OTS Solicitors > London, England > Firm Profile

OTS Solicitors > Firm Profile

OTS Solicitors are energetic and driven. Rather like your typical entrepreneurial client, new start-up or international company wanting to gain a foothold in the UK by securing a sole representative visa.

Established in 2014, OTS Solicitors has a reputation for “punching above its weight”, delivering commercial and pragmatic legal advice with excellent client service that is focussed on delivering results. Within a few short years, OTS Solicitors has gained national and international recognition as leaders in business immigration and personal immigration law.

Led by managing partner, Oshin Shahiean and CEO, Teni Shahiean, and with a talented legal team that includes former immigration judge, Paul Gulbenkian, the lawyers at OTS Solicitors regularly appear in the national and foreign media. The immigration team has helped cover stories on Brexit, the new Start-up and Innovator Visas, changes to the Investor visa, and have helped highlight the plight of the Windrush generation and asylum seekers.

Whilst OTS Solicitors are known for their business immigration and personal immigration law work the firm has invested heavily in growing its family law offering and employment law and litigation teams. The growth in these areas comes about because of demand from both business and personal immigration clients for joined-up seamless legal advice from specialist solicitors.

The expansion of OTS Solicitors has not distracted the firm from its focus on client excellence and service.  The firm is highly recommended by clients, intermediaries and other solicitors and barristers because of OTS Solicitors emphasis on quality and excellence.

With a multi-national client base, OTS Solicitors has a strong international focus. Multiple languages are spoken within the practice. Senior lawyers make regular visits to overseas jurisdictions such as UAE, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Turkey, Lebanon, Iran, China, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Russia, Armenia, Middle East and North Africa and USA to advise businesses.

Areas of practice:

Business Immigration: OTS Solicitors have a strong national and international reputation for providing business immigration solutions.  The immigration team acts for entrepreneurs, high-net-worth individuals applying for Investor visas, academic institutions, multi-national organisations, and SMEs.

Co-founder and CEO, Teni Shahiean, has a niche practice in UK Sponsor Licence compliance and challenging downgrading, suspending and/or revocation decisions. In addition, the firm provides Sponsor Licence management services and bespoke immigration and employment law training to corporate clients ranging from SMEs to multi-nationals.  Managing Partner, Oshin Shahiean and senior consultant, Paul Gulbenkian lead the high-net-worth and investor visa applications, working closely with intermediaries to ensure applications are dealt with efficiently and effectively. The firm is known for its expertise in advising entrepreneurs and technology businesses and so have a real passion for securing the new Start-up and Innovator visas and providing follow up corporate advice.

Immigration: the personal immigration team has a vast amount of experience in securing student visas, spouse visas, visitor visas, family visas, indefinite leave to remain, immigration bail, British citizenship and advising on asylum and human rights claims and appeals, overstay, detention and removal.

OTS Solicitors have been at the forefront of advising Windrush victims, appearing on the BBC 2 programme “Who should get to stay in the UK ?”. The team has also assisted the national and international media by answering questions on the effect of Brexit on personal and business immigration law, appearing on the BBC news, the Victoria Derbyshire Show and being quoted by major national and international media outlets.

Landlord & Tenant Law: Our Solicitors are particularly experienced in acting on behalf of Landlords, Property Management Companies, Agents and Tenants. Our solicitors have built a reputation for providing the best representation in all types of landlord and tenant disputes including evictions, repair responsibilities, early termination, harassment, breach of contract, repossession, rent repayment orders and rent arrears.

Disputes that can arise as a result of tenancy are diverse in nature and often complicated. Our Landlord and Tenant Team focus on the intricacies of all legal aspects of the tenancy whether you are the landlord or the tenant.

Family Law: with its international client base of entrepreneurs and high net worth investor clients, the family law team focusses on servicing their family law needs. Advice covers cohabitation and prenuptial agreements, child abduction and permission to take a child overseas to live, international adoption and surrogacy arrangement cases and cross-border and high net worth divorce and financial settlements. The family law team offers unrivalled expertise in cases involving family and immigration law elements such as international divorce and inter-country adoption and children disputes.

Employment Law:  With a reputation for straight talking, no nonsense legal advice, employment law clients range from start-ups and SMEs to large national and multi-national corporations. Advice and representation covers: immigration and employment law (Sponsor Licence management and right to work and recruitment), disciplinary matters, TUPE, redundancy, employment tribunal claims, Equality Act 2010 and settlement agreements.

Human Rights: The human rights team are experts in Article 8 and Article 3 immigration appeals and judicial reviews. The firm has a robust understanding of Middle East, Asia and African asylum and human rights cases and has access to specific country legal expertise and human rights groups.

Civil Litigation: the commercial litigation department has extensive experience in all types of civil litigation disputes, including claims for breach of contract, professional negligence, director and shareholder disputes. If divorce and financial proceedings involve a family business, the family law team can draw on the experience and expertise of the civil litigation team in drawing up company paperwork or resolving satellite company litigation.

Commercial and company law: The team advises on all aspects of commercial and corporate law , including company start up, partnership and shareholder agreements, commercial contracts, terms and conditions and disputes. The firm specialises in assisting overseas entrepreneurs to set up their company structure once they secure Start-up or Innovator visas.

Number of UK partners: 2

Number of other UK fee-earners: 20

Breakdown of work %

Individual Immigration: 70%

Family Law: 20%

Employment: 5%

Litigation: 3%

All Other: 2%

Interviews

Oshin Shahiean, Partner

How we focus on delivering legal expertise in the niche areas of Immigration, Landlord and Tenant, Family, Civil litigation, Commercial and Employment.

What do you see as the main points that differentiate OTS Solicitors from your competitors?

We provide clients with an exceptional level of legal expertise, a genuine service that is tailored to your business and/or personal needs, at a cost-effective price. We do not simply advise on immigration law; we actively shape it. Having established a reputation for creativity, professionalism, and being forward-thinking in our work.

Which practices do you see growing in the next 12 months? What are the drivers behind that?

With the end of freedom of movement, we are seeing a substantial rise in requests for employers and organisations seeking to employ European workers under the Skilled Worker Route. This affects both companies and employees as both parties will now need to navigate the immigration rules when applying for Sponsorship Licences and Skilled Worker Visas.

What’s the main change you’ve made in the firm that will benefit clients?

We have recently invested in consultants for various departments with specialised knowledge in specific areas. This enables OTS Solicitors to handle all enquiries and cases effectively with a wide-ranging knowledge of the legal areas. This creates a ‘one-stop shop’ for all of our client’s needs.

Is technology changing the way you interact with your clients, and the services you can provide them?

We have adopted a streamlined and efficient service with the introduction of new legal tech software that enables us to succeed in cases without the physical presence at our offices. This enables us to work around our clients’ schedules and deal effectively with casework using almost exclusively online services.

Can you give us a practical example of how you have helped a client to add value to their business?

One of our multiple business clients was facing a significant staff shortage due to the ongoing effects of the pandemic and the end of freedom of movement combined. We represented the company with their successful sponsor licence application enabling them to hire overseas workers to ensure continued business success in their sector.

Are clients looking for stability and strategic direction from their law firms – where do you see the firm in three year’s time?

We believe that clients are constantly on the search for a law firm that can not only provide legal representation to a high standard, but also an engaging client experience and customer service. We are placing an increasing focus on providing an outstanding service in addition to the work going on behind the scenes which is evident from our generous reviews from previous clients. We are currently expanding our reach in London and have recently opened a new office in West London where we are aiming to build on existing areas such as employment and landlord and tenant law.

Press Releases

Home Office error deprives children of their British passports

As reported recently by the BBC, immigration solicitors in London have recently learned that over 1,000 children entitled to British passports have had their applications for renewal refused – because of a Home Office error. Although the Home Office has set up what it describes as a ‘support function’ to identify those potentially affected, and to resolve any BREXIT, EU and EEA Applications, Permanent Residence Card and Appeals Brexit vote, this is something that many of the top immigration solicitors in London are hearing from many of the EU citizens they work with.

OTS Solicitors Unveils Opening of Dubai Office And Invites You To A Seminar On UK Business Visa Requ

OTS Solicitors has experienced rapid success and growth over the last 12 months.  As part of our expansion, the partners are now proud to announce the opening of our Dubai office on 1^st May 2018.

To celebrate the opening of the Dubai branch which will focus on the firm’s very high net-worth private client advisory business, OTS Partners, Mr Oshin Shahiean and Ms Teni Shahiean, along with Ms Saida Ahmed, Senior business immigration Advisor are hosting a seminar at the Hyatt Regency Dubai Creek Heights 14^th April 2018.  The seminar is entitled “UK Business Visa Requirements - Helping foreign nationals and businesses enter and remain in the UK”.  In addition, the partners and senior immigration advisor, Ms Saida Ahmed will be providing businesses and individuals interested in relocating to the UK the opportunity to talk about their ambitions further in 30-minute one-to-one sessions on Sunday, 15^th April and Monday, 16^th April 2016.

OTS Solicitors Is Expanding To Chancery Lane

OTS Solicitors is delighted to announce that due to rapid growth and expansion, the firm has now expanded into additional offices.  The firm is adding 160 sq meters of office space at a new Chancery Lane branch in addition to its current 80 sq meters in the existing Fleet Street office, providing a total of 240sq meters with room for further expansion.  From 12th March 2018, the team at OTS Solicitors will see all clients at their new offices located at 25 Southampton Buildings WC2A 1AL.

Home Office Immigration White Paper Release Delayed

An immigration white paper outlining Britain’s proposed post-Brexit immigration system will not be released until after the transition deal is completed.

The government’s announcement regarding the paper, which was supposed to be released last summer, has been criticised by the business community.

This move also means that a Brexit immigration bill, promised in the Queen’s speech, will not reach the statute book before the registration of the three million EU nationals already living and working in Britain gets underway this autumn.

OTS Wins AI Excellence Award For The Most Trusted [Immigration] Lawyers 2017

OTS Solicitors is proud to announce we have been awarded the Acquisition International (AI) Excellence Award for the Most Trusted [immigration] Lawyers 2017.

AI is a monthly magazine dedicated to providing information to the corporate world.  It has a circulation of 108,000 people in over 170 countries and regularly attracts editorial submissions from large corporate players, including KPMG, EY, PwC and Deloitte.

Rare Granting Of Adult Dependent Relative Visa Thanks To OTS Solicitors

OTS Solicitors has been ranked highly by the Legal 500, and we have won numerous other awards for our immigration services (including a Global Excellence Award for the Most Trusted in Immigration Law).  OTS recently had an extraordinary success with an Adult Dependent Relative Visa being granted for the elderly relatives of a client.

Court of Appeal Rules The Extension Of The Worker Registration Scheme Was Unlawful

On 7^th November 2017, the Court of Appeal, in Secretary of State for Work and Pensions v Gubeladze [2017] EWCA Civ 1751confirmed (again) that the extension of the Worker Registration Scheme from 1 May 2009 to 30 April 2011 was unlawful and incompatible with EU law. 

ECJ Gives Landmark Decision In EU Spouse Case

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has ruled an EU national who becomes a British citizen does not lose the right to have a non-EU spouse live with them in the UK.

The court ruled the UK Home Office was mistaken in denying a dual British-Spanish citizen the right to bring her Algerian husband with her to Britain.

OTS Solicitors Achieves 12 Successful Visa Applications In One Day

OTS Solicitors is proud to announce that we have received back 12 biometric residence permit cards from UK Visas and immigration (UKVI) in one day.

The applications consisted of a mix of Indefinite Leave to Remain, residence cards and permanent residence cards.

It is unprecedented to have so many successful biometric residence cards come through in one day.

Creative Industries Want Government To Act Sensibly With Immigration Policies Post-Brexit

The Creative Industries Federation (CIF) has released a Global Talent report which highlights creative industries contribute £87 billion to the UK economy.  This is more than the automotive, oil and gas, aerospace and life sciences industries combined.

The creative industry also accounts for three million British jobs and is the country’s fastest growing sector.

There are fears, however, that the Government’s post-Brexit immigration policy could put enormous pressure on the sector.  Without freedom of movement, industry leaders say they will struggle to attract the “best and the brightest”.

OTS Solicitors Win Appeal Against Asylum Refusal

Under UK law, everyone, irrespective of the evidence against them, is entitled to a defence.  This principle is especially applicable in cases involving asylum, whereby a person’s human rights may be violated if they are returned to their country of origin.

Asylum seekers need not be destitute, despite being portrayed as such by the media.  Countries that do not have a strong human rights track record, including some in the Middle East, South East Asia and Africa, do not necessarily distinguish between wealth and rank.  If a person faces criminal prosecution in certain countries, their access to justice can be severely limited and incarceration inhumane.

OTS Solicitors is a Legal 500 recommended law firm and has won numerous other awards for our immigration service (including a Global Excellence Award for the Most Trusted in Immigration Law).  My team and I regularly advise high-net-worth clients who have entered Britain on a Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa or a Tier 1 Investor Visa, who are facing charges in their home country, claim asylum.

Saudi Detains Senior Figures In Anti-Corruption Crackdown

Officials in Saudi Arabia have arrested dozens of high-ranking officials, including a billionaire prince who owns the Savoy Hotel in London in an anti-corruption clampdown that fortifies Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's power-base.

Legal Developments

Increase in Tier 1 Investor Visa applications driven by changes to US immigration

London business immigration lawyers have noticed an increase in applications for Tier 1 Investor Visas by ultra-high net worth individuals, fuelled in part by political instability in nations such as Russia and China, and also by changes to US Immigration. British Citizenship lawyers are often approached about this visa route as it is seen as a ‘fast track’ route to settlement in the UK.

A closer look at Settled Status for EU citizens

Following the release of more details of the UK Government’s scheme for a streamlined application process to grant EU citizens in the UK settled status to safeguard their position following the UK’s departure from the EU, our EEA immigration solicitors here at OTS Solicitors take a look at the post-Brexit position for EU nationals and what the settled status scheme entails in more detail.

Minister Unveil How ‘Settled Status’ Applications Will Work

immigration Minister, Brandon Lewis has set out how the government plans to register three million EEA nationals living in the UK who will be invited to apply for Settled Status.

The Guardian reports that Mr Lewis informed peers that the online the application process for Settled Status would go live in the second half of 2018.

The immigration minister also stated that the increasing number of EU nationals being deported from the UK since the EU referendum in June 2016 was “…good news for the British public because we should be doing everything to remove foreign national offenders”.

He added that a court case this week would clarify the legality of deportation of rough sleepers who are EU nationals. We will keep you up to date with this as news breaks.

How to Carry Out a Resident Labour Market Test

If you have successfully acquired a UK Sponsor Licence and are looking to recruit workers from overseas in 2018, you need to understand that the Resident Labour Market Test (RLMT) is an imperative part of UK Sponsor Licence holder’s duties. When recruiting talent from outside the EEA, ensuring that every RLMT is correctly undertaken is a crucial step in the hiring process. Fortunately, by engaging one of London’s best immigration solicitors, you can ensure that you conduct a fully compliant RLMT. In fact, an immigration solicitor can manage the entire process on your behalf, leaving you or your HR team free to concentrate on other parts of the business.

The RLMT procedure is relatively straightforward; however, HR directors and/or employers can risk making costly mistakes if the process is not run correctly. And in the current political climate in which Theresa May’s government is dedicated to making it tougher to recruit from outside the UK, the Home Office is alive to any deviation by businesses from the RLMT rules. Failure to conduct a correct RLMT can result in immigration officials refusing to grant a Certificate of Sponsorship.

Hiring in expert consultants can help you avoid the pitfalls associated with conducting an RLMT. At OTS Solicitors, our experienced immigration lawyers can manage the entire process for you, ensuring you are compliant at every stage.

International Families – Can You Relocate After a Divorce?

If you want to move countries with your children after a divorce, it is not as simple as just jumping on a plane and waving goodbye to your old life. Regardless of your reasons for wanting to relocate with your children after a divorce, your ex-spouse may be able to prevent you from moving.

Custody battles involving relocation after divorce can be emotionally and financially catastrophic, which is why you must instruct the best family solicitors in London. Just ask former Gossip Girl star, Kelly Rutherford, who declared bankruptcy following a six-year custody battle with her German ex-husband, Daniel Giersch. In a widely reported decision in 2012, a Californian judge ruled that Rutherford and Giersch should retain their 50/50 arrangement over their two children, but because Giersch was forbidden to enter the United States, the children must remain living in Monaco and attend school there. Rutherford launched a series of legal appeals; each one was denied.

Oscar-winner Halle Berry also fought a bitter battle of relocation with her ex-partner, Gabriel Aubry, with whom she has a daughter. After the couple separated, Berry met her new (and subsequently ex) husband, French actor Olivier Martinez. She wished to move to France with her daughter, a move that was fought by Aubry on the grounds it would interfere with their joint-custody arrangement. In 2012, a judge denied Berry’s request to relocate.

We deal with many cases involving international families, where one party wishes to move back to their home country following a relationship breakdown. And fortunately, most cases are dealt with calmly and respectfully, with the best interests of the children at the forefront of any decisions made.

Record Number of Tier 1 Investor Visas Granted In the Third Quarter of 2017

According to figures released by the Office of National Statistics, 114 UK Tier 1 Investor Visas were granted in the third quarter of this year, up from 85 in Q2; an increase of 34% on the quarter and up 247% since the same period last year.

Our international Immigration consultants were involved in a significant number of these successful applications.

This indicates that despite initial fears of Brexit hurting the UK economy, investors from Russia and China continue to see Britain as a prime country to relocate to.

Overseas investor confidence in the UK has been further confirmed with news a US-based life sciences investment fund is planning to invest up to $1 billion to create a large biotech company in the UK. In addition, Facebook has announced it is planning to create 800 jobs in London over the next year, showing it is confident in the long-term growth prospects of the UK. Finally, two large pharmaceutical companies have stated they plan to invest more than £1 billion into research hubs in London and Manchester, creating over 1,000 new positions.

What If Meghan Markle Cannot Get ILR or British Citizenship?

Like everyone across the country, the London-based immigration lawyers OTS Solicitors are delighted at the news that Price Harry is engaged to American actress Meghan Markle, best known for her role in Suits and her humanitarian work. Ms Markle has announced she will become a British Citizen, and just to assure us that the same rules apply to the Royal Family as to ‘normal folk’, she will be “working towards obtaining citizenship” over the next months/years.

As she is from America, Ms Markle would not have required a visa to spend time with Prince Harry while they were dating. This is because citizens from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, parts of the Caribbean, the United States and large parts of South America can come to the UK for up to six months without a visa.

Now that Ms Markle has made moved to the UK permanently it is likely Ms Markle is in the UK on a Fiancée Visa. Once she is married, it is likely she will switch to a UK spouse visa. And, as has been pointed out in many UK papers, fortunately, Ms Markle will not need to worry about Prince Harry not being about to meet the Minimum Income Requirement of £18,600 (he is estimated to be worth around £25 million). The adequate accommodation requirement will also be unproblematic – the couple plan to reside in Nottingham Cottage, located in the grounds of Kensington Palace.

What happens next, the application for Indefinite Leave to Remain and British Citizenship can be tricky; although probably not for Ms Markle. It is likely that palace staff have looked into the bride-to-be’s background, making sure no embarrassing skeletons appear from her closet that could prevent her obtaining British Citizenship. Examples could include having a criminal record or having broken British immigration rules in the past.

However, just for argument’s sake, let’s imagine what would happen if Ms Markel was turned down for Indefinite Leave to Remain or British Citizenship.

Changes To The Immigration Rules Coming Into Effect From 11th January 2018

The UK government has recently announced significant changes to the immigration rules, which will start coming into effect from 11^th January 2018.

OTS Solicitors is highly recommended in the Legal 500 for immigration and human rights law. We have also been selected by the 2017 Global Excellence Awards as the Most Trusted in Immigration Law: UK. We provide the best legal advice to businesses and individuals throughout the UK, South East Asia, Russia and the Middle East.

In an explanatory note, the Home Office states the purpose of the imminent changes includes:

• clarifying rules for Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa applicants
• allowing for electronic entry clearance issuing
• allowing standard and marriage/civil partnership visit visa holders to transit using the same visa
• eliminating inconsistencies relating to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) for applicants and their dependents in work visa categories such as Tier 2
• increasing the number of Tier 1 Exceptional Talent Visa issued to 2,000 per annum and provide for accelerated settlement for certain applicants
• developing new Tier 2 provisions for research positions and for students switching from a Tier 4 Visa

Brexit Negotiations Update – EU Citizen’s Rights Almost Finalised

“Roy Moore’s stunning defeat reveals red line for Trump-style politics.” This headline and others like it in today’s papers show that thankfully common decency often prevails over hate. What a contrast to 2016 when Brexit and Donald Trump rode to power on the back of xenophobia.

This year, we have seen far-right politicians soundly defeated in France and the Netherlands; however, their gains in the German and Austrian elections show that the world is not out of the woods yet when it comes to far-right populism gaining ground politically.

And last week saw Brexit negotiations finally show some semblance of logic (although Brexit Minister, David Davis, managed to screw things up this week spectacularly, but more on that later).

Applying for a Certificate of Sponsorship

As the New Year looms, many business owners will be thinking about their staffing levels and how to ensure they have the talent needed to meet their 2018 business objectives. If you already have a Tier 2 or 5 Sponsor Licence, this article will tell you all you need to know about applying for and issuing Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS).

Given the responsibilities entailed with having a Sponsor Licence, it should come as no surprise that applying for and issuing a CoS requires adherence to several compliance policies and procedures. At OTS Solicitors, our London-based immigration solicitors can manage the process of obtaining CoS on your behalf, giving you confidence that your organisation is fully compliant with Home Office rules, and your Sponsor Licence will maintain its A-rating.

Government Doubles the Number of Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) Visas

The UK government has announced that “as part of its ongoing commitment to welcome talented people from across the globe, and in recognition of the importance of these innovative industries to the UK”, it is doubling the amount of Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) Visas it offers.

OTS Solicitors Succeed In Helping An EEA National And Her Daughter Obtain Permanent Residence Cards

By Oshin Shahiean, of OTS Solicitors

Oshin Shahiean is a founding partner at OTS Solicitors. He has years of experience in Immigration law and has handled hundreds of applications from EEA nationals for permanent residence Cards. Oshin is also regularly called on to provide expert opinion on television and print media, both in the UK and internationally.

OTS Solicitors is a Legal 500 recommended law firm, and we have won numerous other awards for our immigration services (including a Global Excellence Award for the Most Trusted in Immigration law). My team and I regularly advise and represent EEA nationals who are facing difficulties obtaining an EU permanent residence Card.

The decision by the UK to leave the European Union has left many EEA nationals who live and work in the UK feeling incredibly vulnerable. Eight months after Article 50 was triggered, a move that officially notified the EU that the UK would exit, the rights of EEA citizens residing in the UK is still yet to be formalised.

The Home Office has also admitted it is struggling to recruit the staff required to process the surge in applications received over the past eighteen months from EEA nationals for EU permanent residenceCards.

Domestic Violence Victims Can Appeal An Immigration Decision

The High Court has held that victims of domestic violence can appeal on human rights grounds if their application for Indefinite Leave to Remain is refused.

This decision is incredibly empowering for victims of domestic violence who are fighting to remain in the UK after divorcing the perpetrator of the abuse, and that person is the sponsor of their UK spouse visa. London immigration Solicitors have expressed their relief that the courts have not shut down the options for domestic violence victims, many of whom would fact ostracism and further abuse if they were made to return to their home country.

Extension for Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa Swiftly Granted Thanks To OTS Solicitors

Our team has an intrinsic understanding of the aspirations of those who come to the UK via the Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa route. This is because we have dealt with so many extensive applications and have taken the time to listen to our clients’ stories. For most applicants, the ability to settle in the UK is of utmost importance.

OTS Solicitors is a Legal 500 recommended law firm based in London. We have won numerous other awards for our immigration service, including a Global Excellence Award for the Most Trusted in Immigration Law. My team and I regularly support Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa applicants to obtain their visa, an extension and ultimately, Indefinite Leave to Remain.

Deadline For Renewing COS Allocations Looming

The deadline for renewing unrestricted Certificate of Sponsorship (COS) allocations is 6^thApril 2018 – don’t delay on meeting this important deadline.

OTS Solicitors’ Managing Partner Oshin Shahiean Obtains Bail For Client Pending Judicial Review

OTS Solicitors is a Legal 500 recommended law firm and has won numerous other awards for our immigration service (including a Global Excellence Award for the Most Trusted in Immigration law). My team and I regularly advise and represent EEA and non-EEA migrants who are in detention or facing deporatation.

immigration bail is a vital lifeline for migrants being held in detention. The UK government has repeatedly been criticised for detaining migrants too frequently and for too long.

According to a report by the BBC in March, four men were found to be held for two years at Brook House Immigratio Detention Centre. Prison inspectors discovered the average period of stay at the facility near Gatwick Airport had risen from 28 to 48 days.

Twenty-three people were held for more than a year.

The increasing length of immigration detentions has been blamed on delays in decision-making.

Woman Who Has Lived In UK For 50 Years Facing Deportation

Paulette Wilson has lived in the UK since she was ten.  Now 61 years old, the UK Home Office is threatening to deport her back to Jamaica, where she has nothing and knows no one. 

In October, Ms Wilson spent a week in Yarl’s Wood detention centre before being sent to the immigration removal centre at Heathrow, the last stop before detainees are flown out of the country.  The only thing that saved her from this fate is the last-minute intervention by her local MP and a charity.  She has now been allowed to go back home but must report to the Home Office in early December, still faces removal and her benefits have not been reinstated.

How could this happen?  Has the Secretary of State lost all sense of perspective and, quite frankly, common decency?  And what steps can a person in Ms Wilson’s position take to fight deportation?

Securing International Talent – How Global Recruiters Can Secure Highly-Skilled Non-EEA Employees

OTS Solicitors is highly recommended in the Legal 500 for immigration and human rights law.  We have also been selected by the 2017 Global Excellence Awards as the Most Trusted in Immigration Law: UK.  We provide the best legal advice to businesses and individuals throughout the UK, South East Asia, Russia and the Middle East.

The UK is the fifth largest economy in the world and operates on a truly international scale.  Many industries are reliant on securing and maintaining international talent to grow their business and meet customer demands.  According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the main sectors which hired non-EEA staff in 2016 were:

• Transport and communication
• Banking and finance
• Public administration, education, and health
• Wholesale and retail trade (including hospitality)

In addition, a majority of non-EEA workers employed by UK companies were in the high or upper-middle group of skill-by-occupation and they earned a high level of gross hourly pay.

International recruiters need to be alive to the issues surrounding recruiting non-EEA workers for companies inside the UK.  One of the best ways to keep up to date is to work with an experienced immigration solicitor.  The British government has been focused on reducing the number of foreign workers entering the UK over the past five years, to the point of introducing policies to deliberately discourage employers from hiring outside the EEA (and this will soon extend to outside Britain once the country formally leaves the EU, if recent trends are anything to go by).  Examples of this include introducing the immigration Skills Charge of £1,000 per non-EEA worker per year and insisting a Tier 2 migrant has a minimum salary of £35,000 before being permitted to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain after five years in the UK.  This can leave global recruiters feeling like there are simply too many hurdles to overcome to place a non-EEA national into a UK-based position, even if they are the best candidate for the job.  However, by working with an immigration lawyer, you can quickly understand the best practices for ensuring the organisation looking for the candidate is set up to employ the best person, regardless of their nationality.

The Silent Plight of Female Migrants

Women have dominated the news in the last few weeks, unfortunately for all the wrong reasons.  From the Harvey Weinstein scandal to Dustin Hoffman and the shock resignation of Defence Secretary, Michael Fallon, the sexual abuse and harassment of women has once again been brought to the forefront of our consciences.  Undoubtedly, as the weeks go on, and more women gain the courage to come forward, the inappropriate behaviour of many more high-profile executives and politicians on both sides of the Atlantic will be exposed.

But there is another group of women who will never get the chance to tell their story.  Female migrants.  Most have endured years of abuse, forced prostitution and rape in their home country.  Many risk it all, fleeing into the grasp of unscrupulous human traffickers, who abuse them even further.  And when they finally reach the UK, hoping to gain safety and the prospect of a normal life, many are treated as criminals, locked in detention centres, frightened, bereft of hope and often suicidal.

Why do we criminalise migrant woman?  Following our Legal 500 recommendation for Human Rights law, we believe this issue needs to be talked about.  Although migrant women do not have fame, fortune or connections, their plight and courage are just as worthy of being heard as any actress or political journalist.

Arrests in Saudi Arabia are “Just The Start” Of An Anti-Corruption Drive

The recent arrest of dozens of Saudi royal figures, ministers and businessmen is just the start of an anti-corruption drive, the Attorney General says.

OTS Solicitors Help Client Gain Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa Without Having To Attend A Home Office Inte

A Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa is one of the most difficult to obtain. Not only do applicants have to have access to the required funds of £50,000 or £200,000, but they also need to pass the Genuine Entrepreneur Test.

In 2015, the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) released a report that stated the Tier 1Entrepreneur visa needed to be reviewed. One of the main reasons cited was that some migrants were using the Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa route to avoid the £2 million required to obtain a Tier 1Investor Visa, which could lead to an accelerated settlement. They achieved this by investing in a small equity stake of an established company but did not actively participate in running the organisation.

Help is at Hand – Domestic Violence and Immigration

Imagine you are a young woman coming to the UK to live with your new husband. You met in your home country, fell in love and decided to marry. He is a British citizen, wealthy enough to afford to meet the UK spouse visa minimum income requirement so as to sponsor you to come to Britain. He also has a large, extended family who you hope will offer you stability and a warm welcome.

However, shortly upon entering the country, your dream of a safe, prosperous marriage turns into a nightmare. Not only do you suffer beatings and abuse from your husband, but you are also abused by your extended family, with whom you may live with.

You want to leave, but where do you go? You have no money of your own. People on a UK spouse visa cannot access public funds. Your partner has taken your passport, and you are effectively destitute. To add to your stress and anxiety, you have just found out you are pregnant and now fear for the safety of your child.

This type of situation is the sad, frightening reality for hundreds of women from all different faiths, cultures and socio-economic backgrounds who are in the UK on a spouse visa. Fortunately, domestic violence rules allow men and women who are in the UK on a spouse visa to break free from their abusive relationship and still retain Indefinite Leave to Remain.

However, shortly upon entering the country, your dream of a safe, prosperous marriage turns into a nightmare. Not only do you suffer beatings and abuse from your husband, but you are also abused by your extended family, with whom you may live with.

You want to leave, but where do you go? You have no money of your own. People on a UK spouse visa cannot access public funds. Your partner has taken your passport, and you are effectively destitute. To add to your stress and anxiety, you have just found out you are pregnant and now fear for the safety of your child.

This type of situation is the sad, frightening reality for hundreds of women from all different faiths, cultures and socio-economic backgrounds who are in the UK on a spouse visa. Fortunately, domestic violence rules allow men and women who are in the UK on a spouse visa to break free from their abusive relationship and still retain Indefinite Leave to Remain.

Home Office Provides New Guidance on Surinder Singh Route

The Surinder Singh route has long offered hope to married couples who cannot meet the draconian UK Spousal Visa requirements. It has also caused no end of frustration to the Home Office, who have tried to make it more difficult for those settled in the UK to bring over spouses from abroad.

On 27^th October 2017, the Government released new guidance on the decision-making steps caseworkers need to consider when processing Surinder Singh applications. As one of the best immigration lawyers in London, we have examined these carefully.

We shall go through the details of the new guidance in due course, but first, it is useful to reiterate what the Surinder Singh route is and how it works.

Crisis in Zimbabwe – Options for Coming to the UK

In the early hours of Wednesday morning, the military took control in Zimbabwe.  In a statement, Major General Sibusiso Moyo insisted that there was no military coup, however the opposition leader Tendai Biti told Sky News:

"If it flaps like a duck, waggles like a duck, then it's a duck. This is a coup, there's no question about that.”

What Happens To Your Children When You Divorce?

When a couple decide to end their marriage, the two most pressing questions are:

1. How will we divide our finances; and
2. What will happen to the children?

Thankfully, the family law system in the UK is designed to support couples make arrangements for their children following the breakdown of a marriage.  However, disputes can arise, sometimes years after the decree absolute has been granted.

One of the most important things a parent can do if a dispute surrounding child arrangements arises is to seek the best advice from an experienced family solicitor in London.  By doing so, you greatly reduce the chance of having to go to court to obtain a Child Arrangement Order, a process which can be very stressful and cause further animosity between you and your spouse.

When the court makes a decision on the upbringing of a child, it is a fundamental principle of English law that the child’s welfare is the paramount consideration.  Therefore, when negotiating arrangements for your children or attending mediation if a dispute develops, couples should ensure the interests of their children are put first at all times.  It goes without saying that most parents do this naturally; however, the process of going through a divorce can be so emotionally charged, sometimes it is best to have an objective professional to assist you to regain perspective if you feel sentiments are spiralling out of control.

Short Marriage – Reduced Financial Settlement?

Sharp v Sharp [2017] EWCA Civ 408

Short marriages that end in divorce can result in many questions involving the financial settlement.  If a couple has only been married a short period of time (five years or less), should there be an expectation that the presumption of equal division of assets and property applies?  In the Court of Appeal case of Sharp v Sharp [2017] EWCA Civ 408, it was ruled that marital assets should not be evenly split in such a scenario.

How To Get A Divorce In England and Wales – Part 1

The festive period is normally a time for happiness and celebration when families come together. However, the stress and strain of Christmas can cause marriages which are already hanging by a thread to snap completely. For international families, the pressure of Christmas can be even more intense, especially for those trying to juggle family commitments in different countries.

Are You Ready For The GDPR?

Anyone in business in the UK who collects or processes data from European Union citizens needs to be aware of the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) which come into force on 25th May 2018.

People Stripped Of British Citizenship Receive Good News In SC Decision

R (Hysaj & Ors) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2017] UKSC 82

OTS Solicitors is highly ranked in the Legal 500 and one of the most respected, successful niche law firms in London, specialising in immigration, commercial, civil litigation, employment, and family law. We also provide immigration consultancy and legal advice to nationals in the Middle East, South East Asia and Africa.

Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa – Sell The Sizzle Not The Steak

By Teni Shahiean

Teni Shahiean is a founding partner at OTS Solicitors. She has a wealth of experience in business immigration law, commercial law and employment law and regularly advises businesses on Sponsor Licence acquisition and compliance. Teni is also regularly called on to provide expert opinion on television and in print media, both in the UK and internationally. 

High Court Rules deporting Homeless EU Citizens Illegal – Compensation May Be Payable To Those Unl

R (Gureckis) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2017] EWHC 3298 (Admin)

On Thursday, the High Court dealt a blow to the UK Governments stealthy plan to create a hostile environment for EU citizens in Britain.

Success Story – OTS Solicitors Push Through ILR Application For Sole Representative

Article by Teni Shahiean. Teni Shahiean is a founding partner at OTS Solicitors. She has a wealth of experience in business immigration law, commercial law and employment law and regularly advises businesses on Sponsor Licence acquisition and compliance. Teni is also regularly called on to provide expert opinion on television and in print media, both in the UK and internationally.

OTS Successfully Helps Client Retain Tier 5 Youth Mobility Visa Worker

By Teni Shahiean, of OTS Solicitors

Teni Shahiean is a founding partner at OTS Solicitors.  She has a wealth of experience in Business Immigration law, commercial law and employment law and regularly advises businesses on Sponsor Licence acquisition and compliance. Teni is also regularly called on to provide expert opinion on television and print media, both in the UK and internationally.

A Basic Guide To Judicial Review In Immigration Cases

OTS Solicitors is highly ranked in the Legal 500 and one of the most respected, successful niche law firms in London, specialising in immigration, commercial, civil litigation, employment, and family law.  We also provide immigration consultancy and legal advice to nationals in the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi and Dubai.