Our team is experienced at helping migrants secure Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in the UK and can support you in the application process to ensure a successful result. Individuals who have held the same type of British visa for 5 years or more are eligible to apply for ILR, although in certain circumstances you may be eligible after just 3 years. Indefinite Leave to Remain enables migrants from outside of the UK to stay in the UK without restrictions and is the first step to take before applying for full British citizenship or naturalisation. Almost all other British visa routes are eligible to apply for ILR after meeting certain other requirements, including those who have been on Tier 1 Visas, Tier 2 Work Visas, and Spouse Visas. The conditions that you need to meet to qualify for ILR are as follows: You have held the same type of British visa for 5 years or more Proof that you meet the B1 levels of English You must pass the Life in the UK test No criminal record and you cannot have breached the immigration laws during your stay in the UK You cannot have spent more than 180 days outside of the UK within any year of living in the UK The requirements can vary so it’s best to speak to an Immigration Lawyer to determine if you’re eligible to apply and what you will need to include with your ILR application.
You can apply to become a British citizen through naturalisation if you meet the relevant criteria which have been set out in the British Nationality Act 1981. This is the most common approach to become a British citizen. This application is decided and granted by the Secretary of State for the Home Office. The main requirements for naturalisation involve meeting the residence requirement, settled status requirement, good character requirements and the English language test and Life in the UK test requirements. Naturalisation after holding settlement for 12 months: You are eligible to apply to naturalise as a British citizen under Section 6(1) of the British Nationality Act 1981, provided you meet the following requirements: You are aged 18 or over You are of good character i.e., do not have a serious or recent criminal record, or any adverse immigration history You are of sound mind You intend to make the UK your permanent home You have passed a Life in the UK test You have met the knowledge of English language test requirements You have met the residence requirements In addition, the following residence requirement must usually apply: You have lived in the UK for at least 5 years prior to your application You have not spent more than 450 days outside the UK in those 5 years You have not spent more than 90 days outside the UK in the last 12 months You had Settlement (also known as indefinite leave to remain/ILR) for the last 12 months; if you are not an EEA citizen You had Settled Status under the EU Settlement Scheme (also known as indefinite leave to remain) for the last 12 months; if you are an EEA citizen or eligible to apply to the scheme. Naturalisation as the spouse of a British citizen A person who is married to a British citizen will be eligible to naturalise as a British citizen under Section 6(2) of the British Nationality Act 1981. If you are married to a British citizen, you will be subject to all of the above requirements however the only difference is: You do not have to wait 12 months from obtaining ILR to apply for naturalisation. You are only subject to 3 years residence requirement i.e. should not have spent more then 270 days outside the UK in the last 3 years. All other requirements apply. When sending your application, a biometrics appointment will be mandatory to attend. After applying, a decision will usually be made in 6 months, depending on the application some may take longer. Once you have received your certificate of British Citizenship, you must send your biometrics residence permit back to the Home Office. The UK allows dual nationality for its citizens however, some countries may not. In which case they can revoke your citizenship once you have become British therefore, it is imperative for you to contact your embassy before you decide to apply for naturalisation.
Skilled Worker Visa The Skilled Worker Visa enables qualified overseas professionals to live and work in the UK for an approved employer. Whether you have received a job offer from a UK business or an employer is looking to sponsor international talent, obtaining the correct visa is an essential step towards working and building your future in the UK. Our experienced immigration lawyers provide practical, tailored advice throughout the application process. We work closely with both individuals and employers to ensure applications are accurate, fully documented, and submitted in accordance with the latest UK immigration requirements. Who Can Apply? You may be eligible for a Skilled Worker Visa if you: Have a genuine job offer from a UK employer licensed to sponsor overseas workers. Have been assigned a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS). Meet the required salary threshold or qualify under an eligible salary exception. Are applying for a role that meets the relevant skill level. Can demonstrate the required level of English language proficiency, where applicable. Our Skilled Worker Visa Services We provide comprehensive legal support at every stage of your application, including: Assessing your eligibility before applying. Reviewing your employment offer and sponsorship documents. Preparing and submitting Skilled Worker Visa applications. Advising on dependent partner and children's visa applications. Supporting visa extensions and changes of employment. Assisting with settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain) applications when eligible. Providing guidance to employers on sponsorship compliance and immigration requirements. Supporting Employers We also advise UK businesses that employ overseas workers. Our team can assist employers with sponsor licence applications, compliance obligations, assigning Certificates of Sponsorship, and maintaining ongoing compliance with UK immigration rules. Why Choose Our Immigration Lawyers? UK immigration rules are subject to frequent changes, and even minor errors can lead to delays or refusals. Our legal team provides clear, practical advice tailored to your individual circumstances, ensuring your application is prepared with care and attention to detail. From your initial consultation through to your visa decision, we are committed to making the process as straightforward and stress-free as possible. Speak to Our Team If you are planning to work in the UK or require advice regarding a Skilled Worker Visa, contact our immigration lawyers today. We will assess your circumstances, explain your options, and provide expert legal guidance to help you achieve a successful outcome.
The mechanics of obtaining a divorce nowadays are usually quite straightforward – particularly if both partners feel that the marriage is over. The difficulties tend to lie rather in resolving the related practical issues stemming from divorce – how to separate, where to live, arrangements over the children and financial matters generally. Your attention will be concentrated on those related issues and the process of actually getting the decree may seem blurred. The purpose of this is to set out a broad framework of the process to highlight key points and to set out the sort of timetable to expect. Who can file a divorce petition? Anyone who has been married for over a year provided one or other of the couple is either domiciled here or has been resident in England or Wales during the preceding year. It does not matter where the marriage originally took place. Can I file a petition based on “irretrievable breakdown”? Yes – in fact this is the only ground for divorce now, but there is a complication. This is that a divorce will only be granted if you can establish one of five facts, laid down by law, evidencing irretrievable breakdown. Those five facts are: Your spouse has committed adultery and you find it intolerable to go on living together Your spouse has behaved in such a way that it would be unreasonable to expect you to go on living together Your spouse has deserted you for a continuous period of two years or more You and your spouse have been living separately for two years or more and your spouse agrees to the divorce You and your spouse have been living separately for five years or more, whether or not your spouse consents to the divorce. If I think my marriage is irretrievably over and that one of the five facts applies, what happens next? This will depend upon your particular circumstances, but it is often a good idea to try and obtain your spouse’s prior consent to a petition being filed. Your solicitor may be able to reach agreement over the form the petition should take. For example, if your spouse accepts that you should file a petition based on behaviour, only a brief outline of the particular behaviour need be given – not saying all that might be said will not prejudice you in any way. What does the petition actually look like? Every petition follows the same form, containing basic information about names, addresses, ages of children etc., and the first ten or so paragraphs simply follow a set pattern. What is in the paragraph dealing with the “fact” evidencing the irretrievable breakdown depends upon which “fact” is in question and whether your spouse has agreed in advance to the petition going ahead. The “prayer” setting out your request for a divorce and notifying your wishes to make claims in respect of finance is also in standard form. Are financial issues dealt with before the divorce decree is granted? Sometimes, but very often financial discussions will not have been completed by the time the decree absolute can be pronounced. If you are applying for public funding in respect of financial negotiations, your application will not be processed for some weeks. Your solicitor will explain the possible financial effects of the pronouncement of the decree absolute – for example, with regard to national insurance contributions, pension entitlement and protection of your rights of occupation in the matrimonial home if it is not in joint names. A financial settlement can be reached within divorce proceedings or judicial separation proceedings. Alternatively, a deed of separation which reflects the date of separation and the parties intention to divorce in 2 years’ time will set out the financial agreements reached at the time of separation, which are then put into effect. When considering financial matters between parties, the first step is always to seek full and frank disclosure of both parties financial circumstances. It is extremely important that we have an understanding which is accurate of the financial circumstances of both parties. Once that information has been received, we look to advise and negotiate a sensible settlement taking into account various factors. At Ahmad & Williams Solicitors we have a strong team who specialise in financial matters and who will be happy to assist in negotiating financial settlements.
Buying or selling a home is likely to be the most important financial transaction many will ever enter into and property law is complex and constantly evolving. Moving house is ranked alongside changing jobs, getting divorced or having a baby as the most stressful time in people’s lives. It is therefore essential to receive sound and professional legal advice – and Ahmad & Williams Solicitors can help. Ensuring our legal advice is accessible and personal in its nature is the cornerstone of the service we provide. We have a dedicated team to oversee the entire transaction from start to finish, supported by a team of experienced practitioners. Taking advantage of the latest IT ensures any member of the team can provide up-to date details of the transaction and deal with any queries quickly and efficiently. Ahmad & Williams Solicitors can make buying or selling a house – or doing both at the same time – a less stressful, speedy and efficient process. Our team will keep you informed every step of the way, carry out necessary property searches, explain survey reports as well as check the title and explain the conditions of a mortgage offer. Above all else, we pride ourselves on our level of communication with clients and all parties in the chain. We see our role as solicitors as wider than the legal process itself. As experienced professionals in the property field, we can provide invaluable guidance in connection with a number of other related aspects of a house move. These include the choice of an estate agent on the sale of a property, selecting the correct type of survey for the property being purchased and the recommendation of a surveyor to carry out the work. The Services We Provide Our residential conveyancing department can advise on: Sales and purchases Transfers of equity Mortgages, remortgages and further advances Equity release Right to buy Shared ownership Deeds of gift Residential lettings for landlords or tenants Islamic Finance
