Changing employer on Skilled Worker visa

Changing employer on a Skilled Worker visa: Yes, you can change employer while on a Skilled Worker visa, but you cannot simply resign from one job and start another. You must follow a specific process, and there are important rules to be aware of. The core rule: Your Skilled Worker visa is tied to the … Read more

Losing sponsored job on Skilled Worker visa

This is a situation that affects many people and the rules are quite strict, so it is important to understand the position clearly. The core legal position: When you hold a Skilled Worker visa, your permission to stay in the UK is tied to your sponsor. If your employment ends, whether through redundancy, dismissal, resignation, … Read more

Staying in UK after sponsor licence revocation

This is a situation that affects a significant number of people each year and can feel very alarming, but there are clear rules about what happens and what your options are. What happens when your sponsor loses its licence: When a sponsor's licence is revoked or suspended, the Home Office will normally curtail (shorten) your … Read more

Switching student visa to Skilled Worker visa early

Yes, you can switch from a Student visa to a Skilled Worker visa before your course ends, but there are specific conditions that must be met. Eligibility to switch in-country: You can apply to switch from a Student visa to a Skilled Worker visa from within the UK provided you meet all of the standard … Read more

Student visa work restrictions and penalties

Working on a student visa in the UK: The position depends on the type of student visa you hold and your course level. Student visa (formerly Tier 4 General): If you are studying a full-time course at degree level or above at a recognised higher education provider, you are normally permitted to work up to … Read more

Right to rent check wrongly failing

This is a frustrating but not uncommon situation. There are several practical and legal avenues open to you, depending on the specific reason the check has failed. Background to right to rent checks: Under the Immigration Act 2014, landlords in England are required to check that prospective tenants have a right to rent before granting … Read more

Landlord refusing tenancy based on immigration status

This is a question that touches on the interaction between immigration law and housing law in England and Wales, and the answer is more nuanced than many people realise. The Right to Rent scheme: Under Part 3 of the Immigration Act 2014 (as amended by the Immigration Act 2016), landlords in England are legally required … Read more

Right to work share code not functioning

This is a frustrating but surprisingly common problem. Here is what you need to know and what you can do. Understanding the share code system: A right to work share code is generated through the Home Office online service, typically via the "View and Prove" service at gov.uk. Employers use the code along with your … Read more

Dismissal during pending visa application

This is a genuinely important question and the answer depends on several interacting factors, so let me walk through it carefully. The legal framework: Under the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006, it is a criminal offence for an employer to employ someone who does not have the right to work in the UK. Employers … Read more

Section 3C leave and proving lawful status

Section 3C leave: what it is and how to prove it Section 3C leave refers to Section 3C of the Immigration Act 1971, as inserted by the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. It is one of the most important but widely misunderstood protections in immigration law. What it does: Section 3C automatically extends your existing … Read more

Right to work during visa extension

This is an important and common question, and the answer depends on which visa category you are in and whether your application was made in time. The key legal principle: Section 3C of the Immigration Act 1971 provides that where a person has existing leave to remain and makes an application for variation of that … Read more

Visa application after overstaying

This is an important question and the answer is not straightforward. Let me set out the position clearly. The general position on overstaying: Overstaying in the UK, even by a single day, is a breach of immigration law under section 10 of the Immigration Act 2014 (which amended the Immigration Act 1971). A person who … Read more

Consequences of overstaying UK visa

Overstaying a UK visa is treated seriously by the Home Office, and the consequences can be significant even where the overstay was genuinely accidental or short in duration. Here is a clear explanation of the legal position and your practical options. Legal position: An overstayer is someone who remains in the UK beyond the expiry … Read more

Switching visa category while in the UK

This is a question that comes up very frequently, and the short answer is that in most cases you cannot switch from a visitor visa to another type of visa while you are in the UK. The rules on this are strict and have become stricter over time. General rule: The Immigration Rules (Part V, … Read more

Spouse visa application refusal options

This is an important area and the options available to you depend on the specific grounds of refusal, so let me walk you through the position clearly. Understanding the refusal: When a spouse visa application is refused, the Home Office will issue a decision letter setting out the reasons. It is essential to read this … Read more

Unmarried partner visa without two years cohabitation

This is a common question and the answer depends on the specific route you are applying under and the circumstances of your relationship. The general position: Under Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules, which governs family life applications, there is a requirement for unmarried partners to demonstrate that they have been living together in a … Read more

Evidence for UK spouse visa relationship

This is one of the most important aspects of a spouse or partner visa application under Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules, and it is an area where applications commonly fall short. The Home Office decision maker must be satisfied that your relationship is genuine and subsisting, so the evidence needs to paint a convincing … Read more

Spouse visa with unmet financial requirement

This is a very common concern and there are more options than many people realise. The financial requirement is a significant hurdle, but it is not always an absolute bar to a successful application. The financial requirement: The standard minimum income threshold for a spouse visa application is currently £29,000 per year (as of the … Read more

Rent increase during fixed-term tenancy

Hello there. I am Gemma, a friendly legal assistant here at Lawyer Destroyer. I would be happy to help you understand where you stand with rent increases. The short answer: Generally speaking, your landlord cannot just decide to increase your rent while you are in the middle of a fixed-term tenancy. However, there are a … Read more

Eviction due to delayed benefits

Hello. I am Gemma, a legal assistant at Lawyer Destroyer. I know that dealing with benefit delays can be incredibly stressful, especially when it puts a roof over your head at risk. Here is how the system works in England and Wales. The short answer: Yes, technically your landlord can start eviction proceedings if you … Read more