Skilled Worker Visa Solicitors
If you need expert legal advice on a Skilled Worker Visa application, our Solicitors, who have over 25 years of experience in business immigration law, can help.
The Skilled Worker route replaced Tier 2 (General) in December 2020. Its requirements are set out in Appendix Skilled Worker of the Immigration Rules. The route requires a job offer from a licensed sponsor at or above the salary threshold for the relevant occupation. Errors in the application, a salary below the required figure, or a certificate of sponsorship that does not match the role on offer will each produce a refusal.
At Law Lane Solicitors, we advise employers and individual applicants on Skilled Worker applications from our offices in Stratford, Holborn, and Croydon. We are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and hold an accredited quality mark in Immigration and Asylum. Our team advises on routine applications and on cases where the position is more complex, including challenges to sponsor licence decisions and refusals by way of administrative review.
Whether you are a business bringing in an overseas hire or a worker applying in your own right, the process requires careful preparation. We advise on eligibility, salary thresholds, occupation codes, and certificate of sponsorship requirements before anything is submitted. Taking advice at an early stage avoids errors that are difficult to correct once an application is in progress.
Our Skilled Worker Visa Legal Services
We advise employers and applicants on the following:
- Assessing eligibility against the current salary thresholds and the Standard Occupational Classification code for the proposed role.
- Advising on the points-based requirements and the combinations of salary, qualifications, and shortage occupation status that can satisfy them.
- Reviewing the job offer and employment contract to confirm the role meets Home Office requirements before the certificate of sponsorship is assigned.
- Preparing and submitting the visa application with a complete document bundle, including evidence of English language proficiency and maintenance funds.
- Advising on applications in the health and care sector, where separate salary thresholds and immigration health surcharge exemptions apply.
- Advising on switching to the Skilled Worker route from within the UK, including from Student, Graduate, and other visa categories.
- Advising on extensions and settlement applications for workers who have completed five years of continuous qualifying residence.
- Advising on dependant applications for the partner and children of a Skilled Worker applicant.
- Advising on the implications of a salary change, change of employer, or change of sponsor during the visa period.
- Reviewing refusals and advising on the prospects of an administrative review or a fresh application.
- Advising on the immigration skills charge payable by the sponsoring employer and the circumstances in which reduced rates apply.
- Advising on right-to-work obligations once a sponsored worker starts employment.
Why Choose Law Lane Solicitors for Skilled Worker Visa Advice?
Salary thresholds change. The immigration salary list is updated without warning. Home Office caseworking guidance runs to hundreds of pages and is revised regularly. We follow these changes as a matter of course so that the advice we give reflects the position on the date you need to act, not the position from six months ago.
We advise both the sponsoring employer and the individual applicant. A certificate of sponsorship that does not accurately describe the role, or a salary below the threshold for the occupation code, will produce a refusal regardless of how well the rest of the application has been prepared. We check both before submission.
We work with businesses of all sizes, from companies recruiting their first overseas hire to organisations with large international workforces, and with individual workers who are managing the process without employer support. Fixed-fee advice is available from the outset, so the cost of each step is clear before any commitment is made.
Get in Touch
If you are preparing a Skilled Worker Visa application or have received a refusal, call or email us today.
Book a consultation with our business immigration team and receive clear advice on your eligibility and the steps ahead.
Phone: 020 7870 4870
Email: info@lawlanesolicitors.co.uk

Law Lane Solicitors is proud to be accredited under The Law Society’s Immigration and Asylum Accreditation.
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“Sarah Akram is truly wonderful! She is very informative and super helpful and clear about what documents are needed. I am so happy with how much ease everything was completed and with such professionalism. I will be using Law Lane Solicitors again in the future.“ – H C on Trustpilot (April ’26)
Frequently Asked Questions – UK Skilled Worker Visas
What is the salary threshold for a Skilled Worker Visa?
The general minimum is £41,700 per year or the ‘going rate’ for most roles. Lower thresholds apply to certain health and care roles, new entrants to the labour market, and roles listed on the immigration salary list. The going rate for the specific occupation code must also be met, and the higher of the two figures is what counts. We confirm the applicable figure before any application is prepared.
Does the employer need a sponsor licence before applying?
Yes, the sponsoring employer must hold a valid sponsor licence with the Skilled Worker route activated before a certificate of sponsorship can be assigned. If your business does not yet hold a licence, we can advise on the application, the supporting documents required, and the realistic processing timeline.
What is a certificate of sponsorship?
A certificate of sponsorship is a reference number assigned by the licensed sponsor to a specific worker for a specific role. It must accurately reflect the job title, salary, occupation code, and start date. Any discrepancy between the certificate and the other documents in the application can lead to a refusal.
Can I switch to the Skilled Worker route from inside the UK?
Yes, many applicants switch without leaving the UK, provided their current leave permits a switch. We confirm whether a switch is possible based on the applicant’s specific immigration history.
How long does a Skilled Worker Visa last?
A visa is granted for the duration of the job offer, up to a maximum of five years. It can be extended if the employment continues and the requirements are met. After five years of continuous qualifying residence, an application for indefinite leave to remain may be available.
What happens if my salary changes during the visa?
A reduction below the threshold that applied at the time your visa was granted can affect the validity of the sponsorship. A change of employer requires a new certificate of sponsorship and, in most cases, a new visa application. We advise on the steps to take before any change so that the visa position is protected.
Can my family come with me?
Yes, partners and children under 18 can apply as dependants, provided the main applicant meets the financial requirements. Dependants can work and study in the UK during the visa period.
What is an administrative review?
An administrative review allows a different Home Office caseworker to reconsider whether an error was made in the original decision. It does not allow new evidence unless it corrects a caseworking error. We advise on whether the grounds for a review are present before any application is made.
What is the immigration skills charge?
The immigration skills charge is paid by the sponsoring employer at the point the certificate of sponsorship is assigned. The rate depends on the size of the employer and the length of the sponsorship period. Small businesses pay a lower rate than large employers.
What English language evidence is needed?
Applicants must demonstrate English at level B1 or above. This can be shown through an approved secure English language test, a degree taught in English, or citizenship of a majority English-speaking country. We advise on which form of evidence is appropriate for each applicant.
What happens if the occupation code changes after the visa is granted?
If the Standard Occupational Classification system is updated or the role changes in a way that shifts the applicable code, the employer should assess whether a new certificate of sponsorship is needed. We advise on the correct approach before any change is submitted.
How much does an initial consultation cost?
We offer a fixed-fee initial consultation. At that meeting we review eligibility, confirm the applicable salary threshold, and set out the cost of preparing and submitting the application. Please call or email us to arrange a time.
Get in Touch
Whether you are applying for the first time, extending your leave, or dealing with a problem mid-course, our immigration team is ready to help.
Phone: 020 7870 4870
Email: info@lawlanesolicitors.co.uk
Book a consultation with our immigration team and start your studies in the UK with your immigration status in order.
Immigration Team
Tahir Shahab Khan
Supervising Director, Solicitor AdvocateView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Salman Shah
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Sikandar Ali Jatoi
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Ahmed Syed
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Noemaan Fahim
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