Legal fees are the amounts you will be required to pay for all the work done from initial instructions to conclusion of the matter. Our fees are subject to VAT. The present rate of VAT is 20%.
Our standard legal fees for an in-country/outside country applications for leave to remain for spouses, students and general visas is between £1,000 – £1,500 plus VAT.
Fees for applications for leave to remain/indefinite leave to remain and leave to enter the UK are on average £990 – £1,329 plus VAT and a further £300 plus VAT for each additional applicant or dependent.
Our fees for in-country/outside country immigration appeals for the main appellant are £1200- £1,500 plus VAT and a further £300 plus VAT for each additional applicant or dependant.
As work permits and Tier 2- Tier 4 applications are time consuming, our fees range between £2,500 – £3,500 plus VAT.
Our hourly rates are as follows:
| Grade A | Partner/ Director and Solicitors and legal Executives with 8 + years experience | £330 plus VAT |
| Grade B | Solicitors and Legal Executives with 4 + years experience | £280 ex VAT |
| Grade C | Other Solicitors or Legal Executives and fee earners of equivalent experience | £220 plus VAT |
| Grade D | Trainee Solicitors, Paralegals and bilingual Paralegals and other fee earners | £140-180 plus VAT |
Our fees estimate above are for the applications and appeals where: –
- There is a valid immigration application
- The applicant is in the UK (in-country appeal)
- Complexity of the application/appeal
- Work permits and Tier 2 – Tier 4 (student visas) can be complex and lengthy
- We are required to liaise with an employer
Disbursements
These are the costs related to your matter that are payable to a third party which we will manage on your behalf. VAT will also be payable on most disbursements, and we will clarify which disbursements are subject to VAT in our client care letter. Types of disbursements are:
- Home Office application fees (subject to change, click here)
- Anti-Money Laundering (AML) search £6 plus VAT
- Immigration health surcharge (subject to change)
- Same day service or urgent application fees are separate and tailored according to the client’s instructions
- Additional Home Office charges of £550 – £950 for same day or urgent services (subject to change)
- Barrister’s fees, depending on the nature of the matter and the seniority of the Barrister
- Medical evidence or police reports
Time
On average the time taken by the Home Office depends upon the validity of the application, payment of fees and Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS). It can take between 3 – 6 months to obtain a decision. However, if the Home Office needs to make further enquiries, the decision is often delayed.
In both in country and outside country appeals, it can take between 6-12 months to get a hearing date unless the matter is urgent.
Stages of the process
- Providing you with a dedicated and experienced solicitor to work on your matter
- Undertaking regulatory checks
- Identifying the documents required for the application and appeals
- Accurately identifying the type of immigration application required
- Obtaining the relevant documents from you which are required to make the application
- Preparing a covering letter for initial applications to the Home Office or skeleton arguments and witness statements for the appeals to the Immigration Tribunals.
- Completing immigration or appeal applications
- Uploading documents for applications and appeals
- Receiving the decision and securely sending you a copy
Additional costs
There will be additional costs for
- Dealing with any third party, if necessary
- Obtaining independent advice from, Estate agents, medical experts, police etc
- Barrister fees, which can range from £750 – £1,500 plus VAT
Person responsible
Rash Mahal is a director and solicitor qualified with over 20 years PQE.
