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Price transparency - immigration applications

There are a number of UK immigration applications that we can assist you with and, wherever possible, we will charge a fixed fee for our work.

Our costs

There are a number of UK immigration applications that we can assist you with and, wherever possible, we will charge a fixed fee for our work.

To give you an indication of what are fees are likely to be, we have set out a range below for the more common applications that we can assist you with. Sometimes VAT on immigration fees is not payable but we will advise you whether VAT (at a rate of 20%) is payable when we confirm your instructions.

  • For applications for naturalisation or registration under the British Nationality Act 1981, our fee range would be between £3,000 and £6,000 plus VAT. Home Office fees will be between £100 to £300 with no VAT payable.
  • For applications under the UKs’ Immigration Rules, our costs would be as follows:
    • for visitor visas (e.g. for business, tourism, or visiting friends / family, our fee range would be between £1,000 and £1,500 depending on complexity and if there has been a previous refusal. VAT will be payable on our fees.
    • Home Office fees will be between £100 and £300 with no VAT payable;
    • for spouse and partner’s applications, including fiancé(e)s or proposed civil partners, our fee range would be between £2,000 and £2,800 plus VAT. Home Office fees will be between £2,000 and £3,000 with no VAT payable;
    • for points-based system: Tier 5 Temporary Worker category including GAE/charity/creative worker/religious worker/sporting, our fee range would be between £1,500 and £2,000 plus VAT. Home Office fees will typically be £2,000 with no VAT payable;
    • for points-based system: Tier 2 (including the Skilled Worker Visa and Intra Company Transfer Visa category) Entry Clearance and Leave to Remain, our fee range would be between £1,500 and £2,000 plus VAT. Home Office fees will be between £7,000 and £7,500 with no VAT payable;
    • for applications on behalf of EEA nationals and their family members under the EEA Regulations or EU Settlement Scheme, our fee range would be between £850 and £1,000 plus VAT. Home Office fees for applications under the EEA Regulations are £65. There are no Home Office fees for EU Settlement Scheme;
    • for applications in relation to settlement in the UK, our fee range would be between £2,000 and £3,000 plus VAT, dependant on the route of settlement and the Home Office fees will be £2,389 with no VAT payable.

Issues that we will consider when agreeing our fees include:

  • the amount of supporting evidence that we need to consider;
  • which language(s) you speak;
  • whether you are applying with other dependants;
  • whether you need us to complete the application for you or whether you just need us to review it;
  • if is a first-time applicant or extension;
  • if the application will be fast tracked / or a premium application.

If you can provide sufficient evidence during our first discussion and clearly meet the applicable Immigration Rules, the cost is likely to be at the lower end of the range given.

These fees quoted above are for assisting with straightforward applications. Where a matter is complex (for example, if you have previously been refused a visa for the UK or another country or you have a criminal record) or involves providing a significant amount of strategic advice our fees will be calculated using hourly rates. Hourly rates vary depending on the seniority of the fee earner involved. The hourly rate for a solicitor towards the middle range of seniority would be around £270.00 an hour plus VAT. When charging on the basis of an hourly rate, we will always provide you with an estimate of how much our costs are likely to be.

Factors which can make an application more complex and may involve us charging fees on an hourly rate include:

  • the time taken to assist with the matter;
  • the urgency of the matter;
  • the level of correspondence involved;
  • the amount and quality of supporting documentation;
  • the likely level of engagement with the Home Office; and
  • the need to engage and liaise with third parties.

Where the Home Office refuses your application, advice and assistance in relation to any appeal will incur additional costs

Payments to others (disbursements)

Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as Home Office fees, Immigration Health Surcharge fee, Immigration Skills Charge and Biometric Appointment Fee. They are in addition to the fees that we would charge you.

You will need to pay the Home Office application fees directly to the Home Office as part of the application process. Further guidance on Home Office fees can be found here https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/visa-regulations-revised-table/2020 .

Our costs for assisting with applications do not include the following disbursements:

  • counsel’s fees;
  • third party fees, such as translation costs, interpreter or overseas lawyer’s fees;
  • instructing a third party to attend with you at a Standard, Priority or Premium service appointment.

What services are included?

The work we will undertake will include:

  • discussing your circumstances in detail and confirming the most appropriate application for you to make and what other options may be available to you;
  • assessing the requirements of the Immigration Rules and whether you meet the criteria;
  • advising you on the supporting evidence required for your application and considering the supporting evidence you provide;
  • preparing your application and advising on the visa submission process and processing timescales;
  • preparing supporting representations; and
  • advising on the outcome of the application and any further steps you may need to take.

How long will the application take?

We cannot guarantee how long the Home Office will take to process your application from the date of submission of the application. The Home Office processing times can be found here. Please note these are government published guidelines only and subject to governmental delay and complexity of each matter.

In normal circumstances, we would typically expect an application under the points-based system to take four weeks from the date of instruction and four to six weeks for a spouse visa, if all supporting documentation is provided promptly. We can provide a more accurate timescale upon receipt of your instructions.

Multiple and other applications

The range of fees given are for assisting with single applications by a principal applicant. They do not include the costs of assisting with applications for dependant family members, even if submitted simultaneously.

If you would like assistance with submitting a number of applications, for example an application for indefinite leave to remain followed by an application to naturalise as a British Citizen, or applications involving dependant family members, please contact us and we will be pleased to provide a fee quote and scope of work for the relevant applications.

If the application you wish to submit is not set out above, please contact us and we will be pleased to provide a fee quote for the relevant application.

Corporate immigration applications

We are also specialists in assisting companies with submitting applications, such as:

  • representative of an overseas business application;
  • tier 2 sponsor licence applications; and
  • reviewing compliance to ensure companies adhere to their Tier 2 sponsor licence duties and responsibilities and the law in relation to the prevention of illegal working.

For further information on fees and processes for corporate applications, please contact us.

Our experience

Applications would normally be undertaken by our team with previous inhouse immigration experience.

Please see team profiles below for more information.