Immigration solicitors in England & Wales

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Plain-language guide

What a immigration solicitor does.

An immigration solicitor advises on entry to and stay in the United Kingdom under the Immigration Rules and the points-based system: work, family and student visas, sponsor licences for employers, indefinite leave to remain, naturalisation as a British citizen, and protection claims for asylum. When an application is refused the solicitor advises on administrative review, appeal to the First-tier Tribunal or judicial review, and represents people facing removal or deportation. Immigration advice is regulated, and a solicitor is authorised to give it.

When you need one

Your visa is expiring and you need to extend or switch to another route.
You want to bring a partner, child or parent to live with you in the UK.
Your business needs a sponsor licence to employ workers from abroad.
An application was refused, or you have received a removal notice.

How fees usually work

Immigration solicitors usually charge fixed fees per application, published under the SRA Transparency Rules, with the Home Office fees and the immigration health surcharge on top. Appeals and judicial review are charged by the hour or by stage. Legal aid is available for asylum and some detention and trafficking cases. Ask whether the fee covers responding to Home Office requests and a refusal.

Questions to ask before you instruct

Which route best fits my circumstances, and what are the financial and English-language requirements?
What are the Home Office fees and the health surcharge on top of your fee?
How long is the Home Office taking on this type of application at the moment?
If the application is refused, what are the options and the deadlines?

See the listed practitioners

General information about England & Wales law and practice, not advice on your matter. The practitioners listed on this page give that advice.

Immigration solicitor questions

Can I work while my application is pending?

If you applied before your current leave expired, section 3C of the Immigration Act 1971 extends your leave on the same conditions until the application is decided and any appeal is concluded. If you applied late you have no leave and no right to work while you wait.

How long do I have to appeal a refusal?

Fourteen days from the date the decision is sent if you are in the UK, and twenty-eight days if you are outside it. Not every refusal carries a right of appeal; some allow only administrative review, and others only judicial review, which has its own three-month limit.

When can I apply for settlement?

Most work and family routes lead to indefinite leave to remain after five continuous years, subject to absence limits, the Life in the UK test and English language requirements. Some routes are quicker and some longer, and a period of overstaying can break continuity.

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