Self-Sponsorship and Founder Routes: Planning Your Business and Immigration Journey in the UK
- 1. What is self-sponsorship, and how does the application process work?
- 2. What are the common challenges associated with self-sponsorship?
- 3. What are the advantages of self-sponsorship?
- 4. Does the UK offer a self-employment visa, and how do self-sponsorship and the Innovator Founder route differ?
- 5. Who can consider self-sponsorship?
- 6. What is the minimum investment required for self-sponsorship?
- 7. Can an existing UK company be used for self-sponsorship?
- 8. What must the UK company demonstrate?
- 9. What are the main requirements for a Skilled Worker visa?
- Conclusion: How should you align your business and immigration plans?
Closed UK Visa Routes: What Are the Alternatives for Business, Investment and Work?
- Overview: How Has the UK Immigration System Changed Over the Past Decade?
- 1. Why Did the Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) Route Close, and What Applications Remain Possible?
- 2. What Are the Alternatives to Tier 1 (Entrepreneur): Innovator Founder or Self-Sponsorship?
- 3. Why Did the Start-up Route Close, and What Happened to Extension and Settlement Options?
- 4. What Did the Closure of the Innovator Route Mean, and Can Existing Holders Move to Innovator Founder?
- 5. Why Did the Tier 1 (Investor) Route Close, and Could It Reopen?
- 6. What Replaced Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent), and How Does Global Talent Differ from High Potential Individual?
- 7. What Options Are Available to Overseas Businesses Following the Closure of the Sole Representative Route?
- Conclusion: Focus on the Available Route and the Long-Term Objective
Right to Work Checks (RTW Checks): What UK Employers Need to Know Before Recruiting
- What Exactly Does a Right to Work Check Involve?
- Do Small Businesses Need to Carry Out Checks? What About British Employees?
- When and How Should a Check Be Conducted?
- How Can Individuals Prove Their Right to Work Now That BRPs Have Been Decommissioned?
- What Should Employers Do When Checking Original Documents?
- Which Documents Can Be Used for a Manual Check?
- Is It Enough to Keep Copies of the Employee’s Passport and eVisa?
- What Should Employers Check and Save When Using the Home Office Online Service?
- What Is Digital Identity Document Verification and How Can Employers Use It?
- How Long Must Employers Keep the Documents and Check Results?
- Is One Check at the Start of Employment Enough?
- What Are the Consequences of Failing to Conduct a Check?
- Why Are These Checks Particularly Important When Applying for a Sponsor Licence?
- What Should Employers Do First?
Recruiting Overseas Talent for High-Growth UK Businesses: A Guide to the Scale-up Sponsor Licence and Visa
- What Is a Scale-up Sponsor Licence?
- Can Any UK Business Apply for a Scale-up Sponsor Licence?
- Is the Scale-up Route Better Than the Skilled Worker Route?
- What Are the Main Requirements for a Scale-up Sponsor Licence?
- How Do You Apply for a Scale-up Sponsor Licence?
- Can Anyone Apply for a Scale-up Worker Visa?
- What Are the Salary and Skill-Level Requirements?
- How Long Does a Scale-up Sponsor Licence Last?
- Can a Scale-up Worker Change Employers?
- Can the Scale-up Route Lead to Settlement?
- When Can a Scale-up Sponsor Licence Application Be Refused?
- Summary
Understanding the Rules on Settlement for Victims of Domestic Abuse
- What must an applicant show when applying for ILR as a victim of domestic abuse?
- How is domestic abuse defined?
- What is transnational marriage abandonment?
- Can abuse of a child be relevant?
- How does the Home Office assess evidence of domestic abuse?
- What evidence may support an application?
- What evidence can demonstrate that the relationship has permanently broken down?
- What other evidence may be treated as evidence of domestic abuse?
- What if there is no evidence or only limited evidence?
- What factors will be considered when assessing the evidence?
- Summary
How to Check Your UK Immigration Status Online: UKVI Accounts, eVisas, Share Codes and Pre‑Travel Checks
- What Is “Immigration Status” in the UK?
- What Is eVisa and When Was It Introduced?
- Who Can Check Their Status Online and How?
- When Do You Need an eVisa?
- What Is a Share Code and When Is It Required?
- What If You Have ILR or ILE Evidenced Only in an Old Passport?
- How Is eVisa Status Checked at the Border and by Carriers?
- What If Your Leave Expires While an Application Is Pending?
- What If Your eVisa Contains Errors?
- Common Mistakes When Checking and Using eVisas
- Conclusion
UK Sponsor Licences: Major September Changes
- Why has the Home Office introduced these changes?
- What is MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication)?
- Withdrawal of the Level 2 User role: what is changing?
- Stricter management of inactive accounts: leaving accounts unattended creates a licence risk
- An exception to the ‘cooling-off’ restriction following licence revocation: administrative failings are treated differently
- What sponsors should do now?
- How should sponsors prepare for the future?
- Practical support from ARIS International Lawyers
UK Immigration Rules Update: Key Changes Announced on 3 September 2026 for Visa Holders,Families, Students and Sponsors
- Skilled Worker route: flexibility for recognised victims of modern slavery
- Visitor route: new Erasmus+ training, job-shadowing and exchange activities
- Student and Child Student routes: sponsoring Erasmus+ courses and placements
- Student route: increased maintenance funds from 30 November 2026
- Hong Kong BN(O) route: dependent children may settle with eligible parents
- EU Settlement Scheme: pre-settled status, joining family members and expired BRPs
- Domestic Abuse route: protection extended to adult dependent children
- Religious Worker routes: revised requirements for ministers, religious workers and sponsors
- Fee waiver and biometrics: application dates and deadlines remain critical
- Commencement dates and transitional arrangements: check before applying
Meeting the English Language Requirement for a UK Visa Through an Academic Qualification
- The Purpose of the English Language Requirement
- Immigration Routes Subject to English Language Requirements
- Eligibility Criteria for Relying on a Degree
- Evidencing a Qualification Awarded by a UK Institution
- Overseas Qualifications Awarded in English-Speaking Countries
- English-Taught Overseas Qualifications From Other Countries
- Circumstances in Which an Application May Be Refused
- Summary
