Immigration

The laws on immigration are complex and constantly changing. We’re here to demystify things – as your ally, not just your advisor.

We never forget that behind every immigration decision there’s a living, breathing person whose future hangs in the balance.

Immigration law now impacts upon people’s lives at many levels; their relationships, their work, their home, their finances, even their ability to drive. That’s why, as we untangle the most complex cases, our advice also looks at the bigger picture: for you, your family or your company.

It’s an approach that works. Chambers and the Legal 500 rank us as one of the best immigration teams in the UK – for helping families and businesses alike.

How we help

We’re also the only immigration team in the country that is part of a purpose-driven law firm that uses law as a force for good and this is reflected in our recent work in calling the government to offer support and assurances to NGOs working to help their people on the ground in Afghanistan and joining the legal profession’s efforts to help Ukrainian citizens fleeing the warzone.

 

We’re a full service firm, which means we can handle problems many other immigration firms can’t. And by calling on our own lawyers in other practice areas, we usually avoid getting outside opinions – saving you time and money.

Click here to learn more about our pricing for immigration applications.

Explore

Immigration White Paper to reduce net migration – what does this mean for employers?

The government released its White Paper on legal migration entitled ‘Restoring Control over the Immigration system’ on 12 May with a wide range of proposed reforms. These include restoring the Skilled Worker minimum skill level to degree level and increasing minimum salaries, restricting permission on the Graduate route to 18 months, raising the Immigration Skills Charge …
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Chetal Patel urges cultural sector to support international creatives seeking moves to UK and boost film and television sector growth

While immigration remains a hot topic in the UK, Bates Wells is calling for the creative sector to lead in championing initiatives that increase the film and TV industry’s diversity. The UK’s film and television industry brings in more than £18 billion to the UK economy and supports almost 300,000 jobs. It is a fast-growing …
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UK visa options as an alternative to the H-1B visa

March can be a tense time for American companies and international employees who are awaiting the outcome of the H-1B visa lottery, which runs from 7-24 March 2025.  Last year, there were 484,000 entries submitted for 85,000 available spots, and high demand is anticipated again this year. It’s likely that many candidates will be disappointed …
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Two thirds of architect practices cannot pay new rates to sponsor overseas skilled workers

Law firms Bates Wells and Kingsley Napley are urging Home Secretary Yvette Cooper to respond to their letter, sent 16 December 2024 (see here), which highlighted the concerns of clients in the architect sector about the impact of minimum salary threshold changes on their ability to recruit and retain the right talent. The architect industry …
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2024 in review: UK immigration twists, turns, and digital shifts – and what’s ahead for 2025

2024: A year of change in UK immigration 2024 was a pivotal year for UK immigration, marked by significant policy changes impacting employers, individuals, and the broader immigration system. From evolving government directives to the transition toward a fully digital immigration framework, the UK’s immigration landscape has seen notable shifts. As we venture into the …
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Bates Wells was instrumental for our charity in obtaining the sponsorship licence… They displayed a high level of expertise and professionalism. The licence will be able to help us expand the people are able to employ and our organisation more generally. We are grateful for their support and encourage other charities to use them.

Founder and Director, Afghanistan & Central Asian Association

“The team at Bates Wells is phenomenal.”

Immigration, Chambers 2024

“Our complex queries have been responded to with speed and in depth.”

Immigration, Chambers 2024

“The team have been very persistent and proactive, while maintaining a sense of humour, which was very helpful. It’s been a pleasure to work with Bates Wells.”

Immigration, Chambers 2024
Meet our team