Expert immigration solicitors for businesses and individuals

This section applies to our advice to you in respect of the preparation and submission of your immigration application. It does not, however, relate to any application for asylum or otherwise for entry to the UK where you believe that your rights may have been violated.

We have set out below the fees that we would typically charge you for handling certain types of application. In some cases, if the circumstances of your case are more complex, we will let you know and we will provide you with a quote.

For a straightforward application under the Immigration Rules, we estimate the cost to be around:

• Consultation — £300 – £500
• Sponsor licence — £3000 – £5000
• Visitor visa — £1500 – £3000 plus VAT
• Family based application — £3000 – £6000 plus VAT
• Skilled worker — £3000 – £4000 plus VAT
• Senior or specialist worker — £3000 – £4000 plus VAT
• Dependent relative application — £1000 – £2000 plus VAT
• Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) — £3000 – £7000 plus VAT
• Student visa — £1500 – £2500 plus VAT
• Graduate visa — £2000 – £3000 plus VAT
• Ancestry visa — £3000 – £5000 plus VAT
• Global talent visa — £4000 – £6000 plus VAT

Please note that the fee range stated above reflects the work that we would expect to carry out in respect of a typical application, and would include:

• considering documents
• attending on you, the client
• taking your instructions and advising you
• assisting with the preparation and submission of your application
• advising you on timelines and the outcome of your application.

What costs may arise?

You may have to pay certain expenses and other costs to third parties. The costs and expenses most likely to arise are Home Office fees for making your application, which you must pay directly to the Home Office as part of the application process.

A note of these fees can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/visa-regulations-revised-table/8-october-2018

Timescale and key stages of the process

The timescales for advising on and the processing of an immigration application will depend on various factors, including the type of application being processed and the currently estimated timescales of the Home Office’s UK Visas and Immigration department (UKVI), in addition to our own time in compiling the information we need and advising you.

For example, an application for a general work visa (known as a Tier 2 visa application) will take a different amount of time depending on whether the application is made inside or outside of the UK and depending on whether it is made by post or in person. Timescales can be expedited by paying an additional fee in many cases. We can usually advise on a Tier 2 visa application and on whether you qualify, within a few days.

If your prospective employer is required to advertise in the UK the position for which you are applying (by way of what is known as a “resident labour market test”), that may take 4-6 weeks to conclude. In some cases, further time will be needed to hear back from UKVI before an application can be processed.

Visit visas can vary depending on which country you are applying from and on factors such as the length of the visa.

Our timescales for giving advice vary depending on the type of application and the urgency of the matter. In many cases, it may take around 2-4 weeks for us to obtain information and paperwork from you to assist with your application before it is submitted. In some cases, we may be able to process an application more quickly. In other cases, if the matter is more complex it may take longer. We will advise you of the timescales and we will keep you updated.

If you are applying for indefinite leave to remain in the UK (ILR), this can take up to six months from submission, in addition to the preparation time. In some cases, it may be longer.

Who will be dealing with your application?

Your application will typically be handled by a solicitor in our Employment, Pensions and Immigration (EPI) team, supported as necessary by our trainees/paralegals. A solicitor acting for you may be described in correspondence as a “Partner”, a “Principal Associate”, an “Associate” or a “Solicitor”. A Principal Associate is, generally, more experienced than an Associate and an Associate is, generally, more experienced than a “Solicitor”. Our trainees/paralegals are not (yet) solicitors and usually have no other formal legal qualification.

We will always ensure that the solicitor acting for you has the requisite level of experience to handle your case competently. In any event, all work will be supervised by a Partner, being the most senior member of the team allocated to you.

If we do not provide you with a fixed fee quote, or if we do additional work for you which is outside our fixed fee quote, please note that our hourly rates (exclusive of VAT) for each type of solicitor or other team member who may be involved in your transaction, are as follows:

If we need to rely on our hourly rates, we will endeavour to provide you with an estimate of the time that each member of the team is likely to take in order to conclude your application.

Once you know who will be on the team allocated to your transaction, you will be able to find out more information about the team by visiting the EPI section on our website.

If you have any queries, please contact Mandy Higgins on 0151 243 9894 or at mandy.higgins@weightmans.com in the first instance.