Costs

Our fees are mainly calculated using an hourly rate which is set according to the knowledge and experience of our fee earners. Hourly rates from April 2023 are as follows:

Seniority level	Hourly rate (exc VAT)	Hourly rate (inc VAT)
Director/Senior Solicitor	£350	£420
Solicitor (More than 3 years of experience)	£200	£240
Solicitor (Less than 3 years of experience)	£175	£210
Trainee Solicitors, Solicitor Apprentices & Paralegals	£150	£180

To help you understand the range of costs for different types of cases, we have set out below some of our indicative costs for the most common work that we undertake for our clients.

Note that these costs do not include disbursements or other expenses, and which are listed below.

Costs will also be dependent on the issues, urgencies and complexities involved, and the service level you require.

Applications from outside of the UK

Family application (including partner, fiancée, parent, child) - £2,500 - £4,500

Start-up/Innovator visa/Global Talent visa (Stage 1 & 2)- £5,000 - £10,000

Skilled Worker/T2 Minister of Religion - £2,500 - £3,500

PBS and other work route dependants (per dependant, applying with the main applicant/separate from the main applicant) - £800 - £2,500

Visit visas - £2,500 - £3,500

Applications under the British Nationality Acts - £2,500 - £4,500

Applications from inside of the UK

PBS further leave/indefinite leave to remain/Start-up visa/Innovator/Investor/Global Talent visa (Stage 1 & 2) - £5,000 - £10,000

PBS Dependant's visa (applying separately from/with the main applicant) - £800/£2,500

Applications for leave to remain outside the immigration rules - £2,500 - £5,000

Applications for indefinite leave to remain under the 10-year rule - £2,500 - £5,000

Applications for leave to remain under the family or private life routes- £2,500 - £5,000

Complex applications under the EU Settled Status Scheme - £2,500 - £5,000

Skilled worker extension/ILR applications - £2,500 - £5,000

Applications under the British Nationality Acts - £2,500 - £5,000

Deportation: initial stage (pre-decision) including representation and evidence gathering - £2,500 - £5,000

Court Work and challenging decisions

Bail applications to the First-Tier Tribunal - £750 - £1,500

Representation in the First Tier Tribunal appeal (through to Home Office review of decision)* - £3,500 - £5,000

Applications for permission to appeal to the Upper Tribunal - £1,200 - £3,500

Applications for Administrative Review £1,500 - £3,500

Judicial review: application for permission on the papers (for full oral hearings, quotes are available for individual cases depending on the circumstances) - £3,000 - £6,000

*In tribunal appeals, representation beyond the Home Office review of their decision includes a wide variety of work, including gathering evidence, finding and instructing appropriate experts, negotiating with the Home Office, conferences with witnesses, drafting witness statements, preparing for hearing, and representing you at the hearing itself. Given the significant degree of variability in the work required when challenging decisions, clients are advised in advance of the likely amount and type of work required and provided with a time estimate.

Disbursements

You can expect the main disbursements to include:

• Home Office filing fees (click here for the government’s visa/entry clearance fee calculator and here for a list of all Home Office fees);
• Immigration Health Surcharge fees, if applicable;
• Optional premium service fees for in-country and out-of-country applications, including expedition fees

Common examples of other expenses include:

• Biometric enrolment appointment booking (usually £100-£250, although free appointments are also available)
• Ecctis fees if you need to evidence the level of your degree and/or your English language proficiency for the UK Home Office
• Interpreting is usually charged at £25 – £50 per hour (and £15 – £25 per hour for travel and expenses if the appointment is face to face) at a minimum. A VAT charge may apply.
• Translation of documents into English is usually charged at £30 per page, not including VAT
• GP letters usually cost between £30 to £70.
• Detailed expert reports from medical specialists, social workers or country experts – fees vary.
• DNA tests - costs will vary depending on location of people being tested, the number of people from whom samples are required and the nature of the biological relationship.
• Secure English Language tests often cost around £150 in the UK for a Speaking and Listening qualification.
• Life in the UK test costs around £50 per attempt.

When is VAT payable?

VAT will usually apply if you are ordinarily resident or already hold some form of leave to remain in the UK at the time that you instruct us to submit an application.

If you have no long-term status in the UK, or are resident abroad, at the time of instructing us, you will not be liable to pay VAT in addition to our quoted fees.

For most immigration applications made to the Home Office or the UKVI authorities overseas, a number of stages of work will be involved. Typically, we will undertake the following steps:

Stages of an initial application

1. Taking your instructions and investigating what immigration options are open to you and which application can be made in your best interests.

2. Advising you on the legal requirements that you need to satisfy to make a successful application.

3. Assisting you to gather the necessary supporting evidence, and reviewing and preparing the evidence ready for submission to the Home Office.

4. Preparing and submitting the application to the Home Office on your behalf including the preparation of a detailed covering letter from your lawyer.

5. Dealing with any matters which arise following from your application up to receipt of the Home Office decision. Occasionally the Home Office will ask for additional evidence or information before making a decision.

6. Giving you advice about the outcome and timeline of the application and any further steps you need to take.

Stages of an immigration appeal (First Tier)

1. Advising you on the strengths and weaknesses of your case and the appeal process to help you decide whether to proceed with an appeal.
2. Lodging your appeal with the First Tier Tribunal.
3. Preparing court witness statements and other supporting evidence, sometimes including expert evidence, to challenge the Home Office’s reasons for rejecting your application.
4. Reviewing the Home Office’s bundle of evidence and addressing any issues which have arisen.
5. Liaising with the Tribunal in relation to the appeal documents and timings for your case.
6. Preparing your bundle of evidence for the court and a written summary of our legal arguments.
7. Instructing an expert barrister to represent you on the day of the hearing itself (the barrister’s fees are not included in our price ranges and will be payable in addition to the our fees).
8. Advising you on the outcome and timeline of your appeal hearing and possible next steps.