Legal News & Updates

What a UK visa extension requires in 2026 To extend a UK visa in 2026, you must apply before your current visa expires, meet updated income or salary thresholds (unless protected by transitional rules), pay the correct application fee and Immigration Health Surcharge, complete digital identity verification through a UKVI account, and understand how your extension affects long-term settlement under the new earned settlement framework. A step-by-step legal guide explaining the

People searching for an “asylum travel document” usually fall into one of three situations. They have refugee status and want to travel. They have humanitarian or discretionary leave and do not know which document applies. Or they have been refused boarding at an airport and are trying to understand why. The problem is that UK immigration law does not recognise an “asylum travel document” as a single category. The Home Office issues different documents with very different le

A UK 1951 Convention Travel Document (often called a Refugee Travel Document) is a blue passport style booklet  issued by the Home Office to people who have refugee status in the UK , so they can travel internationally even if they cannot get or safely use a passport from their home country. It can feel like a normal passport in your hand, but the rules around it are different. Some of those rules matter a lot, especially travel to your home country, visa free travel in Europ

For many refugees living in the UK, travel is not a simple decision. It often starts with a very basic question that does not have an obvious answer: “Can I even leave the UK and come back?” From there, confusion builds quickly. People hear terms like refugee passport, travel document, certificate of travel, visa requirements, and suddenly something as normal as visiting family, attending a wedding, or travelling for medical reasons feels overwhelming. Unlike British citizen

If you’ve been granted asylum or humanitarian protection in the UK and you’re unable to use a passport from your home country, the Home Office allows you to apply for a UK travel document instead. You must apply from inside the UK, submit identity documents and photographs, pay the required fee, and wait for the Home Office to issue a decision, which in most cases takes several weeks. Although the Home Office sets out the application process, many people run into problems due

There is no official UK visa called the “Self-Sponsorship Visa.” Instead, self-sponsorship allows you to work and live in the UK by having your own UK company sponsor you for a Skilled Worker Visa. To do this, you must set up or own a genuine UK business, apply for a Sponsor Licence, give yourself a real job inside that business, and then apply for the Skilled Worker Visa using a Certificate of Sponsorship. This process gives you more control over your career, but you must fo

If you are a UK resident, you require a visa to enter Europe. This visa is called a Schengen visa, which requires a simple process to follow and the documents, including a passport,  residence card, travel insurance, Flight and hotel booking confirmation, bank statements and proof of employment. This guide outlines the verified steps you must take before applying for a Schengen Visa from the UK, and explains what can trigger a Visa refusal and how to avoid them. What Is a Sc

If you’re sponsoring a worker under the UK immigration system, choosing the correct SOC code  is one of the most critical steps in the entire visa application. The SOC code you select decides the worker’s eligibility , salary requirements , and whether the Home Office accepts your sponsorship. After helping different UK employers through sponsor licence processes and Skilled Worker visa applications, I’ve learned that most mistakes happen not because employers ignore the rule

You may qualify for the UK’s Private Life route  if you’ve lived in the UK a long time, you have built a private life here (school, home, work, friends), and it would be unfair or very hard to leave. For children under 18, this often means at least 7 years of residence. For young adults, if you’ve spent more than half your life here. For adults, if you’ve lived here for 20 years or more or if leaving would create very significant difficulties. Using expert help from MSD Solic

Yes, your passport might still appear valid, but if it was issued more than ten years ago, it could prevent you from travelling, even if the expiry date indicates otherwise. The UK 10-year passport rule has confused many British travellers since Brexit. In simple terms, this rule means your passport must have been issued within the last ten years before the date you enter another country, especially if you’re travelling to Europe. This isn’t about when it expires; it’s about

No, in most cases you cannot work for a UK company or take up a paid job while you’re in the UK on a Standard Visitor visa. However, there are  very limited options av ailable  (for example, supporting your overseas job or working remotely for your employer outside the UK) if certain conditions are met. What is a Visitor Visa (Standard Visitor)? A Standard Visitor visa allows you to visit the UK for up to 6 months (and in some cases, up to 12 months for academics or private

SRA-Regulated Specialists | Assisting 500+ Visa Applicants Annually | 98% Success Rate on Fully Represented Cases If you are planning a move to the UK in 2026, the financial evidence you provide is the single most critical factor in your application's success. While the rules have stabilised following the volatility of previous years, the Home Office continues to enforce a strict "high-skill, high-wage" policy. We understand that waiting for a visa decision is incredibly stre

Planning a trip to Singapore from the UK? The good news is that most UK travellers don’t need a visa  to visit Singapore for a short stay. Whether you’re heading there for a business meeting, a family holiday, or just a stopover, entering Singapore is generally simple — as long as you know what’s required before you go. This guide explains everything clearly — who needs a visa, who doesn’t, what documents to prepare, and the exact steps you should follow from the UK before de

The UK's immigration rules are getting more complex. New financial rules for 2025 will change how people move to the UK. Knowing these...

One of the most important parts of the process for applying for asylum is the formal discussion.  During this interview, we will look at...

Applying for a UK visa can be a difficult task, but that's OK! Following our detailed instructions will help to make your journey towards...

If you're applying for a visa to enter or remain in the UK, you're likely to be required to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)....

Nearly 1.2 million non-EU nationals applied to extend or renew their visas in the UK in 2022, highlighting the complexity and importance...

The British visa for 2025 can feel heavy to get through the financial requirements. MSD Solicitor understands the complexities of...

As an employer or sponsor, navigating the complexities of the UK's immigration system can be daunting, especially with the recent updates...