Detail about Fixed Fee Immigration Service

OUR FIXED FEE IMMIGRATION SERVICE EXPLAINED

Our approach

We think it is very important for clients to have choice in terms of how much support they require from us and the costs involved in receiving that support.

The fee information provided is based on our experience and will give you an idea of the likely costs. We charge fixed fees which depend on the type of application that you make. Disbursements are the costs related to your matter that are paid to third parties such as the Home Office fee, which are paid in addition to our legal fees.

How our fixed fees are calculated

The fixed fee we charge will be based on the circumstances in your case, such as:

The amount of supporting evidence that we need to consider
which language(s) you speak
whether you are applying with other dependants
The level of support and assistance you require
whether there are any complicating factors in your case (such as previous immigration refusals, or you instruct us when your permission to be in the UK is about to expire or has already expired)

We will confirm whether VAT (at a rate of 20%) is payable when we are instructed and able to assess if VAT is properly chargeable.

Who will carry out the work

All work will be carried out by a solicitor who is supported by paralegals. The Immigration department is led by Sejal Karavadra. She is a consultant Solicitor- Advocate specialising in immigration, asylum and nationality work. She qualified as a Solicitor in June 2008 and has over 14 years of experience in this area of law and has previously worked for the Home Office. Together with the team, she will be able to guide you through the process and offer you the most effective solutions for your situation.

What services are included

For each type of application the work may involve:

Discussing your circumstances in detail and confirming whether this is the most appropriate application for you to make and what other options may be available to you.
Giving you advice about the requirements of the Immigration Rules and whether you meet the criteria.
If you do not fulfil certain criteria, whether this can be overcome and how.
Considering the supporting evidence you provide.
Where necessary, helping you obtain further evidence (such as medical records and bank statements), including taking statements of any witnesses.
Preparing your application and submitting it on your behalf.
Giving you advice about the outcome of your application and any further steps you need to take.

Rare occasions where additional fees may apply

On some rare occasions we may need to charge an additional fee after starting work on your matter. Circumstances in which this might occur include:

Where complexities concerning your application which were not disclosed to us at the outset come to light after work has commenced, or you change your mind about the type or nature of application you want to submit.
There is a significant change in the law or the required application process after work has commenced which means that work either needs to be repeated or significantly more work is required than originally anticipated.
We need to repeat our advice to you where that advice has already been clearly explained, or you decide that you would like additional meetings (in person or over the telephone) which exceed the number of meetings which would be required for that type of matter. In all cases we will warn you if you are approaching a point at which we feel that additional fees are warranted on the basis of us spending an excessive amount of time on your application.
The Home Office raise queries regarding your application after it has been submitted which require detailed representations or additional evidence to be submitted.

Any additional fees would only be applied after discussing the matter with the client.

Disbursements (not included in fee estimates)

Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as visa fees. We sometimes handle the payment of disbursements on clients’ behalf to ensure a smoother process.

Home office fees- you will pay these to the Home Office directly as part of the application process.
If there is a Home Office interview which we attend with you, there will be additional disbursements in respect of our travel expenses. This cost will range from £30 to £150 plus VAT at 20%.
Independent expert reports e.g. medical experts. These are not required in many cases: we will let you know as soon as possible if we consider an expert report is necessary. If required, a report form an independent expert costs between £500 and £2,000 plus VAT at 20%.
Interpreters fees – we rarely use interpreters, but if one is required we will obtain quotes and agree the fees with you in advance. Interpreters fees are likely to be around £50 plus VAT at 20% per hour and around £75 plus VAT at 20% to translate a single page of A4.
Couriers – for applications made overseas you may need to pay an additional charge for a courier to transport your supporting documents to the decision making centre. Charges for this will vary depending on the courier used, distance the documents are being transported and the size and weight of the package.

How long will my application take

We cannot guarantee how long the Home Office will take to process your application. Check the current processing times here and here.

We will normally be able to submit application with 6-8 weeks but can submit application quicker than this if required. We will let you know at the earliest opportunity if it is likely to take longer than this or there is any advantage in your application being submitted at a later date.

Please contact us to discuss your case further.