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Our Fees: Business Immigration

Please note our fees are subject to VAT, this tax is set by the UK government and is currently 20%.

Stage 1 – Initial Advice

We offer a fixed fee for our initial advice on Business Immigration options, including eligibility to make an application or to challenge a decision.

The fixed fee ranges from £350 – £500 + VAT

The fee depends on the level of advisor and the complexity of the case.

This work is undertaken by Partners and Solicitors in our team.

The cost includes:

Face to face / Video / Telephone meeting with the client (E mail only also available)
Taking instructions
Considering documents
Advising on options, eligibility and the prospects of success
Providing written advice following meeting

Additional costs:

Interpreter’s fees – usually £30 – £35 per hour (VAT may be payable), depending on language required and availability*

* If we need to pay any third parties then we will require the cost of this up front from you before proceeding, the amount will depend on the length and complexity of the document or report required, VAT may be payable.

Stage 2 – Application

If you wish to proceed with a Business Immigration application then we offer a choice of paying at hourly rates or a fixed fee for our assistance.

The hourly rate or fixed fee depends on the level of advisor and the type and complexity of the case:

This work is undertaken by Partners and Solicitors in our team.

Hourly rates

Our hourly rates for Business Immigration applications are:

Paralegal / Trainee Solicitor £200
Solicitor £275
Partner £325

Fixed fees

Our fixed fees are based on the anticipated time that an average case of the type usually takes, calculated on the hourly rate.

The exact number of hours it will take depends on the circumstances in each case including:

The complexity of the issues involved
The amount of supporting evidence that we need to consider
Whether there are multiple applicants e.g. more than one member of a family group**
How long a case takes

All applications are likely to vary and we will be able to provide a more accurate estimate once we have more information about a specific case.

The cost includes:

Advising you on the requirements for an application
Advising you on the required supporting documents for an application
Preparing and submitting an application
Checking supporting documents
Drafting a letter in support of an application
Booking a UKVCAS / VFS / TLS appointment
Advising on progress
Advising on the outcome of an application

Potential disbursements and additional costs:

Home Office visa fees – you will pay these to the Home Office directly. VAT does not apply to Home Office fees. **
Immigration Health Surcharge – you will pay this to the Home Office directly. VAT does not apply. The fee is paid per year so the amount will depend on the type and length of visa you are applying for e.g. Skilled worker visa £624 per year so for a 3 year visa £1872 (correct as at 10 January 2024)
Uploading supporting documents to the UKVCAS / VFS / TLS websites or e mailing to the nominated Home Office document address – we charge an additional fee of £100 – £150 + VAT for this service per Applicant, depending on volume of documents
Translation of documents*
Interpreter’s fees*
Medical reports / notes*
Any other disbursements / payments to third parties necessary for your case*
The cost of challenging a decision if the application is refused – we would advise on the cost of this if it arises – see Stage 3

* If we need to pay any third parties then we will require the cost of this up front from you before proceeding, the amount will depend on the length and complexity of the document or report required, VAT may be payable.

** The Home Office provide information about application fees, these will vary depending on the type of application being made:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/visa-regulations-revised-table

How long will an application take?

We cannot guarantee how long the Home Office will take to process your application.

The Home Office provide information on typical timescales for applications made both inside and outside the UK:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/visa-processing-times

For some applications it is possible to pay an additional fee for a Priority or Super Priority service and receive a quicker decision. We can advise you on the availability of this service.

Sponsor Licence Applications

On average, this type of application takes between 7 – 10 hours to complete.

This means that our costs are usually between £1500 – £3000 + VAT.

We offer a choice of paying at hourly rates or a fixed fee for our assistance.

The hourly rate or fixed fee depends on the level of advisor and the type and complexity of the case.

The usual timescale for a decision is 8 weeks.

There is a Priority Service offered for an additional fee which can give a 10 working day decision, although this is subject to very limited availability of 10 per day.

Work Visas

There are a range of work visas available including Skilled Worker and Ancestry visas.

The average cost depends on the type of work visa application.

On average work visa applications take between 3-6 hours to complete.

This means that our costs are usually between £850 – £1950 + VAT.

We offer a choice of paying at hourly rates or a fixed fee for our assistance.

The hourly rate or fixed fee depends on the level of advisor and the type and complexity of the case.

The usual timescale depends on the application being made and whether the application is made inside or outside the UK.

Applications made inside the UK:

Standard service – 8 weeks
Priority service – 5 working days
Super Priority service – 24 hours (if available)

Applications made outside the UK:

Standard service – 3 -4 weeks
Priority service – 1 – 2 weeks (if available)

Business Visas

There are a range of business visas available including Start-Ups, Innovators and Global Talent visas.

The average cost depends on the type of work visa application.

On average business visa applications take between 8 – 12 hours to complete.

This means that our costs are usually between £2200 – £3900 + VAT.

We offer a choice of paying at hourly rates or a fixed fee for our assistance.

The hourly rate or fixed fee depends on the level of advisor and the type and complexity of the case.

The usual timescale depends on the application being made and whether the application is made inside or outside the UK.

Applications made inside the UK:

Standard service – 8 weeks
Priority service – 5 days
Super Priority service – 24 hours (if available)

Applications made outside the UK:

Standard service – 3 -4 weeks
Priority service – 1 – 2 weeks (if available)

Stage 3 – Challenging a negative decision

If you wish to challenge a decision of the Home Office then we offer a choice of paying at hourly rates or a fixed fee for our assistance.

Some decisions attract a statutory right to Administrative Review. Other decisions have no right of appeal but the option of reviewing of the decision. It may also be possible to consider an application for permission for Judicial Review.

The fee depends on the level of advisor and the type and complexity of the case.

The key stages involved in challenging a negative decision can be viewed in detail here.

This work is undertaken by Partners and Solicitors in our team.

Hourly rates

Our hourly rates for challenging decisions are:

Solicitor £275

Partner £325

Fixed fees

Our fixed fees are based on the anticipated time that an average case of the type usually takes, calculated on the hourly rate.

The exact number of hours it will take depends on the circumstances in your case. Such as:

The complexity of the issues involved
The amount of supporting evidence that we need to consider
Whether there are multiple applicants e.g. more than one member of a family group

Administrative Review

To advise upon a refusal and lodge an Administrative Review

We offer a choice of paying at hourly rates or fixed fee.

On average, this type of work takes around 2 – 3 hours to complete. This means that on average costs are between £550 – £975 + VAT.

The exact number of hours it will take depends on the circumstances in your case. Such as:

The complexity of the issues involved
The amount of supporting evidence that we need to consider
Whether there are multiple applicants e.g. more than one member of a family group

The cost includes:

Advising on the options available
Preparing and lodging an application (if advised)
Advising on progress

Potential disbursements and additional costs:

Administrative Review fees – currently £80 (VAT is not payable).*
Translation of documents*
Interpreter’s fees*
Medical reports / notes*
Any other disbursements / payments to third parties necessary for your case*

*If we need to pay any third parties then we will require the cost of this up front from you before proceeding, the amount will depend on the length and complexity of the document or report required, VAT may be payable.

Judicial Review

We only offer paying at hourly rates for Judicial Review.

It is not possible to provide an average cost for this stage of work as each case varies so widely depending on the issues involved.

The exact number of hours it will take depends on the circumstances in your case. Such as:

The complexity of the issue involved
The amount of supporting evidence that we need to consider
Whether there are multiple appellants
The number of hearings involved

The cost includes:

Advising on the options available
Instructing Counsel to advise on and prepare Grounds
Preparing and lodging an application (if advised)
Advising on progress
Advising on the outcome

Potential disbursements and additional costs:

Counsel’s fees – these depend on the type of case and Counsel’s experience*
Court fees – these depend on the application being made and stage of proceedings (VAT is not payable)*
Translation of documents*
Interpreter’s fees*
Medical reports / notes*
Any other disbursements / payments to third parties necessary for your case*

* If we need to pay any third parties then we will require the cost of this up front from you before proceeding, the amount will depend on the length and complexity of the document or report required, VAT may be payable.