UK immigration advice for employers and HR teams
Recruiting an overseas candidate, retaining a valued employee or changing someone’s role can raise immigration questions that affect wider staffing decisions. Your team needs to understand what is permitted, what action is required and when it needs to happen.
Knightsbridge Immigration supports employers and HR teams with recruitment, sponsorship and ongoing immigration responsibilities. We explain how the requirements apply to the decision in front of you, identify the information needed and help you organise the next steps around your business’s plans.
Assess recruitment before confirming start dates
A candidate may already have permission to work in the UK, need sponsorship from your organisation or hold permission subject to particular restrictions.
We consider their immigration position alongside the proposed duties, salary and working arrangements. Where sponsorship is needed, we assess the relevant requirements and explain the preparation involved.
If your organisation does not yet hold the appropriate licence, our Business Sponsor Licence service can help you understand what needs to be in place. This allows recruitment teams to consider immigration requirements before committing to a start date.
Plan your Certificate of Sponsorship requirements
Holding a sponsor licence is one stage of the process. You also need the appropriate Certificate of Sponsorship for the worker and application concerned.
Our CoS Allocation support helps licensed sponsors assess their requirements for Undefined certificates, including where additional allocation is needed. Skilled Worker applications made from overseas use Defined certificates, which follow a separate request process.
We explain the applicable steps and information needed, helping your team coordinate sponsorship with the employee’s application.
Manage changes affecting sponsored employees
A promotion, change of duties, salary adjustment or move to another workplace can have immigration implications. The action required depends on the details of the change and the employee’s permission.
We assess whether a proposed change requires reporting, a new Certificate of Sponsorship or a further visa application. We also explain any steps that need to be completed before new working arrangements begin.
Where an employee’s permission is approaching expiry, early review helps establish whether the requirements for continued sponsorship can be met and what preparation is needed.
Make compliance part of everyday HR
Sponsorship responsibilities involve maintaining records, monitoring relevant changes and making required reports. These duties need to work alongside recruitment, payroll and line management.
Our HR & Compliance support helps your team understand right to work checks, record keeping, immigration expiry dates and reporting obligations. We clarify responsibilities so relevant information reaches the people managing sponsorship.
Through Immigration & HR Audits, we can review the agreed areas of your records and procedures, identify gaps and explain practical steps for addressing them. This gives you a clearer view of where your arrangements need attention.
Consider immigration when the business changes
A merger, acquisition or restructuring can affect the sponsor licence and the employees working under it. Immigration implications should be considered while the proposed changes are being planned.
Our Mergers & Acquisitions support addresses the immigration aspects of those changes. We examine the proposed arrangements and explain relevant reporting or licensing requirements, helping those responsible account for them within the wider timetable.
Get advice on your next staffing decision
You may need advice about one employee, support with a recruitment exercise or a review of existing sponsorship arrangements. We agree the work around the issue you need to resolve.
Tell us whether your organisation holds a sponsor licence, what decision you are considering and any relevant dates. We will confirm whether we can assist and explain the proposed scope, information required and fees before you instruct us.
Request a consultation
