FOR ALL YOUR IMMIGRATION MATTERS
Skilled Worker Visa UK
Advice shaped around your circumstances
Our skilled worker visa solicitors help people applying from overseas, switching from another UK visa and extending their permission. We look at the proposed job, occupation code, salary, Certificate of Sponsorship and personal circumstances before advising on the application. If your partner or children hope to join you, we can consider their eligibility and evidence at the same time.Garth Coates founded the firm in 2008 after working as a Home Office immigration officer. Today, our immigration team works with individuals, families and businesses, offering considered advice and keeping clients informed as their cases progress. The firm is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, number 491304. We explain where an application is straightforward, where the rules call for closer attention and what information we need from you and your employer.
At the outset, we ask for the offer details and the worker’s immigration history. We explain which questions belong to the employer, which documents the applicant must provide and when the application can be made. This gives both sides a clear route through a process where timing and consistent information matter.
- Specialist Expertise
- High Success Rate
- Outstanding Client Care
- Proactive and Diligent Approach
- Extensive Experience and Reliability
Contact us for a Skilled Worker Visa UK consultation
(Typical response time 2 business hours)
6,500 +
Successful Applications and Still Counting
31
Years of Experience in the UK Immigration Law
18
British Lawyers and Supporting Staff
25k +
Consultancy Services Provided and Still Counting
Support For Employers And Workers
An employer cannot sponsor a worker without the appropriate licence. If your organisation is preparing to hire internationally, our sponsor licence solicitors can advise on the application, the proposed role and the systems needed to meet sponsor duties. For licensed employers, we can check the sponsorship details against the worker’s visa application and advise as employment continues.
Getting those details aligned matters. A job description may point to a different occupation code from the title on an offer letter. A salary may meet the general threshold but fall below the going rate for the correct code. We consider these questions early, before an avoidable discrepancy reaches the Home Office.
Permission may need updating if a worker changes employer or moves into a different job. We can assess the implications, advise on an extension and assist if the Home Office refuses an application. We also help employers with sponsor licence compliance and consider how sponsored work may count towards a worker’s later settlement application.
Speak to Garth Coates Solicitors
We can advise on the first application, a change of sponsor, an extension or the route towards settlement.
Tell us about your job offer, current immigration permission and whether your employer already holds a sponsor licence.
Request a consultation and we can discuss the next steps for your circumstances.
FAQs
How can a skilled worker visa solicitor at Garth Coates help me?
A skilled worker visa solicitor at Garth Coates can assess whether your proposed job, sponsor and personal circumstances meet the route’s requirements, then help prepare the application and its supporting evidence. We can also advise on switching, extensions, dependants and the steps towards settlement where those matters are relevant to you.
We establish whether your employer has the right sponsor licence and whether the job can be sponsored. We then check the occupation code, salary, sponsorship dates and circumstances that affect your evidence, such as an earlier refusal or an imminent visa expiry. This identifies questions to resolve before submission.
If instructed, we can guide you through the form and documents, explain Home Office requirements and keep you informed as the case progresses. Your employer may need advice too, particularly when assigning its first Certificate of Sponsorship or changing a sponsored role. We agree the scope of our work with you at the outset.
Can Garth Coates help my employer obtain a sponsor licence?
Yes. Garth Coates advises UK employers applying for a sponsor licence and can assist with the preparation needed before they sponsor a worker. An employer normally needs an approved licence and must assign a valid Certificate of Sponsorship before an applicant can make a Skilled Worker visa application. A job offer alone is insufficient.
For the licence application, we examine the organisation’s lawful operation, proposed roles and HR systems, then help prepare the evidence and representations. A licensed employer must also maintain records and report relevant changes. Sponsorship is an ongoing responsibility, not just a step before the visa application.
The employer must assign the correct Certificate of Sponsorship with accurate duties, occupation, pay, hours and dates. The worker generally has three months after assignment to apply. If you own the sponsoring business, our self sponsorship service can assess that option; the business must still be genuine and meet sponsor duties.
How much does a skilled worker visa solicitor cost, and how long does the process take?
The cost depends on the work needed for your case, and a solicitor’s fee is separate from Home Office charges. Garth Coates proposes fixed fees for immigration matters after assessing their scope. Visa application fees, the Immigration Health Surcharge and any costs for tests, translations or appointments may also need to be budgeted for.
Government fees vary by application location, visa length and any reduced fee that applies to the job. Dependants have separate applications and costs. The employer must cover its Certificate of Sponsorship fee and any applicable Immigration Skills Charge; it must not pass those sponsorship costs on to the worker.
Home Office service standards are usually three weeks for applications made outside the UK and eight weeks for those made inside, after the identity and document steps. Extra checks may take longer. Faster services cost more and depend on availability. We can explain the stages for your case, but cannot promise when the Home Office will decide it.
Can a skilled worker visa solicitor help my partner and children apply?
Yes. Garth Coates can consider whether your partner and children qualify as Skilled Worker dependants and help plan their applications alongside yours. Their permission is not automatic: each person must meet the relevant relationship, age and financial requirements and submit their own application. Eligibility also depends on the occupation you are sponsored to perform.
A spouse, civil partner, qualifying unmarried partner and eligible children may be able to apply. Evidence can include marriage or birth certificates and proof of the relationship. Family members already in the UK may need to switch their own visas; changing yours does not change their permission automatically.
Restrictions apply to dependants of some care workers and people in medium skilled jobs, with exceptions linked to sponsorship history or a child’s circumstances. We assess each family member’s eligibility, application timing, fees and maintenance evidence. A rule that helps one Skilled Worker family may not apply to another.
Can a skilled worker visa solicitor check if my job and salary qualify?
Yes. Garth Coates can examine what you will actually do, identify the appropriate occupation code and check the salary against the requirements that apply to your circumstances. A job title or an annual salary figure on its own is not enough to establish eligibility. The code, duties, pay and working hours must fit together.
For many new applicants, the usual minimum is £41,700 a year or the occupation’s going rate, whichever is higher. Different rules can apply to certain health and education jobs, eligible new entrants and workers with earlier Skilled Worker permission. Older online salary figures may therefore be wrong for your case.
The occupation code determines whether the job qualifies. Some medium skilled roles are eligible only under specific lists or transitional rules. We examine the duties rather than the title and check that the pay and hours on the Certificate of Sponsorship reflect the actual job.
Which documents will a skilled worker visa solicitor review before I apply?
We review the documents required for your circumstances, starting with your passport, Certificate of Sponsorship details and evidence of your English language ability. Depending on where you apply and the job you will do, you may also need financial evidence, a tuberculosis test, a criminal record certificate or documents for accompanying family members.
Most people applying for their first Skilled Worker visa under the rules in force since 8 January 2026 must show English at level B2 in reading, writing, speaking and listening. Some can use a qualifying degree or other accepted evidence, while certain nationalities are exempt. Existing Skilled Workers extending permission may remain subject to B1. We check the rule that applies to you.
We compare your documents with the employer’s sponsorship details. Inconsistent job titles, dates or salary figures can cause problems. Documents not in English or Welsh may need certified translations. We explain what you and the employer must provide and what needs correction before submission.
Can Garth Coates help me switch visas or change my sponsoring employer?
Yes. We can assess whether you can switch to the Skilled Worker route while in the UK, or whether an existing Skilled Worker visa needs updating for a new employer or job. The answer depends on your current permission, the new role and sponsorship arrangements. Apply at the right time, before your permission expires.
Graduate visa holders and some Student visa holders may be able to switch in the UK. Students must also consider course completion and the proposed job start date. Visitors generally cannot switch to Skilled Worker permission inside the UK. Our guide to switching into Skilled Worker sponsorship explains the timing questions.
For a new employer, you need a fresh Certificate of Sponsorship and must update your visa. Do not start the new sponsored job until permission is confirmed. Extensions may follow different rules for people first sponsored under earlier requirements, so we examine your history before advising.
What can Garth Coates do if my visa is refused or my sponsor loses its licence?
We can review the decision or sponsorship problem, explain how it affects your permission and advise on the available next steps. A refusal does not always create a right of appeal. An administrative review, a fresh application or another legal remedy may be appropriate depending on the decision, the evidence and any deadline.
After a refusal, we review the decision letter and the evidence considered. Administrative review usually addresses a caseworking error; missing evidence may call for a fresh application. The remedy depends on the decision and where you applied. Our guide to visa refusals and the available options explains the choices.
A licence suspension can prevent new sponsorship; revocation can also affect existing workers. The employer should address compliance concerns, while the worker checks their status and Home Office correspondence promptly. Garth Coates advises on sponsor licence suspension and revocation and individual applications, so the connected issues can be assessed.
Garth Coates
Principal Partner
A Message from Our Principal
At Garth Coates Solicitors, we provide expert legal advice and unwavering support across the full spectrum of UK immigration matters. Before qualifying as a solicitor, I worked within the UK Home Office (UKVI) as an Immigration Officer — a role that gave me valuable insight into the inner workings of the immigration system. Since then, I have gone on to represent clients at several of the UK’s most prominent immigration law firms, and later established this firm to deliver a more focused and client-centred approach.
Together with my senior legal team, we bring over 30 years of combined experience in the UK immigration sector. This depth of expertise enables us to successfully handle even the most complex and challenging cases — from visa refusals and judicial review proceedings to corporate sponsorships, family reunifications, and permanent settlement applications.
We are proud of our high success rate, earned through strategic thinking, meticulous preparation, and a commitment to delivering results. Our multilingual team of solicitors, caseworkers, and support professionals is well-equipped to serve a global clientele with care, professionalism, and cultural understanding.
At Garth Coates Solicitors, we fight for our clients’ rights and treat each case with the attention and seriousness it deserves. Whether you’re applying for the first time, facing an appeal, or unsure of your options, we are here to guide you with clarity and confidence.
Warm regards,
Contact us for a Skilled Worker Visa UK consultation
(Typical response time 2 business hours)
