Whether you’re moving to join family, pursing studies or job opportunities in the UK, or seeking to settle in the UK, our personal immigration solicitors are here to support you.
We’ll work with you to understand your goals and explain your options in simple terms.
Schedule a callRecognised as leaders in our field in all major directories
Visa application support
We’re highly experienced in providing support with all types of visa applications. We regularly advise on visa applications such as:
Family visas
If you are settled in the UK, we can help you explore options to bring your spouse, partner, child or other dependent family member here. We regularly provide end-to-end support on applying for family visas such as:
Unmarried partner visas
Fiancé visas (and how to convert them to spouse visas after marriage)
Family visas for dependent relatives, such as children and elderly parents
Work visas
If you’re looking to move to the UK for work, we can guide you through the visa routes available to you and advise on sponsorship requirements. Visa options available to you may include:
Graduate visas
Temporary worker visas
Study visas
If you’re planning to come here to study, we can support you in obtaining a student visa.
For children coming to the UK to study, a child student visa may be an option.
Visitor visas
For those looking to visit the UK, we can assist with applications for standard visitor visas, including troubleshooting if your application is rejected. For those who don’t require a visa, we can advise on electronic travel authorisation.
UK ancestry and BNO visas
We can advise on whether you are eligible for a UK ancestry visa (available to certain commonwealth citizens with a British grandparent) or British national (overseas) (BNO) visas (available to citizens of Hong Kong).
Schedule a callWhat our clients say
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Without exception, all members of Weightmans' team have good knowledge of the cases, been available, able to provide outstanding advice that is disseminated into easy to understand vocabulary and written materials and have worked as part of our extended team.
Legal 500 2026 -
Weightmans have taken time to understand our business and the market we operate within. They have given us practical advice to help us navigate our challenges to protect the business. They just offer a first-class service.
Legal 500 2026 -
It's always a great response from them. They are our go-to partner when we most need help and advice.
Legal 500 2026 -
Weightmans have the ability to break down difficult and precarious situations into steps that are clear to follow. The timeliness of their responses is welcome too.
Legal 500 2026 -
Weightmans have the ability to grasp the key critical issues and provide pragmatic advice. They've had a continued success rate in terms of positive outcomes.
Chambers & Partners 2026 -
Weightmans' ability to navigate complex legal matters while maintaining a solutions-oriented mindset sets them apart.Weightmans' lawyers stand out due to their deep expertise, proactive approach and commitment to excellence.Weightmans has provided calm and measured advice in a timely manner, which has helped the company to handle potentially difficult situations and achieve successful resolutions.With Weightmans we have always been provided with timely and well-considered advice, even when dealing with urgent or complex matters.
Chambers & Partners 2026 -
Weightmans are well versed in all employment law matters and I personally find that they quickly get up to speed with current issues and offer a number of resolves and understand how the client will want to resolve the issue, whilst also explaining limitations on any expected resolves which may fall outside the scope of employment law.
Legal 500 2026 -
A strong, capable and professional team who are quickly able to respond to the needs of clients. They have an excellent understanding of the needs of businesses and are very effective.
Legal 500 2026 -
Highly effective equal pay team covering trade union issues and collective action.
Legal 500 2025 -
I've worked with Weightmans for many years now, and I have always found they provide an excellent service. Professional, commercial, responsive and friendly.
Legal 500 2025 -
The employment team is incredibly knowledgeable, providing expert guidance and advice on all issues. The team is responsive to immediate requests for assistance and is thorough in its preparation and advice. The customer service is excellent.
Legal 500 2025 -
The team are really supportive and helpful. They work closely together and will pick up each other's cases where needed. .All of the team are very approachable, down to earth and provide advice that is clear and understandable and considering of the business implications.
Legal 500 2025 -
Organised and person-centred approach. In my experience, this has been consistent with everyone I've met at Weightmans. The knowledge and expertise of the solicitors and how legislation is interpreted is always well explained both verbally and in written correspondence.
Legal 500 2025 -
I cannot stress enough how the culture at Weightmans appears consistent throughout every interaction, and this really stands out. In particular, people are so polite, approachable, easy to talk to, and always give the best advice, guidance and due care and attention. Advice is always thorough and clear yet detailed enough to understand what is being explained in full context, which is always appreciated.
Legal 500 2025 -
The team really collaborate, helping us work through the problem before looking at the solution. They always seem to be one step ahead of us in our sector, which is a delight. They bring insight proactively from legal or regulatory changes that we should be considering, specifically as a growing business.
Legal 500 2025 -
Weightmans has excellent depth in its team, with knowledge and professionalism at the highest level. I have always found them to be very responsive.
Chambers 2025 -
The firm is timely and professional, and able to explain complex points in simple language. Weightmans is excellent at setting timescales and sticking to them without compromising quality of service.
Chambers 2025 -
Weightmans has clear commercial understanding and a good ability to provide business-oriented advice.
Chambers 2025 -
The team has always proved reliable and able to handle enquiries within the timeframes required of the situation. For enquiries of a more complex nature, the response is extremely quick and thorough.
Chambers 2025 -
The team's approach is practical and it is sensitive when asked to be. Its language is direct and clear and is our go-to for all issues.
Chambers 2025 -
Their client service is great, the level of advice is great and they are honest with us as clients. They give good and bad news to allow us to make an informed opinion to do the right thing.
Chambers 2025 -
The team are very experienced and confident in their delivery. I have been impressed with how responsive they are, and where they can't come back to you there is always someone else available.
Chambers 2025 -
Cases have been handled confidently and efficiently with full appreciation of their sensitive nature. The team are very competent and have a broad understanding of all aspects of employment law.
Chambers 2025 -
Weightmans has a proven track record with high risk cases.
Chambers 2025 -
Weightmans responsiveness is excellent, as are its service levels.
Chambers 2025 -
Weightmans is extremely pragmatic and practical.
Chambers 2025 -
Weightmans' team is multi-disciplined and there is always a specialist in any field whose support can be drawn upon.
Chambers 2025 -
Weightmans breakdowns complicated matters into understandable implications and weigh up the benefits and risks of various routes forward.
Chambers 2025 -
Weightmans provides pragmatic advice with a strong understanding of the specific challenges facing the sector.
Chambers 2025 -
It is a professional team with years of experience. They have the knowledge and skills to handle complex and sophisticated matters.
Legal 500 2026 -
Expertise at varying levels is always there to support the resolution of an issue in an appropriate and approachable manner.
Chambers 2025
Settlement and British citizenship
If you are currently in the UK on a temporary basis and looking to settle here, we can guide you through the milestones to achieve settled status and British citizenship. We regularly provide advice on:
Indefinite leave to remain applications, including supporting you in compiling all the necessary documents and evidence, and helping you to draft the application.
Further leave to remain applications.
Obtaining British citizenship and naturalisation.
British passport applications, including more complex applications based on treaty rights.
Visa refusals and appeals
If your visa application has been refused or you have encountered an unexpected issue, we can help. We regularly assist clients with:
Reviewing the reasons for visa refusals.
Troubleshooting unusual cases.
Preparing appeals against visa or indefinite leave to remain refusals.
We serve clients across the UK and internationally from our offices in Birmingham, Cardiff, Glasgow, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Newcastle and Nottingham
Contact us
Why choose our personal immigration solicitors?
We have a team of highly experienced immigration solicitors who are recommended by all the major legal directories. We take time to get to know you so that we can give you the best bespoke advice, concisely, in terms that you can easily digest.
You can trust us not to let you down when it comes to cost certainty, value for money and meeting deadlines.
Our immigration experts
How we determine our price
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.
Our overall fees for immigration matters vary depending on how complex your case is and what you would like us to do. This note provides a guide to how we calculate our charges for immigration work and an indication of how much the typical case is likely to cost. For an estimate tailored to your specific matter, please contact us and we will discuss your matter and needs with you and provide you with a bespoke cost estimate.
Our charges
Our charges consist of:
Our professional fees for the legal work.
Costs and expenses paid to others in order to progress your matter, such as fees for a barrister’s opinion or representation. We handle making these payments on your behalf during the course of your matter, either using money that you have given us in advance, or invoicing them to you together with our fees. These payments are called disbursements.
VAT is charged on our professional fees at the applicable rate, which is currently 20%. Many disbursements also carry VAT, and we will inform you of the VAT on each disbursement as we go along.
Calculating our fees
Our fees will either be agreed with you as a fixed fee at the start of your case OR, be based on how much time it takes to deal with your case and we will usually be guided by your preference here.
The costs of an immigration application can vary according to how complex the case is.
The table below sets out the guideline ranges for the fixed fee costs of a straightforward application under the Immigration Rules:
Type of Application | Fees | VAT (20%) |
Consultation | £300 - £500 | £60 - £100 |
Sponsor licence | £3500 - £5500 | £700-£1100 |
Visitor visa | £1500 - £3500 | £300-£700 |
Family based application | £3500 - £6500 | £700-£1300 |
Skilled worker | £3500 – £4500 | £700-£900 |
Senior or specialist worker | £3500 – £4500 | £700-£900 |
Dependant relative application | £1500 - £2500 | £300-£500 |
Adult dependant relative application | £4500 - £7000 | £900-£1,400 |
Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) | £3500 - £7500 | £700-£1500 |
Student visa | £2000 - £3000 | £400-£600 |
Graduate visa | £2500 - £3500 | £500-£700 |
Ancestry | £2500 - £3500 | £500-£700 |
Global talent visa | £5000 - £6000 | £1000-£1200 |
If we do not provide you with a fixed price, or if we do additional work for you which is outside the scope of our fixed price, please note that our hourly rates may apply. From 1 April 2024, the standard hourly rates for each type of solicitor or other team member who may be involved in your transaction are:
Outside London
Title | Fees | VAT (20%) |
Partner / Legal Director / Consultant | £420 | £84 |
Principal Associate | £365 | £73 |
Associate | £315 | £63 |
Solicitor / Chartered Legal Executive | £275 | £55 |
Trainee Solicitor / Paralegal / Other legal assistant | £200 | £40 |
London
Title | Fees | VAT (20%) |
Partner / Legal Director / Consultant | £525 | £105 |
Principal Associate | £480 | £96 |
Associate | £435 | £87 |
Solicitor / Chartered Legal Executive | £400 | £80 |
Trainee Solicitor / Paralegal / Other legal assistant | £240
| £48 |
The factors which may impact on the complexity of your case and therefore the exact time spent and fees charged, include:
How straightforward your case is in terms of the law.
Whether it will be necessary to appeal.
The amount and complexity of supporting evidence that we need to consider.
The language(s) that you speak and the need for an interpreter.
Whether you are applying with other family or dependants.
The cost is likely to be toward the lower end of the price range if you can provide sufficient evidence to support your application at an early stage so that we can make an early assessment that you meet the legal tests for your immigration application. If the case is more complicated or an appeal is necessary, then the costs of your case may exceed the typical price range illustrated above.
Disbursements and other expenses
You may have to pay certain expenses and costs to third parties, which are not included in the fees quoted above.
In an immigration matter, the most common disbursements tend to relate to Home Office fees that need to be paid for your application. You must pay these directly to the Home Office as part of the application process. Further details can be found on the Home Office UK visa fees website (contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0).
On occasion, interpreters may be required. It is difficult to estimate what overall interpreter fees would be without knowing about the detail of your case. Please contact us for more information.
In most cases we do not need to instruct a barrister on your behalf. Barristers typically charge at hourly rates which vary according to their seniority. We will however guide you on this as and when such costs need to be incurred.
We do not normally need to incur the cost of preparing a medical report on your behalf but should this be required we will tell you straight away and provide an estimate of the likely cost.
If there is an interview with the immigration authorities and you ask us to attend with you, there will be further disbursements for our travel costs. We will confirm these to you when the location of the interview is known.
Other costs to consider
There are some costs which are not included in the fees quoted above. These costs include:
Advice and assistance in relation to any appeal if your application is refused.
Legal work involved in the transaction
The examples of typical fees above cover all of the work we would expect to carry out in relation to the following key stages of an immigration application:
Discussing your circumstances and advising you on your applications throughout the process.
Meetings and/or calls with you, the client.
Advising you on the Immigration Rules and whether you meet the criteria for the application you are making.
Where you do not fulfil any of the criteria, advising you on whether and how this can be overcome.
Considering and advising you on the evidence you have provided in support of your application.
Advising and assisting you with obtaining any further documentary evidence (for example, medical records or bank statements) and taking statements from any supporting witnesses.
Preparing your application and submitting it on your behalf.
Advising you on timelines and the outcome of your application.
Advising you on the outcome of the application and whether there are any further steps you need to take.
Communicating with the Home Office and other parties (for example, witnesses) throughout and advising you on those communications.
It would not normally be necessary to undertake other work or incur other costs other than those described above. However, we would be very happy to provide you with a more tailored quote for all stages if your particular case once we know about your specific circumstances.
Timescale and key stages
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 skilled worker visa (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 skilled worker visa application and on whether you qualify, within a few days.
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.
For example, 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.
Although we will progress your application as quickly as we can, once submitted, is not possible for us to have any control over how long the Home Office take to process immigration applications. You can view the current processing times on the Home Office Visa decision waiting times website.
Who will be dealing with your application?
Typically, your application will 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.
Once you know who will be on the team allocated to your transaction, you will be able to find further details of their background and qualifications by visiting the People section on our website.
If you have any queries, please contact:
Mandy Higgins on 0151 243 9894, or at Mandy.Higgins@weightmans.com
Carolyn Bowie on 0141 375 0860, or at Carolyn.Bowie@weightmans.com