Our pricing: immigration applications
We recognise that issues involving immigration can be complex, stressful and frustrating. In our work we consider the immigration history of the client to devise strategies and prepare and present solutions best suited to our client’s financial means and expectations. We work with our clients’ individual needs and requirements – no two situations are exactly the same. We consider each of our clients’ individual circumstances and our fees reflect the particular requirements and complexities of their matter. We need to understand the complexities of your situation before providing you with an individual estimate of the cost of us helping you.
Our fees depend on a wide range of factors such as:
- whether you have any adverse immigration history, including but not limited to a previous visa refusal, criminal convictions, period of overstaying, breach of a condition of leave
- whether expert evidence or specialist advice is needed
- whether there is a pending deadline for your current immigration status
- the need for a tribunal or court hearing
Where VAT is referred to below please note that this will be charged at the applicable rate, which is currently 20%.
What is involved in an immigration application for work or business?
Most applications follow a standard process which we have broken down into the key stages listed below to help you understand what will happen with the work we will need to do for you.
1- Taking your Instructions
In order to understand what support you require we will initially arrange to meet with you in person or arrange a consultation over the telephone. The purpose of this first meeting is to enable you to explain in detail your background, your current circumstances and what it is that you are trying to achieve. In most cases, we will be able to give you some initial advice about your position in that meeting.
2- Detailed advice on your Individual Position
Every person’s situation is different and it is important that the advice we provide you with is tailored to your individual circumstances and provides you with detailed advice about your position. Usually, at this stage we will need to prepare a detailed advice letter explaining the legal framework and how this applies to the practicalities of your immigration situation.
3- Preparation and Submission of your Application
If you decide to instruct us to help you with an application, we will need to prepare and submit an application to UK Visas and Immigration (‘UKVI’). This would typically involve:
- explaining what documents you will need to have to support your application, reviewing and commenting on those documents to ensure they meet the relevant criteria and preparing an application pack with you
- completing the necessary application forms – now usually online
- providing ongoing legal advice throughout the preparation of the application if any issues or challenges arise through the process
- drafting a detailed cover letter to support your application and explain how the relevant immigration rules apply to your circumstances and your compliance with those rules
- assisting, as required, with the booking of any necessary application or Visa appointment
- once submitted we will monitor the progress of your application, liaising with yourself and UKVI to respond to requests for additional information which may require further work by us and by you to ensure they have all of the information to approve your application.
- if your application is granted, advising you on the relevant implications to your immigration status
- in the event of a refusal, advising you on any remedies which may be available and agreeing with you, if instructed, a strategy to move forward
We have set out below an indication of the potential ranges of fees for certain types of applications. The information is given for guidance only and relates to applications that are straightforward in nature.
We have also included guidance on the potential fees associated with the approval of any dependants (spouse or child of the applicant) on the basis that they are applying at the same time as the main applicant.
In addition to any costs for an initial consultation our fee ranges are as follows:
| Prices exclude VAT | |
| Innovator / Startup | £7,500 – £20,000 |
| Global Talent | £5,500 – £11,000 |
| Graduate | £2,500 – £4,250 |
| Skilled Worker / Global Business Mobility / Minister of Religion | £3,500 – £4,850 |
| Student | £3,500 – £4,500 |
| T5 Youth Mobility Scheme / T5 Religious Worker / T5 Charity Worker / T5 GAE | £2,500 – £3,500 |
| Visits | £2,500 – £5,000 |
Personal and family-based immigration applications
| Prices exclude VAT | |
| Leave to remain as a spouse or partner of British settled person | In-country £3,500 – £7,000 |
| Leave to enter (“Visa”) as a spouse or partner of British settled person | £5,000 – £8,000 |
| Extension of stay / Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) as a partner / spouse | £3,500 – £7,000 |
| Application for Pre-settled status / Settled Status | £1,750 – £6,500 |
| Application for family member of EEA national: EU law | £2,200 – £6,500 |
| Indefinite Leave to Remain 10 year long residence | £3,500 – £8,000 |
| Indefinite Leave to Remain other categories | £3,500 – £8,000 |
| Naturalisation / Registration as a British Citizen | £2,500 – £6,000 |
| UK Ancestry | £3,000 – £7,000 |
| Leave to enter as a domestic worker | £5,000 – £10,000 |
| Appeals | £15,000 – £30,000* |
| Administrative reviews | £2,500 – £6,000 |
| All other applications | Hourly rated/bespoke |
How we calculate our charges
Our fees are charged based on an agreed hourly rate structure dependent on the experience of the individual working on your matter and the complexity of the issues we need to address. Our hourly rate ranges (exclusive of VAT and disbursements) depending on experience and our lawyer’s particular specialisms are £160 to £590 (excl. VAT) .
On some discrete matters we may offer a fixed fee option. In those cases we will assess your circumstances and the work necessary for your claim and provide you with a fixed fee. Where we do this we will set out what work we will do for that fee. If additional complexities arise these may incur additional costs but we will discuss this with you we feel this approach is suitable to your matter.
What other costs might there be?
In addition to our fees there may also be additional costs which are payable to third parties who we may recommend are instructed to help us to prepare and support your case. We call these additional costs disbursements. We may pay some of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a fast and smooth process and will request funds on account to cover these disbursements. We will inform you of any significant disbursements before they are incurred. Typically these disbursements may include:
• Mandatory Visa application fees: visa application fees will be payable to UK Visas. The level of fees varies depending on the type of application and we will let you know what fees apply to your application. You can review the range of fees at on the UK Visa and Immigration site including current and historic fees.
• Barrister’s fees: hourly rates for Barristers typically range between £110 to £500 (excl. VAT) but depending on the seniority and experience of the Barrister can be higher.
• Expert reports or expert witnesses: the extent of any fees will be dependent on the type of expert relevant to your application, whether a report is required and similarly whether they need to attend any hearing to give evidence in person. For example, we might need to instruct an independent social worker who would normally charge in the region of £1,650 (excl. VAT) . We might need to instruct a medical expert, including, for example a psychiatrist or psychologist, whose fees would range typically between £1,000 – £1,650 (excl. VAT).
• Other fees: in some circumstances, other fees will be payable as part of an application, including but not limited to the Immigration Health Surcharge and visa submission fees (in relation to the different submission options). We will assess on a case by case basis whether these fees will apply to your application and will let you know the fees as part of our instructions.
How long will your application take?
The time it takes from you initially contacting us to the conclusion of your application depends on the nature of your application, how quickly you are able to gather all of the necessary documentation to support your application, how quickly any third parties are able to assist, processing timeframes at UK Visas and Immigration and whether there are any complexities which could affect your application. In some matters where urgency is paramount applications can be prepared within a matter of days (subject to our capacity). Taking on emergency work may incur premium rates in respect of the above. In other straightforward applications documentation can usually be assembled within 1-2 months and the application processing time will vary subject to the submission method. In more complex matters, if the issues to be addressed are complex then preparation and application process can take longer. For updates on current Home Office processing times for applications outside the UK please click here, or here for applications inside the UK.
These are just guidelines to provide you with an indication of the likely timeframes for obtaining approval of your application. When we have discussed your specific circumstances we will be able to advise you more clearly on what to expect. Similarly, if complexities arise throughout the course of your application we will advise you about any impact this might have.
How we can help in your individual matter
We understand that your situation and the circumstances around your immigration application are unique to you. It can be a very stressful and emotional time but we will work with you to ensure you understand what to expect at all stages of your matter. We will give you an individual estimate at the start of your claim, taking account of your unique circumstances and explaining what work we will conduct as part of that estimate. If your matter has unexpected complications we will discuss these with you and the potential affect they will have on our fees or additional costs that will be incurred.
You can find details of our experienced team of lawyers here on our website.