Frequently Asked Questions

Yes — you don't need to know the name of the application before you contact us. Tell us about your circumstances and we can help you identify the relevant route or next step. That's exactly what the initial consultation is for.

You can book a consultation through our Contact page. Simply tell us a little about your situation and we'll arrange a conversation to help you understand your options.

It's a focused conversation about your situation. We listen to what's happened and what you want to achieve, then explain the options available to you in plain English. You'll come away with a clearer picture — and a written quote if you decide to proceed with any work.

Not necessarily. Any documents you already have — such as your current visa, passport or Home Office correspondence — can be helpful, but they're not required for a first conversation. Start by telling us about your situation in your own words.

Absolutely. Many of the people we help are already in the UK — for example, those needing an extension, an FLR application, a fee waiver or help with a change in circumstances.

You're right that the rules have shifted significantly in recent years, including salary thresholds, English requirements and settlement proposals. Part of our job is to apply the rules in force on the day we advise you — and to flag where further changes are planned. For absolute certainty, official government guidance is always available at gov.uk.

No. As well as visa applications, we assist with a range of other immigration matters, including FLR applications, fee waivers, extensions, settlement and citizenship.

Yes. We can help you understand the requirements for extending your permission to remain in the UK and support you with preparing the application — including making sure timing is handled correctly.

Yes. We provide guidance relating to settlement, Indefinite Leave to Remain and British citizenship applications. One important note: the government has proposed extending the standard settlement qualifying period from five to ten years — it is consulting on this and it is not yet law. If you are near your current qualifying period, applying promptly may be prudent. We can advise on your position.

Yes. We support employers, business owners and entrepreneurs with UK business immigration matters — including sponsor licences, Skilled Worker sponsorship, Global Business Mobility, Innovator Founder and Global Talent. See Business Immigration for the full overview.

Yes. We provide guidance for international students coming to the UK to study, and for those extending their stay to continue their course — including switching routes where relevant. Do note the Graduate route is scheduled to be shortened, so planning early matters.

Yes — sponsor licence applications, renewals and compliance reviews are a core part of our business immigration work. We assess your readiness honestly first, then prepare the application with your key personnel properly briefed. See Sponsor Licences.

For most new applications, the general salary threshold is £41,700 per year, or the full "going rate" for the occupation if that's higher. Reduced thresholds exist for eligible new entrants and Immigration Salary List roles (£33,400) and relevant PhD roles (£37,500). Workers first granted Skilled Worker permission before April 2024 may benefit from transitional rates (generally £31,300). Salary rules have changed repeatedly — we confirm the exact figure that applies to your role before any Certificate of Sponsorship is assigned. See Skilled Worker.

Yes. New applicants from January 2026 generally need English at CEFR Level B2 (up from B1). Workers who previously held Skilled Worker permission granted under the B1 requirement generally keep that level on extension. We confirm which applies before preparing an application.

A suite of sponsored routes for established overseas businesses: Senior or Specialist Worker, UK Expansion Worker, Graduate Trainee, Secondment Worker and Service Supplier. It's designed for transfers and expansion rather than permanent hiring, and it does not lead directly to settlement. See Global Business Mobility.

Yes. For new applicants, the route is Innovator Founder — which requires endorsement of an innovative, viable and scalable business idea. The old Start-up visa closed to new applicants in 2023, but we still support people already holding it. We also help exceptional individuals explore the Global Talent route, which requires no sponsor or business plan.

Yes. There is no minimum company size for a sponsor licence. What matters is that your business is genuine, trading and able to carry the sponsorship duties. Small and first-time sponsors often benefit most from getting the compliance side right from day one.

Ongoing duties include keeping proper records, reporting events via the Sponsor Management System (such as absences or contract changes), monitoring attendance, and cooperating with the Home Office. Falling short can downgrade or revoke your licence — which affects your workers' status too. We help you build sustainable systems, not just a successful application.

Yes. We can help you understand the relevant Further Leave to Remain requirements and support you with preparing your application, including gathering the necessary information and documents.

FLR stands for Further Leave to Remain. It's an application made from inside the UK to extend your existing permission or change your immigration status. There are several different FLR routes, and identifying the correct one for your circumstances is an important first step.

Yes. If you may be eligible to apply for a fee waiver before making certain immigration applications, we can help you understand the process and prepare the application — including the evidence of your circumstances.

No. A fee waiver covers the Home Office application fee only. Our professional service fee remains payable in all cases — though we'll always confirm the full cost in writing before any work begins.

Please do. An FLR application, a fee waiver or a visa extension may not sound like a major case, but getting it right matters. If your situation feels small, complicated or hard to categorise, that's exactly when a clear conversation helps most.

Our fees depend on the service you need. We publish clear, transparent fees on our Fees page, and our professional service fees are always clearly separated from government application fees.

Our professional service fee pays for our guidance and application support. The Home Office fee is the government's charge for processing your application, set by the government and paid directly to them. The two are always separate, and we'll explain both clearly before you commit.

No. Government application fees are always paid by you directly to the Home Office — never through us, and never as part of our fee.

Before any work begins. After understanding your situation, we provide a written quote setting out exactly what our fee covers. Nothing proceeds until you've reviewed and accepted it.

Possibly, depending on your matter. Translation services, document certification and priority processing are charged separately by third parties where relevant. For sponsored workers, employer-side costs such as the Immigration Skills Charge (which increased in December 2025) are separate too. We'll flag anything that applies to you in your written quote.

No — and you should be wary of anyone who does. We can help you understand the relevant requirements and prepare your application, but all decisions rest solely with the Home Office. What we do promise is clear guidance, transparent fees and honesty about your position.

No. ImmigrationPass is an independent UK immigration support service. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the Home Office or UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). Official government guidance is available at gov.uk.

Immigration advice and services in the UK are regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA), and anyone providing immigration advice must be duly authorised. [Insert ImmigrationPass's regulatory status and IAA registration number here before launch.]

We process personal data in accordance with UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018. Please see our Privacy Policy for details of how we collect, use and protect your information.

Contact us as soon as possible and tell us your expiry date. Timing matters greatly in immigration matters, and we'll always be honest with you about what can realistically be achieved in the time available.