Our Services

a. Unmarried Partner Visa
This visa category is for partners who are not married but have been living together in a relationship akin to marriage for at least two years. It is a route to settling in the UK and eventually obtaining Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).

Eligibility: The couple must demonstrate a genuine and subsisting relationship and that they have lived together for at least two years. Proof of accommodation and financial stability is also required.

Conditions: The visa is usually granted for 2.5 years, after which the applicant can apply to extend their stay and eventually qualify for ILR.

b. Fiancé Visa
The Fiancé Visa is intended for individuals who intend to marry their UK-based partner within six months of arriving in the UK.

Eligibility: The applicant and sponsor must be planning to marry within six months. They must demonstrate that they intend to live together permanently after marriage. The sponsor must meet specific financial requirements, and adequate accommodation must be available.
Conditions: The visa is valid for six months and does not allow the holder to work in the UK.
After marriage, the applicant can switch to a Spouse Visa.

c. Spouse Visa
A Spouse Visa allows non-UK nationals married to British citizens or settled persons to live in the UK.

Eligibility: The couple must be legally married, and the relationship must be genuine and subsisting. The sponsor must meet financial requirements, and the applicant must demonstrate English language proficiency.
Conditions: The visa is typically granted for 2.5 years, and holders can work or study in the UK. After 5 years, they can apply for ILR.

d. Child Visa
A Child Visa is for children of a parent who is settled in the UK or has been granted leave to remain.

Eligibility: The child must be under 18, unmarried, and not living an independent life. The parent in the UK must have sole responsibility for the child or the child must be applying to join both parents who are in the UK.
Conditions: The visa duration usually mirrors that of the parent’s visa. Once the parent qualifies for ILR, the child can also apply for settlement.

Each of the above-mentioned visas has specific requirements related to the relationship, financial stability (with some exemptions), and, in some cases, language proficiency.
GSM LEGALS is a law firm specialising in UK Immigration. We are passionate about helping individuals with their UK immigration needs and can guide and support them through any Home Office process. We take great pride in bringing together loved ones and keeping them united.

If you have a question about any family visa application, please contact us.

Indefinite Leave to Remain grants a person the right to live in the UK without any time limit on their stay, after meeting the eligibility criteria under specific visa categories.

Eligibility: Generally, requires 5 years of continuous residence in the UK under qualifying visa categories (e.g., Spouse, Skilled Worker). Some categories require a 10-year residence.
Requirements: Applicants must pass the Life in the UK Test and demonstrate English language proficiency. They must also show good character and not have been absent from the UK for more than 180 days in any 12-month period during the qualifying period.

Benefits: ILR allows individuals to work, study, and live in the UK indefinitely. It is also a
pathway to British citizenship.

British Citizenship is the final step in the immigration journey, granting individuals the rights and responsibilities of a UK citizen, including the right to vote and hold a British passport.

Eligibility: Applicants must generally have held Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) for at least 12 months, meet residency requirements, pass the Life in the UK Test, and demonstrate English proficiency.

Application: An application must be submitted online, with supporting documents and payment of the application fee. Processing times can vary, but typically take several months.

Requirements: Good character (no serious criminal record or breaches of immigration law) and continuous residence in the UK are essential criteria.

A Sponsor Licence allows UK-based businesses to legally hire workers from outside the UK under various visa categories, such as the Skilled Worker Visa.

Eligibility: The business must demonstrate that it is a genuine, operating, and compliant organisation with a need for skilled workers. They must not have any history of immigration violations.

Application: Businesses must apply online, provide documentation proving their legitimacy, and pay the appropriate fee. Once granted, the licence is valid for four years and can be renewed.

Responsibilities: Sponsors must adhere to specific duties, including keeping records, reporting changes in workers’ circumstances, and ensuring compliance with immigration rules.

If this sounds like something that you would like to explore or are thinking of, then give GSM LEGALS a call and one of our experienced business immigration lawyers will only be to glad to help.

The Skilled Worker visa allows individuals to come to or stay in the UK to do an eligible job with an approved employer. This visa has replaced the Tier 2 (General) work visa. Here are some key points about the Skilled Worker visa:

There are several visa options for individuals seeking to work in the UK, each catering to different skill levels and job types.

Skilled Worker Visa: The most common route, requiring a job offer from a licensed sponsor, and the role must meet skill and salary thresholds.

Health and Care Worker Visa: For medical professionals who wish to work in the NHS or other eligible healthcare sectors.

Other Routes: Includes visas like the Intra-Company Transfer, Global Talent Visa, and Temporary Worker visas, each with specific requirements and conditions.

Each visa type has its own requirements and benefits, such as the ability to bring family
members and the potential to apply for permanent residency and citizenship after a certain
period.

GSM LEGALS are experienced in handling such matters and will make the entire process from start to end as smooth as possible.

For more information on how we can help you with Worker Visa application, please get in
touch.

Self-Sponsorship is a relatively new concept where an individual sets up a business in the UK and uses this business to sponsor themselves for a Skilled Worker Visa.

Process: The individual must establish a legitimate UK company, obtain a Sponsor Licence for that company, and then sponsor themselves as an employee under the Skilled Worker route.

*Requirements: Similar to any other sponsored role, the job must meet the required skill level and salary threshold, and the company must prove the need for the role.

The benefits of this route is that it is particularly useful for entrepreneurs and business owners who want to have control over their ventures in the UK.

GSM LEGALS have experienced business immigration lawyers who can help navigate this new and exciting option to acquiring a credible business and regularise their leave to remain in the UK.

A Tier 4 (General) student visa is required for individuals aged 16 or over who want to study at higher education in the UK. You will need to have an offer from a college or university before applying for this visa The visa is granted for the entire length of your course, with a maximum of 5 years for degree-level studies.

The Graduate Visa allows international students who have completed a degree in the UK to stay and work, or look for work, for a period of two years (three years for PhD graduates).

Eligibility: The applicant must have completed an eligible course at a recognised UK higher education provider.

Benefits: The visa provides flexibility in employment—no sponsorship is required, and the individual can work in most jobs or be self-employed.

Pathway: While it does not directly lead to settlement, it allows graduates to gain experience and potentially transition to a Skilled Worker Visa.

We have dedicated lawyers who can handle your visa transition from student, graduate and beyond. Feel free to get in touch.

Global Mobility covers various visa routes that enable companies to move employees across borders to the UK, often under Intra-Company Transfer visas or other specialised schemes.

Intra-Company Transfer (ICT): Allows multinational companies to transfer employees from overseas offices to the UK. Requires sponsorship and the role must meet certain skill and salary levels.

Other Mobility Options: May include short-term secondments, international agreements, or specific sector-based schemes.

At GSM LEGALS, we have our dedicated Global Mobility Consultant who can handle any intricate matters that your application may have with expertise.

a. OISC Training
The Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) regulates immigration advisers in the UK. Training in OISC standards is essential for those wishing to provide immigration advice legally.

Levels of Training: There are different levels of OISC accreditation (Level 1 to 3), each corresponding to the complexity of advice and services that can be provided.

Requirements: Advisers must pass exams and demonstrate competence in immigration law and practice. Continuous Professional Development (CPD) is also required to maintain certification.

If you are a law student wishing to gain experience in a law firm, or an individual who would like to transition into the immigration sector, GSM LEGALS can provide OISC training that will open your mind to the wonderful, amazing, complex and ever-changing area of law.

b. Compliance Training
Compliance Training is essential for businesses, particularly those with Sponsor Licences, to ensure they meet UK immigration laws and Home Office requirements.

Focus Areas: Includes record-keeping, right-to-work checks, reporting duties, and maintaining sponsor responsibilities.

Purpose: Helps avoid penalties, licence revocation, and other legal issues by ensuring that all staff are aware of and adhere to immigration compliance requirements.

GSM LEGALS are fully aware that immigration compliance can be very complex for businesses to circumnavigate. Many companies have adopted a relaxed approach in this regard, which has resulted with severe consequences, including fines, loss of licences, damaged reputation and notwithstanding the curtailment of visas. Thus being, many employees finding themselves destitute, unemployed and their own leave to remain in the UK hanging in the balance.

To avoid such dilemmas, contact our office immediately and seek expert advice and training.

c. Company Audits
Company Audits in the immigration context refer to inspections or checks conducted by the Home Office to ensure that a business with a Sponsor Licence complies with immigration rules.

What is Involved: Audits may include reviewing HR records, checking the right-to-work documentation, and verifying that sponsored employees meet the terms of their visa.

Preparation: Regular internal audits and compliance reviews can help ensure that a company is always prepared for a Home Office audit, minimising the risk of penalties or licence suspension.

At GSM LEGALS, we can support your business in its preparation by organising ‘mock audits to help your business identify and help rectify potential breaches or areas of non-compliance. The purpose of this will ensure your business is ready and prepared for any Home Office inspection.