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    Immigration - Pricing Information

As an SRA authorised firm we are now required to publish price information in relation to certain typical services described in this page. While we are able to provide indicative figures these do not reflect the complexity or nuances of an individual case and the bespoke service that we provide.

 

Please always contact us to discuss fees in relation to particular work.

 

The total cost of the service or, where not practicable, the average cost or range of costs;

No immigration application is exactly the same and our fees will reflect the particular requirements and complexities of the matter. Because of this we cannot give you a reliable estimate or fixed fee of the costs of us acting for you until we have all the details of your intended application and your circumstances. However the following are examples of our charges for certain types of work. 

 

Inititial Fixed Fee Consultation

  • £750 to £1,500

 

Tier 2

Tier 2 (General) initial application, extensions and ILR

  • £2,500 to £4,000 (up to £5,000 for ILR) Depending on type of Tier 2 General e.g whether restricted or unrestricted and volume

Dependants of Tier 2 applicants applying at the same time as main applicant

  • £500 to £750 per dependant depending on complexity and number of dependants


Tier 1

Tier 1 (Investor/Entrepreneur) – initial application, extensions and ILR

  • £10,000 to £25,000 depending on complexity
    Dependants of Tier 1 applicants applying at the same time as main applicant
  • £750 to £3,000 per dependant depending on complexity e.g residence requirements for ILR or if there are issues around sole responsibility

 

Tier 5

Tier 5 Sporting initial application and extensions

  • £3,000 to £4,000 depending on complexity

Non PBS Visas

UK Ancestry, initial application, extension and ILR

  • £5,000 to £10,000 depending on complexity

Citizenship

Naturalisation

  • £2,500 to £15,000 (depending on complexity e.g. convictions and excessive absences)
    EEA applications

Permanent Residence applications

  • £1,000 to £3,500 depending on complexity and level of service

 

Where possible we will agree a fixed fee for most work as set out in the table and it would normally fall within this range. Simple matters could cost less but more complex matters or matters that develop in an unexpected way for example due to a change in circumstances could result in an increase in fees. However, if there are unexpected complications we always inform our client immediately and would discuss the potential consequences, and likely impact on our fees, before they are incurred.

The basis for charges, including any hourly rates or fixed fees;

 We usually offer clients the choice of whether they wish us to charge on a time basis or fixed fees. Our hourly rates range, depending on who is working on the matter, from £190 for paralegals to £495 for Partner plus VAT. 

The experience and qualifications of anyone carrying out the work, and of their supervisors;

We have an Immigration team with a wealth of experience and who will work with you to deliver solutions that are right for you. 

 

All matters are partner/solicitor led and supervised and we resource matters appropriately making use of trainee solicitors, legal executives, paralegals, associates, senior associates support where appropriate.

 

Details of our partners and staff and be found in the People section of our website. You can also Meet the Team on our Immigration Page on our website. 

A description of, and the cost of, any likely disbursements, and where the actual cost of a disbursement is not known, the average cost or range of costs;

Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties. UK Visas and Immigration fees and Home Office fees are the most likely disbursements for this type of matter. We usually ask clients to make payment of their own application fees. On occasion we will handle the payment.

 

UK Visas and Immigration and Home Office fees can be found on their website: www.gov.uk/government/publications/visa-regulations-revised-table

 

UK Visas and Immigration have outsourced some application administration tasks to private companies who charge their own fees for certain services such as the processing of biometric enrolment, appointment premium lounges. For applications made overseas, services are currently outsourced to either VFS Global or the Teleperformance Company, depending on the country of application. Details can be found on their websites: www.vfsglobal.com/en/individuals/index.html

 

 (VFS Global) and uk.tlscontact.com/ (Teleperfomance Company). Services for applications made within the UK are provided for by Sopra Steria. Details can be found on their website www.ukvcas.co.uk/additional-services

 

You may also have court fees and barristers’ fees if you are taking appeal or judicial review proceedings. We may handle the payment of barristers’ fees on your behalf to ensure a smoother process.  

 

The amount of the barrister’s fees will also depend on the complexity of the case and the seniority of the barrister and what they are instructed to do for example, the fees for a junior barrister will be in the region of £200 - £250 per hour plus VAT for advice and a fee of £1,500 - £2,000 plus VAT per day in tribunal/court. A senior barrister will be in the region of £500 - £600 per hour plus VAT for advice on a case and a fee of £3,000 - £5000 plus VAT per day in tribunal/court. We would give you an estimate of this before instructing them on your behalf. 

 

You may also have translation agency fees for translating your official documents into English in order to support your application, appeal or judicial review. We will often handle payment of the translation agency fees to ensure a smother process. The amount of agency’s fees will also depend on the complexity and the volume of the documents. We would give you an estimate of this before instructing them on your behalf.

Whether any fees or disbursements attract VAT and if so the amount of VAT they attract;

 All fees and most disbursements attract VAT at the rate from time to time in force, currently 20%. UK Visas and Immigration and Home Office fees do not usually attract VAT.

Details of what services are included in the price displayed, including the key stages of the matter and likely timescales for each stage, and details of any services that might reasonably be expected to be included in the price displayed but are not;

The key stages and work will involve the following, where you are making an application.

  • Taking your initial instructions
  • Advising on the legal requirements under the Immigration Rules and guidance for the application type and assessing how suitable the application type is to your circumstances and considering other application options
  • Providing a detailed document checklist of the documents required for the application
  • Reviewing the documents and advising you on whether the documents are suitable and meet the requirements. We will advise on any amendments or whether further documents are required.
  • Providing template documents such as a deed of gift when this is required.
  • Assisting you with the drafting of your application form and reviewing forms drafted by you
  • Advising you on the application process and assisting you with the booking of appointments
  • Collating your supporting documents and preparing the application pack
  • Liaising with third parties where necessary to obtain supporting documents if required
  • Drafting a detailed letter of representation to support your application addressing the legal issues and referring to the relevant evidence included with your application
  • Liaising with UK Visas and Immigration and the Home Office after submission of your application
  • Advising you on the outcome of the application and the conditions attached to your visa

Application processing times and procedure are subject to UK Visas and Immigration/Home Office. Processing times and procedure will vary depending on whether you are making your application from outside the UK or in the UK and because we are reliant in some respects on you and others for information. It will also depend on the type of application, your circumstances and how complex your case is. Not all UK Visas and Immigration posts overseas offer the full range of priority visa processing for all the application types. Applications filed in the UK can take up to 6 months to be processed using the standard service.  On average applications are processed in between 24 hours to 8 weeks depending on the level of service purchased at the time the application is submitted.

 

The key stages and work will involve the following, where you are making an administrative review application, appeal or judicial review

  • Merits and likely outcome (this is likely to be revisited throughout the matter and subject to change).
  • In administrative review making representations which would include assessing the documents required, advising you on any required supporting  documents, reviewing the merits of those documents, advising on any amendments to the documents and drafting detailed representations.

 

In an appeal or judicial review

  • Preparing the claim and reviewing UK Visas and Immigration and the Home Office’s response and/or defence and advising you on the merits of their response/defence (this is likely to be revisited throughout the matter and subject to change).
  • Preparing for (and attending) a Preliminary Hearing
  • Exchanging documents with the other party and agreeing a bundle of documents
  • Taking witness statements, drafting statements and agreeing their content with witnesses
  • Preparing bundle of documents
  • Preparing a case management agenda and attending a hearing (if appropriate) which sets out the list of issues, directions and including likely length of any hearing.
  • Reviewing and advising on the other party’s witness statements and documents
  • Agreeing a list of issues, a chronology and/or cast list.
  • Preparation for and attendance at the hearing including instructions to Counsel and where appropriate a conference with Counsel prior to the hearing
  • Reviewing court decision and advising on any consequences or next steps
It is difficult to give a time estimate for these matters. The time that it takes from taking your initial instructions to the final resolution of your matter depends largely on the stage at which your case is resolved. A matter can take a month or two for an administrative review matter or a few months if settlement is reached in a court matter. If the claim proceeds to a full and final hearing at court, it could take up to a year or more. The timescales will also depend on, among other things, the complexity of the matter, whether there are any preliminary issues to be resolved, how many days the hearing is listed for, whether it is an appeal in the tribunal or a judicial review how quickly the particular court lists the case for a hearing, and on how quickly the other side responds to requests for information. 

Any conditional fees or damages-based agreements, the circumstances in which clients may have to make any payments themselves for your services (including from any damages).

 It is very unlikely that a conditional fee or damages-based agreement would be relevant or appropriate for an immigration matter.
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