A young Hong Konger approached us for advice on how to stay in the UK. Unlike many of the other Hong Kongers who have moved to the UK, she did not have BNO status. She had come here on a short-term visa, but this was coming to an end. We noted that she was a highly skilled software professional and that she was fluent in Cantonese and English – a real asset to the UK workforce! She was enjoying her job and her employer was very impressed with her work. We discussed work visa sponsorship and both she and her employer wanted to pursue this. We then stepped in, first to advise her employer on their Sponsor Licence application and then to advise her on her Visa application.
There was a tight deadline here because our Hong Konger’s visa was due to expire soon. We had to expedite our preparation of her employer’s Sponsor Licence application, while also putting in place a contingency plan – in case it did not receive the Licence in time. At the same time, we had to advise her employer on its remote working arrangements to meet the requirements for the Sponsor Licence. There was a lot to do in this application! We thrived in this situation, with both technical advice and practical planning. We were delighted when the Government granted the Sponsor Licence – and in just 4 weeks, rather than the standard 8 weeks.
Once the employer had the Sponsor Licence, we were able to work with our Hong Konger on her Visa application. There was very little time left, but we used our experience to make sure that the process was as stress-free as possible for her. Thanks to our diligence and preparation, the Government granted the visa straight away, allowing her to stay in the UK and plan her future here.