quick mind allows my practice to call her to strategically assess our clients needs and find the right solution. We have seen her take on cases and see them through positively. I personally used her services to apply for my wife's application for a UK visa under the priority service. As always I found her to be extremely helpful and knowledgeable with exceptional client care skills. Brilliance”
“I do not think I can put it in words just how brilliant Arona's law firm has been when dealing with my case. I must be their longest running case in their books and not due to the fact that they were not dealing with my case but because I was always too scared to move forward. Sometimes you are not ready to deal with things and that for me has been a long process. However due to Arona's patience and gentle persuasion, we were able to finally put forward my legal case. Arona's immigration team were brilliant; Jessica and Deborah (counsel) formed part of my formidable legal team. From the outset, they got to grips with my case and I could see that they got to know me in depth, understanding my personal situation., in order for me to secure international protection. it is noticable that Arona's team are incredibly committed to the LGTBQ issues and do all they can to help their clients. More importantly they make them feel comfortable and safe, something that is not easily achieved given what most all LGTBQ people seeking asylum has had to endure in their own unsafe country. Without Arona I would not have been granted my leave to remain, I am sure of that, the firm's hard work and determination got us here. Even after the home office refusal there was no doubt in their minds I needed to secure international protection, pushing forward with my case and vase managing my appeal; which we of course we won. All I can say is thank you team Arona Sarwar and to her team, Jessica and Deborah, you are simply the best immigration lawyers. And I will be recommending your firm to anyone who needs legal advice without a second thought.”
“Arona Sarwar was recommended to me. She has acted for my partner and secured his residence card, post a difficult time getting married. She also just secured my permanent residence as an EEA under the self employed route in a very difficult climate. Brilliant mind. Always on the other end of the line. Will always turn to her for my personal and business immigration needs and the ones of friends and family, to whom I will definitely keep recommending her. Sheer brilliance”
“Six years ago my partner and I were deeply worried with his status but fortunately after changing our immigration lawyers and having the step by step guidance Arona Sarwar and her friendly and dedicated team we are enjoying our lives together. We now use Arona Sarwar for all our immigration needs. I can wholeheartedly recommend their services.”
“I was desperately looking for a good lawyer to take on my asylum case. I first met Arona Sarwar in and around January, 2015. She took my case on, helped me from when I applied, she accompanied me to the Home Office with me and advice me on my application. I secured international protection two months after having had my substantive interview. I was over the moon and relieved that I can now begin to live my life. I can’t describe the weight that has been lifted off my shoulder. During my case preparation I met with Arona Sarwar every week. She is not only a good lawyer, she is understanding and friendly to those with asylum case, this helped me enormously as I felt so comfortable to share with her private aspects of my life. I appreciate the hours spent preparing my case and this gave me hope. Her dedication for clients is 100%. I am happy and completely satisfied with the legal advice received. I highly recommend her to those who are going to claim asylum in UK. I am sure you won’t be disappointed.”
Arrange a confidential consultation
Contact us today via email on assistance@aronastjames.co.uk or via telephone on 020 8175 5000 to arrange a confidential consultation and discuss your circumstances with one of our immigration solicitors.