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Business Immigration Solicitors in London

OTS Solicitors is widely regarded as one of the best Immigration law firms in London.  Our solicitors are experienced in advising clients from a variety of business sectors and our clients range from individuals, start-ups, small and medium-sized enterprises, and multi-national corporations.

We are here to help you with all types of business immigration matters whether it is:

To speak to our award-winning business immigration solicitors based in the City of London, please contact us on 0203 959 9123 or contact us through our online enquiries form.


After the 28 March 2019, the Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa scheme will close. 

If you were planning to apply for an Entrepreneur Visa the application is now urgent. At London based OTS Solicitors our team of dedicated immigration solicitors can help you with the paperwork needed to submit an urgent Entrepreneur Visa application or look at your alternative options. 

If you need to apply urgently for your Entrepreneur Visa or you are worried about the status of a pending Entrepreneur Visa application or what happens when your current Entrepreneur Visa expires, please call Legal 500 law directory recommended OTS Solicitors for help on 0203 959 9123 or send us an enquiry via our Contact page.


Corporate Immigration

OTS Solicitors is highly reputable in the legal field and specifically within Immigration as we are one of the market leaders in the Immigration sector.

We have a specialist team of Immigration Solicitors who have vast experience in dealing with Corporate Immigration matters as we understand the importance for corporations in the UK to secure the right people for the right Employment opportunities. This is indispensable for the growth of any business and its ability to continue to provide its’ services successfully.

We are one of very few Immigration law firms to provide highly qualified, and eminently respected Immigration solicitors in the UK and EU, such as Mr Paul Gulbenkian, a Senior Immigration Solicitor and former Immigration judge of the Immigration Tribunal in the UK. Mr Gulbenkian is one of the country’s most influential business Immigration lawyers and advises the UK Government’s Migration Advisory Committee on Immigration legislation and laws affecting UK and foreign businesses and investors.

Immigration Law is frequently changing and becoming increasingly complex with the list of requirements and policy guidance issued by the Home Office causing uncertainty and frustration for many businesses and corporations in the UK. This has resulted in many corporations and businesses unable to meet the strict requirements which has, in turn, had a negative impact on profitability and the services that businesses can offer as their ability to hire foreign employees have been restricted.  Failure to adhere to the Immigration Rules can have serious consequences for a business and its employees, for example businesses can face substantial fines and have their Licence to sponsor revoked immediately without a right of appeal.

Understandably without the right employees, a business will fail and so, if a business is refused permission to sponsor the right workers, they will likely experience financial losses. It is therefore vital that the correct help and advice is sought from the outset to avoid any possible complications when submitting applications to the Home Office.

How we can assist with your Corporate Immigration needs?

We are a niche firm of Immigration Solicitors with in depth knowledge and experience in all corporate Immigration matters. Due to the outstanding advice and service provided to clients and through our increasing expertise in Immigration, we have been awarded with the ‘Immigration Law firm of the Year 2017’ award which is a highly sought after award within the Immigration sector.

At OTS Solicitors our head of business Immigration team, Teni Shahiean is a Legal 500 recommended Immigration lawyer. Our business Immigration department is made up of the UK's most knowledgeable and experienced Immigration and employment lawyers who are highly influential with an ability to track and anticipate changes to the Immigration rules. In turn, this has proven to be highly valuable and beneficial to our clients who receive only the most up to date, accurate and reliable advice at the most earliest possible stage of their cases.

We assist corporations in all Immigration matters to ensure that the right people are hired for skilled jobs and that employees are successfully retained to ensure that businesses continue to grow and profitability is always increasing. With the Immigration Rules constantly changing and becoming more ambiguous, we understand that businesses require a firm of specialist Immigration Solicitors whom they can rely on at all times and as such we provide an array of corporate Immigration services to meet our clients’ needs.

We are fully equipped to assist and advise on many corporate Immigration matters including:

  1. Advice on correctly hiring and retaining staff to help you grow your business
  2. Completing work eligibility assessments including undertaking the right to work checks in accordance with Home Office guidelines
  3. Prompt assistance in obtaining a Sponsorship Licence
  4. Advice on the revocation and suspension of a Sponsorship Licence
  5. Full support to Human Resources department to ensure that files are kept updated and recorded in the format required by the Home Office

Contact our team of experts on 0203 959 9123 to start the process of securing your future’s business.

Business Immigration

Our team of experts include Legal 500 solicitors and a former Immigration Judge, Mr Paul Gulbenkian. OTS Solicitors are a highly experienced and forward-thinking established firm with inside knowledge of the Immigration process and requirements.

We understand that the Immigration Rules can seem daunting and quite complex especially for those wishing to obtain leave to remain under the Points Based System due to the lengthy requirements and policy guidance imposed by the Home Office. We have established a business Immigration team with experts that have dealt with all business Immigration matters for numerous years to ensure that our team is able to deliver the precise, detailed and prompt advice that our clients require.

We are highly rated within the legal profession due to our niche expertise and increasing success rate. We are able to effectively advise those seeking to make an application under the Points Based System including applications for Skilled Worker Visa, Tier 2 (General) visas and a Innovator or previous Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visas.

We provide extremely detailed business immigration services including:

  • Ensuring supporting documents to be relied on are in accordance with Home Office guidelines
  • Completing all forms on your behalf so that you do not have to deal with the lengthy and ambiguous forms
  • We will draft custom detailed legal representations highlighting the reasons why you meet the requirements of the relevant visa, rely on the case precedents that strengthen your application and clearly provide all supporting documents in a professional manner

Following the submission of an application, our responsibilities do not end there as we will continue to advise and guide you on how to remain compliant with the Immigration Rules as it is constantly changing.

From experience, we have found that the key to ensuring a secure future in the UK is to instruct experts in the field from the very beginning who will competently assist you every step of the way, from the initial application in obtaining a visa to the very last step of applying for British Citizenship.

Contact our business Immigration team today on 0203 959 9123 for further information.

Our team of highly accredited and dedicated business immigration solicitors can assit you or your company in relation to:

  • Compliance - Advice on the compliance requirements for Tier 1, 2 and 5 visa
  • Sponsorship Licence - Applying for a Tier 4 Sponsorship Licence
  • Global Mobility - the global movement of employees to multiple jurisdictions, including access to local expertise on procedures, standards and timescale
  • Tier 1 Visas:
    • Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) Visa applications
    • Tier 1 (Investor) Visa application
    • Tier 1 Exceptional Talent Visa applications

If you are thinking of employing, working, investing, starting or taking over an existing business in the UK, our business Immigration lawyers at OTS Solicitors have the expert knowledge to provide legal advice and guide you through the UK points-based Immigration system. We therefore encourage you to get in contact with us at the earliest possible stage of your plans to migrate.

With our expert business Immigration and Employment advice on all types of compliance matters, points based applications, entrepreneur and investor applications, over 95% of our clients have continued sucessful businesses in the UK and take advantage of the economic benefits of doing business in the UK.

If you would like to speak to one of our business Immigration solicitors, please call us on 0203 959 9123 or contact us online.

Companies who require Immigration advice on a multi-jurisdictional level need to be confident the legal advice they receive is accurate.  Widely regarded as one of the best Immigration and employment law firms in London, OTS Solicitors can provide you with the assurance that when it comes to moving your employees between global offices, you have all your Immigration compliance basis covered.

With outstanding commercial acumen and attention to detail, the dynamic, the down-to-earth team of highly accredited Immigration solicitors at OTS we will ensure you receive the most comprehensive and practical Immigration and Employment advice available.  We advise both UK companies who need to transfer employees to foreign jurisdictions and overseas-based companies who want to send staff to the UK.

To talk to us about our services for UK businesses, please phone our Fleet Street office on 0207 936 9960.

Keeping Your Business on the Move

The world’s economy is now more global than at any other time in history.  Corporations require the ability to react to emerging opportunities quickly and get staff swiftly on the ground, with the freedom to be productive from day one.

This requires employers to have access to commercially astute legal advice, delivered quickly and accurately.  The head of our Immigration and employment law teams, Teni Shahiean, a law and business graduate, has been ranked by the Legal 500 as a recommended Immigration solicitor from 2012 to 2015 and has been highly accredited by the Law Society for her Immigration knowledge and advice through the Law Society Immigration and Asylum Accreditation Scheme.  Teni and her teams collaborate to provide companies who need guidance on intra-company transfers with legal advice on the following:

  • the global movement of employees to multiple jurisdictions, including access to local expertise on procedures, standards and timescales
  • development of bespoke global networks to be operated via a single point of contact or through local contacts
  • assistance with Schengen visas
  • obtaining accommodation, factory and/or office space, plant equipment and vehicles
  • tax implications in foreign jurisdictions
  • prevention of illegal working/right to work compliance checks and best practice advice across all jurisdictions
  • visa and security requirements for employees working in developing countries and conflict zones

UK Intra-Company Transfer Visa

If you wish to transfer employees to your UK-based office, and they are a non-EEA national, they will need a Tier 2 (Intra-company Transfer) Visa to enter the UK.

You must provide your employee with the following for them to be eligible:

  • a certificate of sponsorship reference number
  • an ‘appropriate’ salary
  • the employee must have £945 in savings – this is to prove they can support themselves and they must have had this in their bank account for 90 days before the visa application is made

If your company has a fully approved (‘A-rated) Sponsorship Licence and you can certify that you can support and accommodate the employee for the first month they are employed, they will not need to show £945 in savings.

Appropriate salary definitions are as follows:

  • Long-term Staff applicants – at least £41,500 or the ‘appropriate rate’ for the role (whichever is higher)
  • Short-term Staff, Graduate Trainee or Skills Transfer applicants – at least £24,800 or the ‘appropriate rate’ (whichever is higher)
  • staff already in the UK on a Tier 2 (Intra-company Transfer) visa or work permit issued before 6th April 2011 – at least the ‘appropriate rate.’

Family members of the employee can also come to the UK; however, they will require appropriate visas if they are non-EEA nationals.

Why Chose OTS Solicitors

Our Immigration and Employment teams are widely regarded as well-informed, practical and commercially minded.  We collaborate with our business clients when it comes to their legal matters, forming enduring partnerships, which allows us to get to know their commercial goals and ambitions in detail.

When you engage our services you can expect the following standard of service:

  • Based on the information you provide us, detailed advice as to the UK and/or international Immigration laws that apply to your business requirements
  • A clear, concise discussion with your Solicitor, outlining the strengths and weaknesses of your application
  • Advice as to what documentation you will need to provide to support your application
  • Assistance with filling in the relevant application forms
  • Full follow-up with the Home Office if there are any questions or problems with your application
  • Your Immigration Solicitor will prepare strong, detailed legal representations setting out the legal framework to support your application
  • A full explanation of the compliance obligations pertaining to your intra-company transfer application

OTS Solicitors is registered with and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

Our Fees

We can offer a fixed fee service for business clients in some circumstances.  We can also offer payment options if required.

To find out more on how we can advise your business with intra-company transfers, please phone our office on 0203 959 9123 to talk to one of our team.  We would be happy to offer an initial consultation over the phone, or you can make an appointment to see us in our London office.

OTS Solicitors is widely regarded as one of the best Immigration and employment law firms in London.  Our experience in the technology sector is extensive, and our clients range from those in the start-up phase of their business to multi-national corporations.

With an innovative approach to finding legal solutions and a laser-like attention to detail, our dynamic, down-to-earth team will ensure you receive the most comprehensive and practical Immigration and employment law advice available in the UK.

To talk to us about our Immigration solutions for technology clients, please phone our London office on 0207 936 9960.

The head of our Immigration and employment law teams, Teni Shahiean, a law and business graduate, has been ranked by the Legal 500 as a recommended Immigration solicitor from 2012 to 2015 and has been highly accredited by the Law Society for her Immigration knowledge and advice through the Law Society Immigration and Asylum Accreditation Scheme.  Teni and her teams collaborate to provide business owners, suppliers, employers and employees working within the UK technology sector with legal advice on the following:

  • Tier 1 (entrepreneur) Visa applications
  • Tier 1 Exceptional Talent Visa applications
  • Advice on the Tier One Exceptional Tech Talent scheme
  • Applying for and obtaining a Tier 2 Sponsor Licence
  • Applications to come to the UK as the sole representative of an overseas business
  • Advice on sponsor compliance obligations
  • Day to day advice on business Immigration law best practice
  • Inter-company transfers
  • Lobbying the Home Office on your behalf
  • Prevention of illegal workers
  • Indefinite Leave to Remain and minimum salary requirements

The Tier One Tech Talent Scheme

Last year technology companies in Britain raised a staggering $3.6bn from venture capitalists. Strong investor appetite for London-based start-ups and fintech groups resulted in record levels of tech investment flowing into the country, and the growth shows no sign of abating.

In 2010, in response to the rapid growth in the technology sector, the Government set up Tech City UK.  The organisation’s mission was to support businesses in the technology sector and attract the most talented people from around the globe to come and work in the UK tech industry.

The Tech Nation Visa Scheme

Following consultation with business leaders in the technology section, the Tech Nation Visa Scheme was created.

To make it easier for businesses in the technology sector to attract and retain top talent from outside the EEA, four new qualifying criteria were added.

The new qualifying criteria are:

  • Building UK scale-ups
  • Recognising “exceptional promise.”
  • Powering the Northern Powerhouse
  • Recruiting teams of up to five individuals at any one time

Teni and her colleagues can assist you in taking advantage of this opportunity to recruit the talent you need to scale up your business and increase its profits.  Not only can we assist you with the two-stage application process, but we can also draft your Employment contracts and staff handbooks, so you can concentrate on building your team.  We can also assist you with any Employment disputes which may arise in the future.

Why Chose OTS Solicitors

Our Immigration and Employment teams are widely regarded as well-informed, practical and commercially minded.  We collaborate closely with our clients in the technology sector, forming enduring partnerships, which allows us to get to know their commercial goals and ambitions in detail.

Our Solicitors understand how fast things can move in the tech industry and therefore manage legal issues with speed, accuracy and efficiency.  Many of our Solicitors are multi-lingual, allowing us to swiftly deal with cross-jurisdictional matters.

When you engage our services you can expect the following standard of service:

  • Based on the information you provide us, detailed advice as to the UK Immigration laws that apply to your business requirements
  • A clear, concise discussion with your Solicitor, outlining the strengths and weaknesses of your application
  • Advice as to what documentation you will need to provide to support your application
  • Assistance with filling in the relevant application forms
  • Full follow-up with the UK Border Agency if there are any questions or problems with your application
  • Your Immigration Solicitor will prepare strong, detailed legal representations setting out the legal framework to support your application
  • A full explanation of the compliance obligations pertaining to your sponsorship application

OTS Solicitors is registered with and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

Our Fees

We can offer a fixed fee service for business clients in some circumstances.  We can also offer payment options if required.

To find out more on how we can advise your business, please phone our office on 0203 959 9123 to talk to one of our team.  We would be happy to offer an initial consultation over the phone, or you can make an appointment to see us in our London office.

OTS Solicitors is widely regarded as one of the best Immigration law firms in the United Kingdom.  With a deep knowledge of the education sector and strong attention to detail, our dynamic, down-to-earth legal team will ensure you receive the most comprehensive and up to date Immigration advice available.

We have many years’ experience advising higher and further educational establishments, independent schools and English language schools.  Our Immigration team are experts in explaining complex Immigration law pertaining to the education sector in a practical manner, free from legal jargon.

To talk to us about our services for UK businesses, please phone our London office on 0207 936 9960.

The head of our Immigration team, Teni Shahiean, a law and business graduate, has been ranked by the Legal 500 as a recommended Immigration lawyer from 2012 to 2015 and has been highly accredited by the Law Society for her Immigration knowledge and advice through the Law Society Immigration and Asylum Accreditation Scheme.  Teni and her teams collaborate to with educational establishments to the following:

  • Applying for a Tier 4 Sponsorship Licence
  • Regulatory changes to Tier 4 (Student) Visa eligibility and procedures
  • Compliance obligations of educational institutes
  • Negotiating with the Home Office and/or UKVI
  • Lobbying for policy change
  • Appealing Sponsor Licence suspensions, revocations and HTS refusals
  • Staff training on Immigration matters
  • Drafting internal and external policies, procedures and contracts
  • Risk management and due diligence
  • Preparation for Home Office visits

A Brief Guide to Applying for Tier 4 Sponsorship

If you want to enrol students from outside the EEA then you must apply for a Tier 4 Sponsorship Licence.

The licence is granted for four years unless it is revoked for some reason.  To be issued a Tier 4 licence, an education provider must be:

  • a genuine education provider that has acceptable educational quality standards, and is operating lawfully in the UK, complying with all appropriate rules and regulations;
  • considered eligible and suitable to hold a Tier 4 licence; and
  • capable of carrying out its duties as a sponsor.

An education provider must meet these criteria in order to be granted a Tier 4 licence, and continue to meet them in order to retain its licence.

As a Tier 4 sponsor, an education provider has a number of sponsorship responsibilities and will need to allocate the following four roles to members their staff:

  • authorising officer – a senior and competent person who is responsible for the actions of staff and representatives who use the sponsor management system (SMS)
  • key contact – your main point of contact with UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) about your institution’s application
  • level 1 user – responsible for all day-to-day management of your licence using the SMS
  • level 2 user – an SMS user with more restricted permissions than a level 1 user

These roles can all be filled by the same person or by a combination of different people.

When you successfully apply for a Tier 4 licence, UKVI will give you a probationary Sponsor Licence. This is a transitional period lasting 12 months whilst you demonstrate you can fulfil all of your duties as a Tier 4 sponsor. You must apply for a basic compliance assessment after 12 months.

Why Chose OTS Solicitors

Our Immigration team is widely regarded as well-informed, practical and solutions focused.  We collaborate with education institutes when it comes to their legal matters, forming enduring partnerships, which allows us to get to know their commercial goals and academic ambitions in detail.

When you engage our services you can expect the following standard of service:

  • Based on the information you provide us, detailed advice as to the UK Immigration laws that apply to your educational institution’s requirements
  • A clear, concise discussion with your Solicitor, outlining the strengths and weaknesses of your application for a Tier 4 Sponsorship Licence
  • Advice as to what documentation you will need to provide to support your application
  • Assistance with filling in the relevant application forms
  • Full follow-up with the UKVI  if there are any questions or problems with your application
  • Your Immigration Solicitor will prepare strong, detailed legal representations setting out the legal framework to support your application
  • A full explanation of the compliance obligations pertaining to your Tier 4 sponsorship application

OTS Solicitors is registered with and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

Our Fees

We can offer a fixed fee service for educational institutions in some circumstances.  We can also offer payment options if required.

To find out more on how we can advise your organisation, please phone our office on 0203 959 9123 to talk to one of our team.  We would be happy to offer an initial consultation over the phone, or you can make an appointment to see us in our London office.

Your Questions and our answers about Business Immigration

Thank you for your enquiry. In the UK, holding a sponsorship license as a business gives you the ability to sponsor skilled workers from outside the UK. However, having a sponsorship license does not obligate you to offer sponsorship for all skilled roles within your company. You have the flexibility to choose which positions you want to sponsor. A COS must be issued for all sponsored positions. For more information, please contact us on 02039599123 or click here 

Thank you for your enquiry. If the admin review does not result in a favorable outcome, we can advise on potential legal avenues, such as appeals or judicial review. Given the complexities of immigration law, it is essential to have professional legal representation to navigate through these challenges successfully. It is also important at this stage to be able to substantiate and prove the elements referenced above. For more information, please contact us on 02039599123 or click here 

With the CoS from your sponsor, you can then apply for the relevant UK work visa (e.g., Skilled Worker Visa) through the points-based system. This involves meeting the visa criteria, including a job offer from the licensed sponsor and meeting the required points based on salary, skill level, English proficiency, etc.

It’s essential that the company follows all legal and regulatory procedures to revive its status and apply for the necessary licenses to sponsor workers. Additionally, as an individual applying for a visa, you need to meet the specific visa requirements under Appendix Skilled Worker. Please contact us on 02039599123 or click here 

Thank you for your enquiry. For your husband’s situation, as a dependent visa holder linked to your Tier 2 sponsorship and considering your naturalization as a British citizen, the appropriate form for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) application would likely be FORM SET (O) – Application for Indefinite Leave to Remain Other Purposes.

FORM SET (O) is typically used for individuals who do not fall under specific visa categories and are applying for ILR for reasons other than those covered by other application forms. In this case, your husband, as a dependent on your previous visa, might not fit the criteria specifically outlined in FORM SET (M) for partners.

Rules and forms can occasionally change, and seeking advice from OTS Solicitors can offer tailored guidance based on the most current regulations. Please contact us on 02039599123 or click here 

Thank you for your enquiry.

Your partner may be able to switch from sponsored employment to a spouse visa. There are various eligibility and suitability requirements for you and your child in addition to being able to meet the financial threshold of a minimum of £18,600 per year income plus additional for any dependents. The continuous residence would start from the beginning in this scenario. The requirements are in depth and we would advise that you arrange a consultation to determine if this route is appropriate. For more information, please call 02039599123 or click here 

Thank you for your enquiry.

You would usually receive a curtailment letter from the Home Office explaining your options if your employer has correctly notified them on the company’s circumstances. You would usually have a limited amount of time to switch to another sponsored route which can be done within the UK. We would recommend that you get in touch for more information and visit our sponsorship licence pages. Please contact us on 02039599123 or click here 

Thank you for your enquiry.

Your employer may need to find the most suitable and closest description under the relevant occupation code. It is important to note the ‘going rate’ and salary requirements for the position. We would recommend that you get in touch for more information and visit our sponsorship licence pages. Please contact us on 02039599123 or click here 

Thank you for your enquiry.

The cost of the sponsorship licence will depend on the size of the business.  If you are looking to sponsor candidates for employment, you would need to issue a valid CoS to the new employee. You may be able to apply for a defined CoS where you have already selected people to fill the positions or an undefined CoS which provides greater flexibility. We would recommend that you get in touch for more information and visit our sponsorship licence pages. Please contact us on 02039599123 or click here 

Thank you for your enquiry.

The cost of the sponsorship licence will depend on the size of the business.  If you are looking to sponsor candidates for employment, you would need to issue a valid CoS to the new employee. You may be able to apply for a defined CoS where you have already selected people to fill the positions or an undefined CoS which provides greater flexibility. We would recommend that you get in touch for more information and visit our sponsorship licence pages. Please contact us on 02039599123 or click here 

Thank you for your enquiry.

This would depend on the category of visa you have been granted. If it is a family/partner based visa, you may be able to make an in-country extension to satisfy the 5-year continuous residence requirement. If you are on a sponsored visa for employment, you would need to be issued a valid CoS covering the period of leave. For more information, please contact us on 02039599123 or click here 

Thank you for your enquiry.

The most-straightforward route may be to obtain a certificate of sponsorship from the company referenced above. The company would need to apply for a defined CoS which would enable them to sponsor you for a defined period to work for them. We can assist with the sponsorship licence and the skilled worker visa when you have obtained your CoS. For more information, please call 02039599123 or click here 

Thank you for your enquiry.

You would first need to obtain endorsement from one of the relevant endorsing bodies prior to making your application. We would be happy to discuss this with you during a meeting and explain the endorsement process and how to obtain a letter of endorsement. For more information, please call 02039599123 or click here 

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