What services are included

The work will 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 fulfill certain criteria, whether this can be overcome and how, which on average takes 1-2 hours.
• considering the supporting evidence you have provided, which we anticipate will take 1-2 hours.
• 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, which we anticipate will take 2-3 hours;
• Attendance at a Home Office interview: if the Home Office ask you to attend an interview, we will give you clear advice (and discuss the possibility of us attending with you) at the appropriate time. This could be between 3-5 hours of work.
• giving you advice about the outcome of the application and any further steps you need to take.

The amount of hours depends on the number of documents, whether they need to be translated, whether anything is missing, and how long it will take to obtain the missing documents.

Disbursements (not included in costs set out above):

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

Disbursements and Additional Costs

Our legal fees are separate from disbursements, which may include:

• Court and Tribunal fees.
• Barristers’ fees (depending on the complexity of your matter ).
• Interpreters fees at £55 per hour plus £11 VAT, if applicable . This kind of application will normally require between 2-5 hours with an interpreter, depending on the complexity of your case as explained below.
• Interpreters fees are separately payable by you which usually depends on the number of hours spent with the interpreter. The number of hours spent with an interpreter depends on the factors i.e. complexity of your matter, language, and number of applicants/appellants. You may choose to bring a friend or other community figure to assist as an interpreter. If you decide to use the interpreter then you do not have to use an interpreter of the firm’s choosing. Sometimes, you may only need a couple of hours with an interpreter and other applications may need 10 to 15 hours with an interpreter hence the price will vary.
• 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 there is an interview and we do attend with you, there will be additional disbursements in respect of our mileage/travel expenses.
• The costs quoted here do not include:

• Any Home Office fees for making the application. You will pay these to the Home Office directly as part of the application process.
• Where the Home Office refuses your application, advice, and assistance in relation to any appeal

We will provide a clear estimate of these costs before incurring any expenses.

For updated Home Office fees, please visit the Home Office fee page at Home Office immigration and nationality fees: 11 December 2024 – GOV.UK. For Immigration Health Surcharge calculations, use the Health Surcharge Calculator.

Payment Terms

For fixed-fee matters, payment must be made in advance upon instruction. Once formal instructions are received, refunds will not be available if you decide to discontinue the engagement.

We may offer a payment plan to pay your legal fees in easy instalments.

 Our Immigration Services (Fixed Fees)

We assist clients with the preparation and submission of immigration applications.

Study Visas including work experience visa

• Adult and Child Study Visas: Legal fees are £1,500 plus £300 VAT (no VAT for certain applications submitted from outside the UK). Home Office fee: £490. Additional Immigration Health Surcharge applies (see link above for calculation).
• Short-Term Study Visa: Legal fees range from £1,000–£1,500 plus £200–£300 VAT (no VAT for certain applications outside the UK). Home Office fee: £200. Immigration Health Surcharge: usually £776.
• Graduate Route Visa: Legal fees are £2,500 plus £500 VAT. Home Office fee: £822. Immigration Health Surcharge applies (see link above for calculation).
• Please refer to the Home Office Policy Paper for updated immigration fees and the Health Surcharge Calculator for exact surcharge amounts.

Skilled Worker Visas (Main Applicant and Dependents)

• Skilled Worker Visa: Legal fees are £3,000 plus £600 VAT. Home Office fees vary based on the Certificate of Sponsorship (less than 3 years: £827; more than 3 years: £1,636). Fees for jobs on the immigration salary list range from £551–£1,084, depending on the visa duration. Immigration Health Surcharge applies (see link above for calculation).

Visit Visas (for tourism, or visiting friends/family)

• Standard Visitor Visa: Legal fees are £1,000 (no VAT). Home Office fee: £115 (up to 6 months).
• Long-Term Standard Visitor Visa: Legal fees are £1,500 (no VAT). Home Office fees: £432 (2 years), £771 (5 years), £963 (10 years).
• Other Visit Visa Categories: Legal fees are £1,750 (no VAT). Further details on Home Office fees will be provided at the appropriate stage.

EEA Nationals and Family

• EU Settlement Scheme Family Permits: Legal fees are £1,250 (no VAT).
• EU Settlement Scheme (Settled/Pre-Settled Status): Legal fees are £750 plus £150 VAT.

There are no Home Office fees for these applications, but biometric enrolment fees may apply depending on appointment type.

Family Visas (Entry Clearance or Leave to Remain)

• Spouse and partners application, including fiancé(e)s or proposed civil partners – Legal fees are £1,500 plus £300 VAT (if applicable). Home Office fee and Immigration Health Surcharge will be paid directly by you.
• Parent or Child Visa: £1,500 plus £300 VAT (if applicable).
• Adult Dependent Relative Visa: Legal fees are £2,500 plus £500 VAT (if applicable). Home Office fee: £3,250 plus Immigration Health Surcharge.
• Refer to the Home Office Policy Paper and Health Surcharge Calculator for updated fees information and exact calculations.

British Citizenship, Ancestry Visa & Permanent Settlement Applications

• Applications for naturalisation or registration as a British Citizen – Legal fees are £1,000 plus £200 VAT. Home Office fees: £1,500 plus £130 (citizenship ceremony). Biometrics enrolment fees: £0–£200.
• Ancestry visas: Legal fees are £1500 (no VAT). Home Office fee: £637. You may also have to pay the healthcare surcharge as part of your application. Check how much you’ll have to pay before you apply.
• Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR): Legal fees are £1,500 plus £300 VAT. Home Office fees: £2,880. Priority and super-priority options cost an additional £500–£1,000.

 Other Immigration Categories

• Long Residence Leave to Remain: Legal fees range from £1,750–£2,500 plus £350–£500 VAT. Home Office fee: £1,258 plus Immigration Health Surcharge.
• Discretionary Leave to Remain: Legal fees range from £1,750–£2,500 plus £350–£500 VAT (VAT may not apply to certain applications). Home Office fee: £1,258 plus Immigration Health Surcharge.
• Detention Centre Attendance: Legal fees are £500 plus £100 VAT (if applicable).

What does our fixed fee include?

• considering documents
• attending to the client
• taking their instructions and providing advice
• preparing and submitting the application
• advising the client on timelines and the outcome of their application

 How long will my application take?

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

We will normally be able to submit this type of application within 1-2 weeks of you instructing us, but we will let you know at the earliest opportunity if it is likely to take longer than this.

Please note the anticipated number of hours and fees are an estimate based on the facts above. All applications are likely to vary and of course, we can give you a more accurate estimate once we have more information about your specific case.

 Visa processing times: applications inside/outside the UK

The standard time for straightforward visa applications is 3-12 weeks which starts after you have submitted your application and have provided your biometric details. You may be able to pay for a faster decision on a visa application for an additional fee payment of £500 or £1000 depending on the service offered and availed by you.

Please visit the Home Office information page at GOV.UK for further details on processing time regarding applications submitted from inside the UK at Visa processing times: applications inside the UK – GOV.UK.

Please visit the Home Office information page at GOV.UK for further details on processing time regarding applications submitted from outside the UK at Visa processing times: applications outside the UK – GOV.UK.

When you wait longer.

Your visa application may take longer to process if, for example:

• the information in your application is not accurate or requires further consideration
• you need to provide further evidence, for example, evidence of funds
• your supporting documents need to be verified
• you need to attend an interview
• further information is required on your personal circumstances (for example if you have a criminal conviction)
• UKVI is experiencing increased visa demand

 Immigration Appeals process and fees

• First-Tier Tribunal Appeals: Legal fees range from £3,000–£3,500 plus £600–£700 VAT. Home Office appeal fee: £140 (oral hearing), £80 (without hearing).
• Bail Applications: Legal fees range from £1,750–£2,500 plus £350–£500 VAT.
• Deportation Appeals: Legal fees range from £3,000–£4,000 plus £600–£800 VAT.
• Judicial Review: Our fee estimate will be provided in view of your matter’s complexity however; our hourly rates are explained above for the solicitors and other potential third-party fees. Court fees start at £169 for the initial application and £847 for a final hearing if the application is granted.
• For further details, visit the Judicial Review Information page at Apply for a judicial review in an immigration or asylum case – GOV.UK.

Other Services

We also provide assistance with the matters listed below. To discuss your specific needs and receive an estimate of our legal fees, please contact our office. Our team will be happy to review your case and provide a tailored fee estimate.

• Asylum Claims
• Judicial Reviews
• Immigration Services for Businesses

Key Stages in Appeals

The fee set out above for appeals at the First-tier Tribunal to challenge the Home Office refusal of your UK Visa application, covers all of the work in relation to the following key stages of a claim:

• Taking initial instructions and reviewing the refusal decision.
• Reviewing and advising on the merit of your appeal.
• Preparing and submitting the Appeal.
• Taking witness statements, drafting statements, and agreeing their content with witnesses.
• Reviewing the Home Office bundle.
• Preparing a bundle of documents and submitting the Appellant’s skeleton. argument together with supporting documents.
• Reviewing and advising on the Home Office response to the Appeal Skeleton Argument to advise the client whether the refusal is withdrawn or maintained.
• In case of refusal maintained, comply with further directions from the first Tier-tribunal.
• Preparation and attendance at First-tier Tribunal Hearing, including instructions to Counsel
• Advise on the court’s decision and next steps

The stages set out above are merely an indication. Some of the stages above may not be required depending on your circumstances and there may be additional stages that are unique to your own circumstances.

 Timescales:

The time that it takes from taking your initial instructions to the final resolution of your matter depends largely on the particular details of your case and the stage at which your case is resolved. There are some matters outside of our control which may impact the time that your case takes to be resolved, such as how long it takes for your case to be listed by the court or Tribunal.

For matters that proceed to a full hearing at the Immigration First-Tier Tribunal/Upper Tribunal, it may take 12-18 months for the matter to be concluded. However, this is just an estimate and we will of course be able to give you a more accurate timescale once we have more information and as the matter progresses.

Contact us at 020 7791 3223 or email info@aqarchers.co.uk for more information or to arrange a consultation. During this discussion, we will also provide a detailed fee estimate tailored to your requirements.

Disclaimer: This information is for general guidance and does not constitute legal advice. For tailored advice, please contact our office.