Francesca Sciberras

Partner, Laura Devine Immigration

Francesca is a Partner who has focussed exclusively on UK immigration law since 2010. She has acted for many of the firm’s highest profile corporate clients; from multinationals to start-up businesses. She has particular expertise in business immigration, delivering strategic solutions to businesses for their global transfers to the UK. She is an expert in assisting businesses with their sponsor licence applications, ensuring that their immigration systems are compliant with Home Office regulations.

Having substantial experience in EU free movement law and rights under the Withdrawal Agreement, Francesca has advised businesses on the strategies to continue to employ EU nationals post Brexit, including under the Frontier Worker category, EUSS and alternative routes. Francesca has been described as “extremely professional”, “always accommodating” and a solicitor who “gives clients the hard line, but also understands the reality of the client’s business. She is recommended for her impressive speed of work, accuracy, and flexibility when meeting client needs and is recognised in the industry as being one of the most prominent “rising stars” in the market.

A seasoned presenter, Francesca has provided training sessions to clients on sponsorship and compliance and has co-devised and presented various courses to fellow practitioners via the Immigration Law Practitioners Association (ILPA).

Contributed to

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Immigration options for business owners—FAQs

Practice Notes

This Practice Note addresses frequently asked questions (FAQs) around immigration options for persons wishing to set up a business in the UK.UK business immigration has become progressively more restrictive in recent years. The closure of legacy routes, most notably Tier 1 (Entrepreneur), Tier 1 (Investor) and the Start-up route, has removed the pathways that were specifically designed to enable entrepreneurs and investors to relocate to the UK. In their place, the Home Office has introduced newer categories, including Innovator Founder, which can be more rigorous and evidence-heavy.There is a clear trend in Home Office policy and decision making as regards business owners and entrepreneurs. Applicants are increasingly expected to show that the business is already established, or that there is a realistic and credible business model which will ensure that the business is ready to trade in due course. In practice, it is now significantly harder to secure UK immigration permission based solely on an intention to set up a business in the UK.

Immigration