Worthingtons provide both our personal and business clients with the full compliment of immigration legal services. Immigration law is multi-layered and can be extremely difficult to understand for the unacquainted. It is also constantly changing as it is a very politically charged and emotive area. We pride ourselves in being able to navigate clients successfully through this complex area – our expert team keeping on top of the latest legal developments, and we are able to deliver a high quality, effective and responsive service.

Whether you are a business seeking to recruit or employ an overseas national and require a sponsorship licence to do so, or you are an individual applying to work or to  join family in the UK, seeking permanent residence here, or seeking to establish your right to stay in the UK on the basis of human rights and other international obligations, Worthingtons can provide bespoke, dedicated advice and representation in these cases, taking pride in what we provide to our clients, and staying with them every step of the way.

We are skilled in providing assistance in relation to all immigration related applications, and representation in relation to applications for administrative review, appeals to the First-tier and Upper Tribunal, and applications for judicial review. We have the right people in our team and have access to specialist immigration barristers where such representation is necessary or desired.

We assist individuals with all aspects of the immigration system from applications for entry clearance, for extensions of stay in the UK, for permanent residence / indefinite leave to remain, for discretionary leave, and for naturalising/registering as British citizens, to claiming asylum in the UK, or permission to stay here on humanitarian protection or human rights grounds (including further submissions in relation to such claims). We also have experience of dealing with issues relating to immigration detention, bail, removal and deportation. In addition, we have extensive experience in dealing with all aspects of the EU Settlement Scheme including making applications for family permits, pre-settled and settled status, and we have made numerous successful applications on behalf of clients under that Scheme.

Entry clearance applications: Entry clearance applications can be some of the most challenging immigration applications – whether these be applications for partner/spousal visas, other family visa applications, or applications for work or investor visas. Complex rules govern entry clearance applications in terms of the evidence that is required to be gathered and submitted in connection with them. We can advise in relation to all aspects of this process and have assisted clients in successfully making visa applications from several different countries worldwide.

Permission to stay applications : We are conversant with a wide range of applications for permission to stay in the UK, including applications for indefinite leave to remain (permanent residence / settlement), and we can advise in relation to whether it is possible to switch between different visa routes.

EU Settlement Scheme: We are fully conversant with the EU Settlement Scheme and advise clients and their family members in relation to applications for family permits, pre-settled and settled status.

Asylum and human rights claims: We have extensive experience in dealing with asylum, humanitarian protection and human rights claims on behalf of individuals, including unaccompanied minors. We have represented many such clients before the First-tier Tribunal and Upper Tribunal, in making further submissions in relation to such cases, and we have also been involved in a number of immigration-related judicial reviews in the High Court.

We are familiar with acting for clients who are subject to detention under the immigration laws, and in applying for bail or temporary admission, on their behalf.

Nationality and naturalisation / registration: We also provide advice in connection with applications on behalf of both adults and children for naturalising or registering as British citizens, including the evidential and procedural requirements relating thereto.

Brian Moss from our Belfast office is a member of the Law Society NI’s Immigration Practitioners’ Group and is currently serving as the group secretary.