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A confident international graduate in professional attire standing outside a modern London office building, holding a diploma folder. The image represents the transition from student life to a professional career under the UK Skilled Worker Visa route.

How to Switch from Student Visa to Skilled Worker Visa in the UK?

As international students near the completion of their studies in the UK, thoughts often turn towards the next step in their professional journey. For many, remaining in the UK to begin a career is an attractive option. However, doing so requires careful planning, particularly when it comes to switching immigration routes before the expiry of your current visa. Applying in good time not only ensures compliance with immigration rules but also helps avoid potential complications such as overstaying or application refusals.

How to Switch from Student Visa to Skilled Worker Visa in the UK? Read More »

Skilled Worker visa applicant preparing for Home Office questions in a virtual interview, demonstrating job knowledge, skills and compliance requirements.

UK Skilled Worker Visa Interviews: Common Home Office Questions When Skills Are in Doubt

When assessing an application for entry clearance under the Skilled Worker visa, UK Home Office not only reviews the documentary evidence submitted but may also conduct an interview to test the applicant’s suitability and genuineness for the sponsored role. During these interviews, applicants are often asked key Home Office questions, which are crucial in determining whether the applicant meets the requirements under Appendix Skilled Worker of the Immigration Rules.

UK Skilled Worker Visa Interviews: Common Home Office Questions When Skills Are in Doubt Read More »

Infographic of the UK Temporary Shortage List showing a UK map with icons for construction, IT, engineering, creative, finance, and skilled trades, July 2025.

Jobs on the UK Temporary Shortage List – Effective 22 July 2025

On 22 July 2025, significant reforms to the UK Skilled Worker visa route came into force under the Statement of Changes HC 997, following the Government’s Immigration White Paper Restoring Control over the Immigration System published on 12 May 2025. These reforms raised the skill and salary thresholds for Skilled Worker visa applicants, with most eligible roles now requiring RQF Level 6 or above.

Jobs on the UK Temporary Shortage List – Effective 22 July 2025 Read More »

Image showing legal symbols of the UK—including the Union Jack flag, a law book, a judge’s gavel, and scales of justice—used to illustrate the 2025 guide on the Immigration Skills Charge.

UK Immigration Skills Charge Guide 2025

UK Immigration Skills Charge (ISC) continues to be a critical financial consideration for employers sponsoring overseas talent. Since its introduction in 2017, the charge has grown not only in scope but in significance, especially with recent proposals for reform set out in the May 2025 immigration white paper. This guide provides a clear and detailed overview of when the charge applies, who qualifies for exemptions and when refunds may be available.

UK Immigration Skills Charge Guide 2025 Read More »

Image showing the UK Home Office building and a visa document, representing the issue of the Home Office failing to monitor overstayers and the resulting gaps in visa enforcement and migrant worker protections.

Home Office Under Fire for Failing to Monitor Foreign Worker Visa Expirations 

Commons committee criticises Home Office for failing to monitor overstayers and protect migrant workers from exploitation Home Office has come under sharp criticism from a cross-party group of MPs for its failure to effectively monitor whether foreign workers leave the UK once their skilled worker visas expire. In a new report, the Public Accounts Committee

Home Office Under Fire for Failing to Monitor Foreign Worker Visa Expirations  Read More »

Gavel and block representing legal authority, with Morgan Smith Immigration logo and headline text 'UK Immigration Updates: Statement of Changes HC 997 – 1 July 2025'; image relates to Skilled Worker visa reforms and key UK immigration policy changes.

UK Immigration Update: Skilled Worker Visa Rules Tighten from 22 July 2025

UK government has published major changes to the immigration system, significantly increasing the skill and salary thresholds for Skilled Worker visas and introducing a Temporary Shortage List. The changes, outlined in the latest Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules (HC 997), mark the first steps in implementing the Home Office’s broader strategy to reduce net migration and prioritise domestic workforce development.

UK Immigration Update: Skilled Worker Visa Rules Tighten from 22 July 2025 Read More »

Elderly woman’s frail hand clasped by a care worker’s steady grip—the human cost of the UK care worker visa crackdown.

UK Care Worker Visa Crackdown Could Cost Billions, Warns Migration Adviser

Care homes risk severe staff shortages unless the government invests billions to offset the impact of its immigration crackdown, warns Professor Brian Bell, chair of the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC). With the Home Office scrapping the care worker visa route to cut net migration, the sector faces a looming crisis unless wages rise to attract British workers.

UK Care Worker Visa Crackdown Could Cost Billions, Warns Migration Adviser Read More »

Red stamp graphic with 'New Rules' text, symbolising updated UK employer sponsorship regulations and compliance requirements for businesses in 2025.

New UK Employer Sponsorship Rules: A Compliance Guide for Businesses

UK immigration has undergone its most significant shift since Brexit, with the May 2025 White Paper, Restoring Control Over the Immigration System, introducing stringent new rules for UK employers. For businesses reliant on global talent, adapting to these changes is noy just advisable in fact it is critical to maintaining your ability to hire internationally. Here’s

New UK Employer Sponsorship Rules: A Compliance Guide for Businesses Read More »

Two concerned individuals reviewing UK visa documents in an office setting, highlighting confusion around the 2025 Skilled Worker visa costs for employers and applicants.

Skilled Worker Visa UK: 2025 Cost Guide for Employers and Applicants

Applying for a Skilled Worker visa in the UK comes with several mandatory costs that both employers and applicants must consider carefully. These fees differ depending on the length of the visa, the size of the sponsoring organisation and whether family members are included in the application. Below, we outline the key expenses involved, using the most recent fee updates effective from April 2025.

Skilled Worker Visa UK: 2025 Cost Guide for Employers and Applicants Read More »

Courtroom symbolising legal reform, reflecting the Labour government's Immigration White Paper proposals to tighten UK migration rules and settlement pathways

Labour’s Immigration White Paper: Key Changes to UK Migration Policy

UK government has unveiled a comprehensive Immigration White Paper aimed at significantly reducing net migration. The proposed reforms within the Immigration White Paper seek to tighten visa rules, prioritise skilled workers and address public concerns over rising immigration levels. Below are the key measures outlined in the policy document.

Labour’s Immigration White Paper: Key Changes to UK Migration Policy Read More »

International graduate holding a cap and diploma, symbolising the transition from student visa to work visa in the UK.

From Student Visa to Work Visa: How to Stay in the UK After Graduation

Every year, thousands of international students arrive in the UK, investing in world-class education, building professional networks and gaining skills that could benefit the UK economy for years to come. Yet, when graduation arrives, many find themselves facing an uphill battle to stay and build their careers here. The transition from a student visa to work visa is far from straightforward. While the UK offers several routes to move from a student visa to work visa, each comes with its own complexities.

From Student Visa to Work Visa: How to Stay in the UK After Graduation Read More »

A blurred business professional sits at a desk reviewing documents, while neatly stacked coins in ascending order are displayed in the foreground—symbolising salary evaluation, financial compliance, and changes to permitted deductions under the updated UK immigration rules for Skilled Worker sponsors.

Understanding the New Immigration Rule for Skilled Worker Sponsors

The Home Office has introduced an important update to the Immigration Rules affecting Skilled Worker sponsors. From 9 April 2025, the Immigration Rules were amended to introduce a new provision on permitted deductions from a sponsored worker’s salary. This applies to all Certificates of Sponsorship issued on or after that date.

Understanding the New Immigration Rule for Skilled Worker Sponsors Read More »

Learn everything about the UK Health and Care Visa 2025 — from who qualifies and how to apply, to visa costs, benefits, and the path to permanent residency.

UK Health and Care Visa: A Complete Guide 2025

The UK’s Health and Care Visa is a streamlined immigration pathway designed to attract qualified doctors, nurses, allied health professionals and social care workers to support the country’s healthcare sector. Launched in August 2020, this visa offers faster processing, reduced fees and exemption from the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), making it an attractive option for overseas professionals.

UK Health and Care Visa: A Complete Guide 2025 Read More »

UK immigration changes 2025, highlighting new visa rules for care workers and students, reduced overseas recruitment, and fairer immigration policies.

UK Immigration Changes 2025: New Visa Rules for Care Workers and Students Announced

UK Government has announced significant UK immigration changes 2025, introducing new visa rules for care workers and international students. These measures aim to reduce the country’s reliance on overseas recruitment and address record levels of immigration. Here’s a detailed look at the key updates and their implications.

UK Immigration Changes 2025: New Visa Rules for Care Workers and Students Announced Read More »

Proposed UK work visa changes, including the new £38,700 salary threshold, impacts on businesses, and skilled migration policies

UK Work Visa Salary Threshold Rise to £38,700: A Blow to Businesses?

The Conservative Party is pushing for a significant tightening of the UK’s work visa system, proposing a blanket minimum salary threshold of £38,700 for all uk work visas. This move, framed as an effort to curb low-skilled migration, has sparked concern among London business leaders, who argue it could severely impact firms already struggling with acute skill shortages.

UK Work Visa Salary Threshold Rise to £38,700: A Blow to Businesses? Read More »

A sharp decline in UK work visas issued from 2023 to 2024, alongside a significant rise in asylum applications reaching a record high in 2024.

Sharp Decline in UK Work Visas as Asylum Applications Hit Record High

In a striking shift in migration trends, the UK has witnessed a dramatic drop in the number of work visas issued to foreign nationals, while asylum applications have surged to unprecedented levels, according to the latest figures released by the Home Office. The data shows that 108,138 individuals applied for asylum in the UK in 2024, marking the highest annual figure since records began in 2001. This represents an 18% increase compared to the 91,811 applications recorded in 2023, surpassing the previous record of 103,081 set in the 12 months to December 2002.

Sharp Decline in UK Work Visas as Asylum Applications Hit Record High Read More »

An illustration of NHS, representing the process of understanding Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) refunds and eligibility.

Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) Refund Guide

The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) is a mandatory fee paid by individuals applying for majority of UK visa applications. It grants access to the National Health Service (NHS) during their stay. However, under certain circumstances, applicants may be eligible for a full or partial refund of the IHS. This guide provides a detailed breakdown of refund eligibility, processes and special schemes for health and care workers.

Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) Refund Guide Read More »

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Dramatic Fall in Work Visas During the First Half of 2024: A Closer Look at the Migration Observatory Report

The first half of 2024 has seen a significant drop in the issuance of work visas in the United Kingdom, a trend that has attracted much attention and analysis. The Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford recently published a detailed report that sheds light on this notable shift. This article delves into the key

Dramatic Fall in Work Visas During the First Half of 2024: A Closer Look at the Migration Observatory Report Read More »

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Global Business Mobility Visa: Service Supplier Visa

The Global Business Mobility-Service Supplier visa allows overseas workers to work in the UK temporarily, either as contractual service suppliers employed by foreign service providers or as self-employed independent professionals based abroad. The work must be related to an agreement that falls under the UK’s international trade agreements. This route of the Global Business Mobility

Global Business Mobility Visa: Service Supplier Visa Read More »

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