Our immigration lawyers are recognised for their expertise in supporting businesses and individuals navigate the complex framework of immigration law and have a track record of achieving successful outcomes.

We advise private and public sector organisations, particularly in the financial services, healthcare and technology sectors, on business immigration matters. We also advise individuals on a range of personal immigration matters. Our services include:

Sponsorship under the new Points Based System

Sponsorship allows businesses to recruit and retain non-UK citizens who perform skilled roles. Eligible employers can issue Certificates of Sponsorship to prospective or existing employees who can then apply for a Skilled Worker visa.

We support businesses with all aspects of sponsorship including applications to become licensed sponsors, sponsorship renewals, applications for Certificates of Sponsorship, complying with reporting duties and immigration audits.

Preventing illegal working

Employers have a duty to prevent illegal working under the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006. Failure to comply could result in fines of up to £20,000 per worker, criminal sanctions and facing enforcement action against a sponsorship licence.

Our expert immigration lawyers train businesses on carrying out right to work checks and advise on complex matters where an individual’s right to work is unclear or has lapsed. We also support employers in remedying unlawful working scenarios.

Investors and entrepreneurs

The UK remains a favoured destination for investors and entrepreneurs and there are number of immigration routes to help them relocate to the UK:

• Tier 1 (Investor) – for those with £2 million available for investment in the UK
• Start-up – for entrepreneurs looking to establish a new business
• Innovator – for more establish entrepreneurs
• Global Talent – for digital technology entrepreneurs
• Representative of an overseas business – for international businesses

We have extensive experience of working with investors and entrepreneurs and have secured successful outcomes for numerous applicants.

Partner visas

The partner visa enables British citizens as well as those granted indefinite leave to remain to bring their spouse, civil partner, unmarried or same sex partner to the UK with view to settling here permanently.

Our fees are based on the hourly rate of the lawyer working on an immigration matter and the complexity of the matter.

Please note that there are separate costs for VAT and disbursements which may be payable depending on individual circumstances. Further information on this is set out below under ‘Additional costs’.

Fee estimates for individuals

The fee estimates set out below cover a range of situations and are intended to cover the majority of immigration cases. However, they do not cover complex or unique cases where the fees will be higher and a personalised quote will be provided.

Immigration consultation

We offer a one hour consultation with a member of our Immigration Team based on our hourly rates set out below.

Entry clearance and leave to remain visa applications

Indefinite leave to remain applications

British citizenship applications:

Immigration challenges

Fee estimates for businesses

We provide bespoke immigration advice for businesses on immigration matters including sponsor licencing, preventing illegal working, immigration audit, visa applications by workers and immigration training. Please contact us for a tailored quote.

Additional costs

Our fees do not include VAT or disbursements which are separate charges. VAT is charged at 20% of the fee for those who are liable to pay VAT. Disbursements are fees that a client pays which are separate to our fee but are required to be paid in connection with their particular matter. In immigration matters, the likely disbursements are:

• The visa application fee which is a fee payable to the Home Office and varies depending on the type of application, whether it is made from the UK or outside the UK and the nature of the case. There is no additional VAT payable on the visa application fee.
  
  For the latest Home Office visa application fees, please visit the Home Office website at:
  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/visa-regulations-revised-table

• Immigration Health Surcharge £624 per year the visa is granted for e.g. the Immigration Health Surcharge for a three year visa will typically be £1,872 unless an exemption applies. There is no additional VAT payable on the Immigration Health Surcharge.

• Visa appointment fee. The amount of the visa appointment fee varies depending on whether the application is made from within the UK or outside the UK and the particular visa appointment centre. VAT may be charged by the appointment centre depending on the country from which the application is made.

• Optional priority visa service fees. These vary depending on whether the application is made from within the UK or from outside the UK and the particular optional services purchased. VAT may be payable depending on the type of priority visa service and the country from which the application is made.

• Immigration Skills Charge. This is payable in connection with Tier 2 Skilled Worker and Tier 2 Intra Company Transfer visa applications, although there are exceptions. There is no VAT payable on the Immigration Skills Charge.

• Barrister’s fee. Where an immigration barrister is required, we will obtain a fee quote before instructing them. There may be VAT payable on the fee depending on the barrister instructed.

• For immigration appeals, there is a Tribunal fee of £80 for first stage appeals determined on the papers and £140 where an oral hearing is requested. There is no VAT payable on the Tribunal fee.

• For Judicial Review applications, there is Court fee of £154 to lodge an application for permission to proceed with a Judicial Review claim in the Upper Tribunal. There is no VAT payable on the Court fee.
  
  There may be further fees to pay in relation to appeals and Judicial Reviews depending on the nature of the case, the stage it is at and which court it is being heard in.

Our hourly rates

The hourly rates of the Immigration Team are:

Complex or unique matters

When working on an immigration matter, we provide a fee estimate at the start of the matter based on an estimate of the amount of time required by the lawyer to conclude the matter.

The amount of time required to be spent on an immigration matter varies depending on the nature of a client’s circumstances, the evidence required and the complexity of the case. Factors which make an immigration matter complex or unique include where the applicant:

• does not meet a requirement of the Immigration Rules and we need to prepare novel or bespoke legal arguments on behalf of the applicant;

• is a High Net Worth Individual with unique or complex personal circumstances or requirements;

• has an adverse immigration history including where the applicant has previously been refused a visa;

• has breached immigration law;

• has a complex factual background; or

• has committed an offence(s).

Where a matter is complex or unique our fee estimate will be higher than those set out above and a personalised quote will be provided taking into account the unique circumstances of a matter.

Personnel / Supervision

All immigration matters are supervised by a partner. Each client will be advised in writing at the start of a matter who is responsible for the day to day conduct of the matter and their supervisor, as well as their hourly charging rate.

Process