Skilled Worker Visa Solicitors
Why AY&J Solicitors For Sponsorship
- Most refusals turn on the occupation code or the salary calculation. We get both right before the Certificate is assigned.
- We set up the compliance systems the Home Office now checks at pay-period level, so your licence stays safe.
Why A Y & J Are Your Ideal Sponsor Licence Solicitors
- First need a confirmed job offer from a UK employer holding a valid sponsor licence
- Then, you can apply for Skilled Worker visa and move to the UK.
- Then, you can apply for Skilled Worker visa and move to the UK.
- Then, you can apply for Skilled Worker visa and move to the UK.
Our story in numbers
Where sponsorship goes wrong
At application
- The wrong occupation code for the real duties
- A salary below the going rate for that code
- A role that does not meet RQF Level 6
- A worker short of the B2 English standard
After the licence
- Pay-period salary dropping below the threshold
- Reporting duties missed on the sponsor system
- Right-to-work checks not kept properly
- A compliance visit the business was not ready for
5 steps to your sponsor licence.
A free 15-minute call with our client team to check your business is eligible for a sponsor licence and spot anything that could rule an application out. This is a screening call, not legal advice, so there is no fee.
You receive: a clear view of whether we can help, and your fixed fee.
Once the client care agreement is signed, a solicitor reviews your business, the roles you want to fill and your key personnel, then confirms the right licence type and the documents you need.
You receive: a written eligibility position and a document checklist.
We audit your HR systems against sponsor duties, fix any gaps, draft the policies you need and build your Appendix A document bundle.
You receive: a compliance-ready application bundle.
A senior associate reviews the file independently before we complete the online application, pay the Home Office fee and send your supporting documents within 5 working days.
You receive: submission confirmation and updates on a set schedule.
We prepare your team for any Home Office compliance visit and handle queries until the decision, then help you assign Certificates of Sponsorship and stay compliant.
You receive: a licence ready to use and a compliance plan.
Our Process
The AY&J Process
01
Discovery
Fifteen minutes with our client team to check for issues
Screening conversation, not legal advice
Eligibility assessment
You receive
A quick eligibility check
02
Consult
Solicitor-led case assessment
Immigration options mapped
Initial risk identification
You receive
Written eligibility and a document schedule with dates
03
Caseworking
Application preparation
Evidence bundle assembled
Legal representations drafted
You receive
A complete application bundle
04
Assure & Submit
Senior associate review & Evidence-gap check
Legal-risk review
Submission and correspondence
Proactive monitoring
Updates on schedule
You receive
Pre submission assessment call
05
After Care
Decision explained
Immediate next steps
Future immigration roadmap
You receive
An outcome letter and forward plan
This diagram describes our working method and is not legal advice. Outcomes depend on individual circumstances and on Home Office decision-making.
Our Process
The AY&J Process
01
Discovery
Fifteen minutes with our client team to check for issues
Screening conversation, not legal advice
British citizenship eligibility assessment
You receive
A quick eligibility check
02
Consult
Solicitor-led case assessment
Immigration options mapped
Initial risk identification
You receive
Written eligibility and a document schedule with dates
03
Caseworking
Application preparation
Evidence bundle assembled
Legal representations drafted
You receive
A complete application bundle
04
Assure & Submit
Senior associate review & Evidence-gap check
Legal-risk review
Submission and correspondence
Proactive monitoring
Updates on schedule
You receive
Pre submission assessment call
05
After Care
Decision explained
Immediate next steps
Future immigration roadmap
You receive
An outcome letter and forward plan
This diagram describes our working method and is not legal advice. Outcomes depend on individual circumstances and on Home Office decision-making.
Our Process
The AY&J process
01
Discovery
Fifteen minutes with our client team to check for issues
Screening conversation, not legal advice
Eligibility assessment
We read the refusal and confirm you have a right of appeal.
You receive
A quick standing check
02
Consult
Solicitor-led case assessment
Immigration options mapped
Initial risk identification
We confirm your ground, appeal or JR, and protect your 3C leave.
You receive
Written next steps and a document schedule with dates
03
Caseworking
Application preparation
Evidence bundle assembled
Legal representations drafted
We draft the grounds and build the bundle and skeleton argument.
You receive
A complete appeal bundle
04
Assure & Submit
Senior associate review and evidence-gap check
Legal-risk review
Submission and correspondence
Proactive monitoring
Updates on schedule
We serve the bundle and represent you at the hearing.
You receive
A pre-submission assessment call
05
After Care
Decision explained
Immediate next steps
Future immigration roadmap
We explain the outcome and advise on any onward appeal.
You receive
An outcome letter and forward plan
This diagram describes our working method and is not legal advice. Outcomes depend on individual circumstances and on Home Office decision-making.
Our Process
The AY&J process
01
Discovery
Fifteen minutes with our client team to check for issues
Screening conversation, not legal advice
Individual eligibility assessment
A phone or video call, wherever you are in Edinburgh, to check for issues.
You receive
A quick eligibility check
02
Consult
Solicitor-led case assessment
Immigration options mapped
Initial risk identification
A solicitor maps your options on a video call, at a time that suits you.
You receive
Written next steps and a document schedule with dates
03
Caseworking
Application preparation
Evidence bundle assembled
Legal representations drafted
We gather your documents and build the evidence bundle for you.
You receive
A complete application bundle
04
Assure & Submit
Senior associate review and evidence-gap check
Legal-risk review
Submission and correspondence
Proactive monitoring
Updates on schedule
A senior associate reviews, then we submit and deal with the Home Office.
You receive
A pre-submission assessment call
05
After Care
Decision explained
Immediate next steps
Future immigration roadmap
We explain the decision and your next steps by video.
You receive
An outcome letter and forward plan
This diagram describes our working method and is not legal advice. Outcomes depend on individual circumstances and on Home Office decision-making.
Our Process
The AY&J Process
01
Discovery
Fifteen minutes with our client team to check for issues
Screening conversation, not legal advice
Family dependant eligibility assessment
You receive
A quick eligibility check
02
Consult
Solicitor-led case assessment
Immigration options mapped
Initial risk identification
You receive
Written eligibility and a document schedule with dates
03
Caseworking
Application preparation
Evidence bundle assembled
Legal representations drafted
You receive
A complete application bundle
04
Assure & Submit
Senior associate review & Evidence-gap check
Legal-risk review
Submission and correspondence
Proactive monitoring
Updates on schedule
You receive
Pre submission assessment call
05
After Care
Decision explained
Immediate next steps
Future immigration roadmap
You receive
An outcome letter and forward plan
This diagram describes our working method and is not legal advice. Outcomes depend on individual circumstances and on Home Office decision-making.
Our Process
The AY&J process
01
Discovery
Fifteen minutes with our client team to check for issues
Screening conversation, not legal advice
Eligibility assessment
We check both tests, the relationship and the finances.
You receive
A quick eligibility check
02
Consult
Solicitor-led case assessment
Immigration options mapped
Initial risk identification
We map the right financial category and the risk.
You receive
Written next steps and a document schedule with dates
03
Caseworking
Application preparation
Evidence bundle assembled
Legal representations drafted
We build the relationship evidence and draft the application.
You receive
A complete application bundle
04
Assure & Submit
Senior associate review and evidence-gap check
Legal-risk review
Submission and correspondence
Proactive monitoring
Updates on schedule
We submit online, book biometrics, and monitor the decision.
You receive
A pre-submission assessment call
05
After Care
Decision explained
Immediate next steps
Future immigration roadmap
We explain the outcome and plan extension and settlement.
You receive
An outcome letter and forward plan
This diagram describes our working method and is not legal advice. Outcomes depend on individual circumstances and on Home Office decision-making.
Costs & Processing Times
In our clients' own words.
“After our ILR rejection, AY&J pursued our case through Administrative Review and Judicial Review. The team was open, honest, knowledgeable and attentive to every detail. They kept us informed at every stage, supported us throughout an extremely difficult journey and helped us regain confidence in our case.”
“My Tier 2 General case was extremely complex. My previous visa had expired. My Administrative Review was refused. My wife and I had lost the right to work. AY&J handled the case carefully and in detail. This resulted in my Tier 2 visa being approved within ten days.”
Tell us about the hire
Frequently Asked Questions
Licence and getting started
As soon as you are ready. If you need a licence, we begin there. If you hold one, we can move to the Certificate straight away.
Sponsor duties
Your sponsored workers’ visas can be curtailed, usually to 60 days. Protecting the licence through good compliance is far cheaper than recovering from a revocation.
Refusal, family and settlement
Yes, but the route now leads to indefinite leave to remain after 10 years, not 5, for most applicants. This changes the long-term plan for both sides.
Sponsor duties
The Home Office checks your records and your reporting. Being ready is the difference between a clean visit and a suspended licence. We prepare you.
Sponsor duties
Report changes on the sponsor system, keep right-to-work and salary records, and cooperate with compliance visits. We set the systems up so this is routine.
Refusal, family and settlement
The fee is usually lost. Most refusals are avoidable, and where one happens we can advise on the refusal. See our Skilled Worker Refusal page.
Costs and charges
Yes. Small sponsors pay a reduced sponsor licence fee and a reduced Immigration Skills Charge. We confirm which rate applies to you.
Costs and charges
No. The sponsor licence fee and the Immigration Skills Charge must never be passed to the worker. Doing so can cost you the licence.
Costs and charges
The worker usually pays the Immigration Health Surcharge, at £1,035 per year of the visa. Some health and care roles are exempt.
Costs and charges
Three main costs. A sponsor licence fee that depends on your size. Then the Immigration Skills Charge each year, and the Certificate of Sponsorship fee. We set them all out first.
Sponsor duties
From 8 April 2026, the Home Office checks salary each pay period, not just the annual figure. A short month can put you out of compliance.
Costs and charges
A fee the sponsor pays for each year of sponsorship. It rose by about 32% from 16 December 2025, with a lower rate for small sponsors.
Roles and requirements
B2 for new applicants from 8 January 2026, up from B1. It can be met by a test, a degree taught in English, or nationality.
Roles and requirements
RQF Level 6, degree level, since 22 July 2025. Over 100 previously eligible occupations were removed at that point.
Roles and requirements
At least £41,700 a year, or the going rate for the occupation code, whichever is higher. Some Salary List roles use a £33,400 floor, but that list is being phased out.
Refusal, family and settlement
Usually yes, as dependants. The exception is workers on the Temporary Shortage List, who cannot bring a partner or children.
Roles and requirements
No. The role must be genuine, at RQF Level 6 skill, with the correct occupation code. It must also meet the salary rules. Many lower-skilled roles are no longer eligible.
Licence and getting started
Yes. Tier 2 (General) became the Skilled Worker route in December 2020. The rules have changed a great deal since, especially in 2026.
Licence and getting started
Around 8 weeks on standard processing. A priority service, where available, can cut that to about 10 working days.
Licence and getting started
Yes, to sponsor a Skilled Worker you must hold a valid sponsor licence. If you do not have one, that is the first step, and we can secure it for you.