Stone King is reputed for its work with the religious charity sector and the Immigration Team has offered a new dimension to this support. The need for convents and other religious organisations to look at their longevity and to look outside of the UK for support has meant the rapid development of this niche area. The Immigration Team has to date advised and assisted on a number of Minister of Religion visas (T2) & Temporary Worker – Religious Worker visas (T5) with a 100% success rate.

Partner Julie Moktadir heads the immigration team, and having previously been Chief Executive of a charity, understands the operational and strategic issues that are often faced. Together with the team, Julie is able to combine her hands-on experience with her immigration expertise having worked for many international charities in supporting with their sponsorship licence issues, in order to facilitate the movement of both employees and volunteers.

 

 

Areas in which we can support you

Recruitment

  • Guidance and advice on all aspects of recruitment from within and outside the EEA
  • Advice on identity documents and right to work checks

Sponsoring workers

Any organisation seeking to fill vacancies may look to sponsor overseas workers. Our team is able to advise on effective recruitment and selection; give guidance and advice on all aspects of identity documentation and right to work checks; and assist with applications for sponsorship licences, including navigating the Sponsor Management System (SMS).

Assistance includes, but not limited to:

  • Applying for a sponsorship licence
  • Guidance on using the SMS
  • Acting as a Level 1 user Licence management and compliance
  • Revocation of licence Advising on right to work checks
  • Ongoing support

Bespoke audit services in readiness for UKVI visits

We conduct audits for both Worker and Temporary Worker sponsors, reviewing all current immigration processes and procedures, meeting with key personnel to advise on their duties and providing follow-up support, in readiness for any UKVI compliance visits.

Points-based system

We can assist with all aspects of the points-based system. This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Undertaking the whole visa application process
  • Sponsoring workers under Tier 2 of the points-based system;
  • Sponsoring Ministers of Religion under Tier 2 of the points-based system;
  • Sponsoring Temporary Workers (Religious Workers) under Tier 5 of the points-based system;

Advice on the EU Settlement Scheme and implications of Brexit

We appreciate this is an uncertain time for charities and we can provide specific support in relation to Brexit and EU national workers. This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Applying for settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, for any EU national employees
  • Advising employees on the implications of Brexit and providing materials to send to affected staff

Training

We are able to provide a range of bespoke training, examples of which include:

  • Recruitment from overseas
  • Implications of Brexit
  • Responsibilities of a sponsorship licence holder

Case Studies

Our team has recently guided an internationally-renowned charity through the process of applying for a sponsorship licence under the Tier 2 (General) (now Skilled Worker) route of the points-based system. The team supported the charity through all stages of the application, including drafting the application form and a letter of representation, collating all supporting documents, submitting the application and confirming the success of the application. We thereafter continued to support the charity, including through annual renewal of Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS).

Received instructions from a religious order to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme on behalf of the European Sisters within the UK province. Involved travelling to a number of sites across the UK to meet with the Sisters and applying for either settled or pre-settled status. From living within the convent, many of the Sisters did not have national insurance numbers or adequate evidence proving their residence, making the process challenging at times. For such applicants, we made representations and liaised with the Home Office on their behalf, leading to all applications to date being granted despite this.

We represented a Sister from a religious order with an application for permanent residence and British citizenship. The Sister had a very prominent role within the international order, requiring frequent travel abroad for religious work and to further the mission of the organisation. We made representations and collated as much evidence as possible and the application was granted exceptionally quickly.

Assisted a large international religious order in obtaining a sponsorship licence, following the development of the charitable trust into a CIO, completed by our charity team. The trust already had a sponsor licence in place, however as a new legal entity had been created following the incorporation, we highlighted to the client that in order to continue the sponsorship of their overseas sisters, they would need to apply for a new licence by the 20-working day deadline of the incorporation. We completed this on their behalf; despite the fact that certain required documents could not be provided, as the CIO was such a new entity. The licence was granted following our representations and we further assisted in transferring the sponsorship of the Sisters onto the new licence and surrendering the old licence.

What our clients say

"Julie knows what she is talking about. She is very good with clients and very direct. She provides really tangible advice."

What our clients say

"I have found the team most helpful and speedy in answering any query. A recent webinar was extremely helpful for me and showed very good team work."

Legal 500, 2021

What our clients say

"From my experience, I can say that Stone King LLP is a very serious firm, always acting in a very professional manner. They are always very helpful; if they cannot help with an issue they are honest and advise to get help from another competent firm. As they have different expertise they are able to deliver advice in a personal way."

Legal 500, 2021

What our clients say

"As far as my experience goes, the team at Stone King LLP works together giving a sense of trust to the client who comes to know that the team is capable of answering the needs the client may have."

Legal 500, 2021

The law and practice referred to in this article or webinar has been paraphrased or summarised. It might not be up-to-date with changes in the law and we do not guarantee the accuracy of any information provided at the time of reading. It should not be construed or relied upon as legal advice in relation to a specific set of circumstances.