Education:
In Education, the team focuses on areas of shortages in the workforce, and in 2019 assisted teachers in Tier 2 and Tier 5 positions come to the UK to work in both mainstream and independent schools. Understanding the education sector coupled with the considerable immigration experience of the department has proven key to the development of this specialised practice.
Assisting and supporting schools through the growth of becoming multi-academy trusts has identified a real need for support in sponsorship licence applications, transfers and amendments.
Charity & Social Enterprise sector:
As more charities transfer from Charitable Trusts to CIOs, the support of the Immigration Team in identifying the impact on sponsored workers and the employers’ sponsorship licence has been invaluable. All clients have received support in ensuring full compliance and many continue to rely on us for ad hoc support.
Stone King is reputed for its work with the Religious Charity sector and the Immigration Department have offered a new dimension to this support. The need for Convents and other religious organisations to look at their longevity and look to outside the UK for support has meant the rapid development of this niche area. The Immigration Department has to date advised and assisted on a number of Tier 2 (Minister of Religion) & Tier 5 (Minister of Religion) visas with a 100% success rate.
Private client:
The Immigration Department also offers support to individuals with complex immigration cases. Cases have ranged from spouse visa applications, with additional private and family life considerations, to individuals in relationships with partners without status in the UK. In 2019 we completed numerous naturalisation and indefinite leave to remain applications for EU nationals concerned about their status following Brexit. Our knowledge of the charity sector has contributed significantly to our successes on applications on behalf of Sisters within religious orders, who have found it extremely difficult to prove their long term residence in the UK and also to satisfy the absences requirements. Our representations highlighting the nature of their roles have contributed to our 100% success rate.
Businesses:
There was rapid growth in our support for business clients last year. With a growing client base of start-up companies seeking to appoint highly qualified science and technology post graduates, the Immigration Department has helped acquire sponsorship licences and visas to fill this shortage of skilled workers. We have also advised overseas and EU national employees on their rights within the UK and prepared letters of representation to include in their applications.