In most cases, people wishing to work for an employer in the UK require their employer to apply for a work permit on their behalf. The Work Permits Scheme is managed by Work Permits (UK), a part of the Home Office. Permits for people who wish to be employed in the UK include business and commercial permits, training and work experience permits, sports and entertainment permits and student internship permits.

Adams provides a broad range of legal services relating to immigration of this type and has extensive experience assisting organisations to identify and obtain the most appropriate work and training permits for them. There are a number of key criteria to fulfil in order to successfully apply for a work permit. For example:

  the employer must be established and trading, or about to become operational in
    the UK, either as a partnership, a company or as a registered branch of an
     overseas company.

  work permit applications are made for a specific individual and a specific post so it
    is not possible to obtain a permit for a particular job before someone has been
    found to fill it, or to get a work permit for an individual and then find them a job
    when they get to the UK.

  work permits are normally only issued to applicants who have either a degree
    level qualification or high level or specialist skills. These should have been
    acquired through doing the type of job for which the permit is sought for at least
    three years.

Within the work permits scheme there are four categories of application, known as 'Tier 1' cases, which can be processed more rapidly and require less supporting documentary evidence. Tier 2 applications are all those that do not fit into Tier 1. In this case the employer has to show that no EU or UK worker can do the job. This is normally done by showing that the job was advertised to Work Permits UK’s standards and no worker could be recruited.

For more information on how the system works and how Adams can help you, use the links on the menu above. Alternatively, contact our expert immigration and employment law solicitors based in east London (020 7790 2000) or the West End (020 7182 4500) or complete our enquiry form.