Immigration support for schools

Specialist immigration support for BSA members 

As a BSA member, you benefit from free consultations and discounted specialist immigration legal support provided by the team at BSA Legal. Led by immigration expert and solicitor Kate Hollyer, Executive Director (Legal), BSA Group, this team offers in-depth expertise in all UK immigration matters relating to independent schools. Kate and her team also represent the boarding sector via the Home Office Education Advisory Group.

BSA Legal provides a full-spectrum immigration service, supporting schools with:

  • Ad hoc immigration queries
  • Tailored support packages
  • UKVI compliance audits
  • Policy, Record-Keeping, and Reporting
  • BCA and CAS allocation guidance
  • Immigration training
  • Student and family visa application support
  • Home Office escalation support
  • Sponsor licence applications
  • Sponsored work route guidance

Agent and Guardian checks are available via BSA. Crisis, employment and related immigration support can also be offered upon request.

Most BSA boarding schools will require international students to have a UK-based educational guardian. Please click here to find a list of BSA certified guardians.

If you require support from an agent to choose a BSA boarding school our list of certified agents may be able to support you. Please click here to find a list of BSA certified agents.

Free legal guidance

As part of our commitment to supporting BSA member schools, we offer specialised immigration guidance from our BSA Group Legal team.

This encompasses 15 minutes of complimentary advice each term for each school.

Immigration support plans

We offer fully customisable immigration compliance support packages designed to provide you with the perfect UKVI compliance solution, at the right cost.

As a starting point, we offer two levels of Support Plans. This core hotline service provides you with access to expert advice and guidance throughout the year, when you need it. Members can choose between the following plans:

Your chosen Support Plan can be used alone or form the foundation of a more substantial support package by adding Additional Products & Support Services. Build a customised annual retainer package to suit your unique requirements. Alternatively, our Additional Products & Support Services are also available for purchase as standalone options.

Click here for more information on additional products and support services. 

Meet the team

Kate Hollyer MTIOB, Director (Solicitor), BSA Legal

As a qualified solicitor of England and Wales with more than 12 years’ experience advising clients on UK immigration and nationality law, Kate supports members with all UK immigration matters including UKVI sponsor licence compliance. Kate is a member of the Home Office Education Advisory Group and is the boarding sector representative for this group. Prior to joining BSA in 2022 Kate was Partner and Head of Department at a leading full-service UK law firm. Having resided in state, preparatory and senior school boarding houses since 2014 with her Housemaster husband, Kate has a unique perspective of boarding life.

Leigh Steer, Immigration Executive

Leigh joins BSA Group as Immigration Executive for BSA Group Legal Services Ltd. Having previously held the position of Registrar at an independent boarding school, Leigh has a deep understanding of the intricacies of sponsor licence compliance. Through her expertise, Leigh ensures that member schools are supported in all areas of UKVI sponsor licence compliance, including the intricacies of sponsor duties, CAS management and international student visa support.

 

Megan Warman, Immigration Executive

Megan joins BSA Group as Immigration Executive for BSA Group Legal Services. Since graduating from university with BA (Hons) in Spanish, Megan has worked as an Immigration Caseworker at an immigration practice and as a Visa Compliance Officer at a London university. Through her experience in immigration and passion for helping others, Megan strives to ensure that member schools and their students are supported in all areas of student immigration including CAS management, UKVI sponsor licence compliance and Child Student route requirements.

 

Robin Fletcher MTIOB, Director, BSA Legal

Robin Fletcher is CEO of BSA Group, comprising BAISIS (British Association of Independent Schools with International Students), BSA (Boarding Schools’ Association), BSA Legal, HIEDA (Health in Education Association) SACPA (Safeguarding and Child Protection Association) and TIOB (The Institute of Boarding). A former journalist, editor and communications director, Robin is a non-executive director of the manufacturers’ trade body Make UK, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and an Honorary Fellow of Cardiff Metropolitan University.

 

Aileen Kane FTIOB, Director, BSA Legal

Aileen is Deputy CEO and Chief Operating Officer of BSA Group. She leads operations at BSA Group and works closely with members to provide guidance and training. Aileen also works with government departments, local authorities and other agencies to support members and heads up the group’s work to find places for refugee children escaping from conflict countries.

 

 

Mark Taylor, BSA Consultant

In a previous reincarnation Mark founded The Taylor Partnership – supporting UK independent schools with UKVI compliance and training. Mark was previously a Trustee of AEGIS and, during the pandemic, assisted independent schools in creating Covid management plans and organised testing. More recently, after travelling the world, Mark has identified the increased risk to independent schools as a result of the need for greater probity and due diligence in financial awareness of school suppliers, parents and agents. Mark’s interest in this field was first sparked in 2016-17 when he supported a number of schools following the disappearance of students from Vietnam.

Get in touch today!

Our skilled and friendly team are ready to answer all your questions and to fully support you during your visa application process. Contact our team today for advice and support.

 


“Always incredibly helpful and consistently provide accurate information. They are my go-to team whenever I need clarity on a process or reassurance in my decisions.”

BSA Legal is a trading name of BSA Group Legal Services Ltd, a company registered in England and Wales. Registered number: 13634894. BSA Group Legal Services Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Number: 8003074.

BSA Group Legal Services Ltd, 167-169 Great Portland Street, 5th Floor, London W1W 5PF. T. 44 (0)207 798 1583. E.legal@bsagroup.org.uk

BSA Group Legal Services Ltd is a subsidiary of BSA Group Services Ltd. BSA Group Services Ltd is a company registered in England and Wales. Registered number: 4676107. BSA Group Services Ltd, 167-169 Great Portland Street, 5th Floor, London W1W 5PF.

Please email info@bsagroup.org.uk should you wish to make a complaint. A copy of the firm’s complaint’s process can be viewed here. A copy of the SRA Principles and Codes of Conduct can be found here and the SRA Standards and Regulations can be found here. Our indemnity insurance can be viewed here. Our Terms of Business can be viewed here. Our Privacy Notice setting out details on the processing of personal data for UK compliance and UK visa applications can be viewed here.

Our costs can be viewed here.