Oliver and Hasani Solicitors holds a contract with the Legal Aid Agency to provide services on Immigration and Asylum under Legal Help, Controlled Legal Representation and Civil Legal Aid contract. To qualify for Legal Aid you must need the both the means and merits eligibility criteria as set out by the Legal Aid Agency. We undertake both Legal Aid and private work, in the areas of our practice.

Exceptional case funding is an application for funding that is made to the Legal Aid Agency by individuals whose immigration issue is not eligible for Legal Aid, but who cannot afford to pay legal fees. ECF can be applied for whereby an application is submitted to the Legal Aid Agency. To justify the request for exceptional funding for a lawyer from the Legal Aid Agency, you will also need to prove that you have a strong case (that is more likely to succeed than to fail), and that you would not be able to pay for a legal representative yourself”. In general, most non asylum related applications (to include the types of applications below) do not fall within the scope of legal aid. Bail applications are funded by way of legal aid subject to a means and merits test.

Our hourly rate for private work varies between £150 per hour plus VAT (20%) or £180 plus VAT (20%) for senior solicitors and caseworkers depending on the wealth of experience and seniority and for a Director £250 plus VAT (20%). We also offer fixed fees for certain applications.

Each application is based on its own merit and complexity of matter which differ in timeframes and stages of the claim. We can provide a more accurate quote at the initial appointment or consultation stage. We offer initial free telephone and face-to-face short advice where it is appropriate to do so. However, we also offer an initial full consultation at a fee of £200 plus VAT (20%) = £240 where it is necessary to do so.

The following are estimates for the different types of privately funded applications.

Partner Route Entry Clearance Application

Between £2,000 plus VAT (20%) = £2,400 to £2,500 plus VAT (20%) = £3,000. Depending on unforeseen circumstances /complications and/or a significant change in your instructions

Partner & Family life Applications/Initial Application/Extensions – under Appendix FM and Appendix private life

Between £1,500 plus VAT (20%) = £1,800 to £2,000 plus VAT (20%) = £2,400.  Depending on unforeseen circumstances /complications and/or a significant change in your instructions.

Indefinite Leave to remain in the UK

 

Between £1,500 plus VAT @ 20% = £1800 to £1,800 plus VAT @ 20% = £2,160. Depending on unforeseen circumstances /complications and/or a significant change in your instructions.

Sponsor License Application

£2,500 plus VAT (20%) = £3,000

Application for Skilled Worker – Initial and Extension

£1,800 plus VAT (20%) = £2,160

Registration Certificate/Naturalisation Applications

 

Between £1,200 plus VAT @20% = £1,440 to £1,500 plus VAT @20% = £1,800. Depending on unforeseen circumstances /complications and/or a significant change in your instructions.

British Nationality Deprivation Matters

Between £1,500 plus VAT @ 20% = £1,800 to £1,800 plus VAT @ 20% = £2,160. Depending on unforeseen circumstances /complications and/or a significant change in your instructions.

Amendments to Certificate of Naturalization

£800 plus VAT 20% = £960 plus the Home Office Application fee of £428.

British Nationality Deprivation Appeals

Between £2,500 plus VAT (20%) = £3,000 to £3,500 plus VAT (20%) = £4,200 plus Counsel fee and expert fees if necessary.  Depending on unforeseen circumstances /complications and/or a significant change in your instructions.

Refugee Convention/Stateless Persons’ Travel Document

Between £350 plus VAT (20%) = £420 to £500 plus VAT (20%) = £600.

Family & Private life appeal to the Immigration and Asylum Chamber of the First Tier Tribunal

Between £2,500 plus VAT (20%) = £3,000 to £3,500 plus VAT (20%) = £4,200 depending on the complexity of the matter plus Counsel’s fees and other disbursements such as expert reports and court fee of £140.

Ordinarily, the fee for the applications for Leave to Remain in the UK/ Settlement include:

  • Initial appointment and detailed letter of advice
  • In more complex cases, appointments to take witness statement
  • Completion of application form (usually an online form)
  • Consideration of country and personal documentary evidence/document gathering
  • Representations to the Home Office
  • reminder letters, if necessary, to the Home Office
  • Advice on the Home Office decision.

Disbursements

Disbursements are payments made to parties other than the solicitor's firm, such as court fees, home office application fees, expert fees (country expert, barrister’s fee, our travel costs (if applicable), medical reports), or interpreter/translation fees). Disbursements are distinct from the fees charged by the solicitor for their professional legal services.

Disbursements will be clearly and accurately expressed on the solicitor's bill

For the Home Office and Nationality fees  (as applicable as at 9.4.2025) you can refer to the following link :  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/visa-regulations-revised-table/home-office-immigration-and-nationality-fees-9-april-2025

The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) is a fee paid by most foreign nationals applying for temporary permission to live in the UK, in addition to the visa application fee. For applications submitted on or after February 6, 2024, the annual rate for most applications is £1,035 per person per year. Some categories, like students and certain dependents, have a reduced rate of £776 per year. The surcharge is intended to contribute towards the cost of National Health Service (NHS) care for migrant. For more details of the fee to be paid by the applicant please click onto the following link : https://www.gov.uk/healthcare-immigration-application/how-much-pay

Legal Aid funding is available for Settlement Protection (SET(P) applications but is subject to financial eligibility. As part of our client process, information will be taken to facilitate an initial indication to the client as to whether they may be eligible for legal aid funding.

Home Office Processing Times for above applications can be found on the links below

Inside UK: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/visa-processing-times-applications-inside-the-uk

Outside UK: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/visa-processing-times-applications-outside-the-uk

Note

It should be noted that some forms of the above applications or appeals may give rise to entitlement to controlled legal representation in the normal way or through exceptional case funding as set out above.

Do you have questions about our fees?

We know that calculating your fees may be difficult, so please get in touch if you have questions on this subject.

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