By Michelle Lee, UK immigration solicitor.

I’ve spent years helping people navigate the UK’s immigration system. It’s messy, complicated, and constantly changing.

Here are 101 things worth knowing, whether you’re applying yourself, employing someone from overseas, or just trying to make sense of a system which remains surprisingly easy to get wrong.

Short answer: it depends, and getting it wrong can cause you serious problems. 

Here’s what you need to know before you book any flights.

“Is it fair to say this is the most important thing in your life right now?  And, at the same time, the system you have to work with is fiendishly complex, especially for first-timers”.

My essential guide to UK partner visas covers everything you need to know to get started with these tricky applications.

“With the changes we’ve seen over the last couple of years, it is not over-dramatic to ask the question”.

I assess how sponsorship can still work, for the right sponsors.

“The financial threshold for partner visas has moved from being a relatively stable fixture of the immigration system to a focal point of national debate.”

In this blog, I explain what’s changing, and how best to approach the Minimum Income Requirement in 2025.

“The care sector is nothing if not resilient.  I’ve seen providers adapt under pressure and I’m confident they will do so again”.

Guidance and clarity for care providers facing another seismic shift in the Immigration Rules.

“Ensure that the application is quickly understood and correctly assessed”.

A practical guide to navigating naturalisation with exempt immigration status.

“How to build a compelling case.”

Know the rules, understand the exceptions, and make a strong case for flexibility.

“Boring is good, right?”

The perils of using AI in legal practice, and how I will continue to put my clients first, whatever this chapter brings.