Workforce WorldView

Our UK Business Immigration team are kicking off our Workforce WorldView podcast series with a discussion on the changes to UK visa rules expected to apply from spring 2024, including a significant increase to the salary threshold for skilled worker visas and a revamp of the shortage occupations list. 

With the finer details still to be confirmed, Annabel Mace and May Cheung provide insight and clarity on the impact for UK employers. 

Listen to episode 1 here.

The Home Office has been phasing in ETA for visitors to the UK since November 2023. This currently only applies to a few nationalities but will eventually apply to anyone who does not usually require a visa to visit the UK, for example, US and EU nationals.

In this episode, May Cheung and Magali Ferreyra discuss the impact of ETAs for businesses and their employees.

Listen to episode 2 here.

The civil penalty for illegal working in the UK has increased from £20,000 to £60,000 per employee, with the higher amount applying to breaches occurring on or after 13 February 2024. In this episode, Annabel Mace and May Cheung discuss why penalties are issued, how they might be defended or reduced and the broader impact for UK employers.

Listen to episode 3 here.

A hot topic for UK employers using the Skilled Worker visa route is how to obtain Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) allocations quickly, so that the visa applications can be submitted ahead of the increase in salary thresholds coming into force from 4 April 2024. In this episode, Annabel Mace and Osheenn Giam discuss practical issues relating to CoS allocation requests and how to expedite them.

Listen to episode 4 here.

All UK employers are required to carry out pre-employment right to work checks, as discussed in episode 3. Most checks for those with UK visas are now carried out online, which should make the process smoother. Listen to May Cheung and Osheenn Giam discuss some of the issues that crop up when employers use the Home Office’s online right to work checking service.

Listen to episode 5 here.

Since 2021, many UK work and student visas have been issued electronically instead of as physical biometric residence permits (BRPs). The Home Office is planning to replace all BRPs currently in circulation with electronic visas from 1 January 2025 to coincide with BRP expiry dates at the end of 2024. In this episode, Osheenn Giam and Magali Ferreyra discuss the pros and cons of the electronic visas and the challenges they have seen so far.

Listen to episode 6 here.

In this episode, we explore the issues employers should consider when there is a need to move a sponsored worker into a different role (often as a result of career progression or a redundancy exercise). Listen to May Cheung and Osheenn Giam as they discuss the requirements relating to changes of employment and the impact of getting it wrong.

Listen to episode 7 here.

Some international students are permitted to work in the UK, subject to limitations depending on their course and sponsoring institution. Most employers are aware they need to check a student visa holder’s term and vacation dates, but is there more to it than that? In this episode, Annabel Mace and Magali Ferreyra discuss the limitations and pitfalls that employers should be aware of when hiring international students.

Listen to episode 8 here.

Some sponsored workers in the UK are permitted to work for other employers on a supplementary basis, without having to obtain a new visa. This can be helpful when hiring for hard-to-fill vacancies in the UK, but are there any restrictions that employers should be mindful of? In this episode, May Cheung and Magali Ferreyra discuss when employers are permitted to hire workers on this basis and what they should be aware of before and during the employment.

Listen to episode 9 here.

In this episode of our Workforce Worldview podcast, we join Samuel Mudrick and Gregory Wald as they discuss what you need to know about US business visas. They run through the do’s and don’ts, outlining what type of visa you need for your trip, how to get one, what it allows you to do, and – crucially – what it doesn’t.

Listen to episode 10 here.

When sponsoring a worker from overseas, it is of course necessary to state where they will be working. But if that location changes, what do sponsor licence holders need to do? Osheenn Giam and Magali Ferreyra Alvarez from our Business Immigration team work through the sometimes-tricky topic of work location reports, outlining the details that require close attention.

Listen to episode 11 here.

Corporate Changes of Ownership – How Do They Affect UK Sponsor Licence Holders?

Sponsor licence holders are required to update the Home Office on changes relating to sponsored foreign employees, but what about when there are changes to the sponsor organisation itself? All changes in ownership must be reported, but a change in the immediate parent companies of sponsor licence holders may require a new sponsor licence. In this episode, Annabel Mace and Osheenn Giam discuss what actions are required of sponsors to ensure their sponsored workers are not negatively affected by corporate transactions and restructures.

Listen to episode 12 here.

Based on the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, US employers are required to verify that their newly hired employees are authorized to work in the US. But how can employers fulfill the employment verification requirements? In this episode of our Workforce Worldview podcast, we join, Greg Wald and Sam Mudrick as they discuss the Form I-9 employment verification process, what documents you need for I-9 employment verification, the consequences and penalties for noncompliance, as well as new developments, including the remote examination alternative.

Listen to episode 13 here.