Immigration (services to individuals and businesses)

 

Immigration Services

 

Our immigration solicitors have been advising both business and high-net-worth individuals on all aspects of UK immigration and nationality law for over 10 years and has previously worked for top ranked in Chambers and Legal 500. 

 

Whether you are an entrepreneur starting a business in the UK, a global corporation transferring staff here or a simply an high-net-worth individual moving with your family members to the UK, our full-service immigration team can assist and provide advice, solutions and representation for: 

• U.K. business work permits, sponsor licence application and the UK immigration compliances which are required in order to hire foreign workers

• Support HR teams in managing their UK and global immigration needs, Brexit related advice, providing business intelligence on global trends and through sharing our know-how with clients through our regular alters, workshops and webinars and client-centred training.  

• Gaining residency visa investment or the establishment of a business

• Family migration requirements

• Those wishing to study English or follow a degree course at one of our world-renowned universities

 

We work closely with our corporate, commercial, employment teams and we can recommend external tax specialist when necessary, who can advise on all related issues of moving to and living in the UK. 

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Our charges 

 

We recognise that our clients seek not only exceptional legal expertise but also transparent and flexible pricing options. We are committed to providing the highest quality services at a fair and agreed cost. Our overall fees vary depending upon how complex your case is and what you would like us to do. For a free quote specifically tailored to your circumstances please email info@gulegal.org or enquiry@gulegal.org. We would be more than happy to discuss your case. 

 

To give you an idea of how we charge however, and to comply the SRA price transparency rules, we have set out below details of our typical hourly rates and fees.

  

SENIORITY OF THE FEE EARNERS                  FEE BANDS (EXCLUDING VAT)

                    Partner/Director                                                     £350-£750

                    Consultant                                                             £200-£500

                    Senior Associate                                                   £250-£450

                    Associate                                                               £200-£375

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Our charges are made up of:

1. our fees for the legal work;

2. ‘disbursements’ - disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to other people, such as fees for a barrister’s opinion or help at Court. We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process.

 

Where VAT is referred to below please note that this will be charged at the applicable rate, which is currently 20%.

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Free Initial Enquiry

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We do not charge for considering new enquiries. Whether you are an individual or a business, you can contact us for free and your enquiry will be reviewed directly by our specialist solicitors. If we have a solicitor with relevant expertise available to advise you then we will be in touch to confirm availability and pricing options. 

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Fixed Fees, Agreed with Clients in Advance

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We offer fixed fees that are agreed with clients in advance. We understand the importance of budget certainty for our clients, especially when dealing with immigration matters that can be time-sensitive and complex. By providing fixed fees rather than hourly rates or vague estimates, we give our clients the assurance that there will be no unexpected cost escalations throughout the process. This commitment to transparency builds trust and fosters strong, long-term relationships with our valued clients.

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Our quote will assume that you will provide us with the necessary information to deliver the agreed scope of work within the agreed timeframe. In discussion with you we may charge additional fees if the scope of work or timeframe changes for reasons beyond our control.

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Pricing Options Based on our Solicitor Seniority

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We recognise that immigration cases vary in complexity, and our clients may have different needs and budgets. To cater to these varying requirements, we offer pricing options based on the level of seniority of our solicitors. Clients have the flexibility to choose from a range of qualified barristers, each with different fee structures corresponding to their years of experience. This ensures that clients can access the level of legal representation that best aligns with their specific case requirements and financial considerations.

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Clarity and Fairness in Billing

 

Our fee structure is designed to be clear, transparent, and fair. We do not believe in hidden costs or surprise charges. All fees and disbursements are communicated openly to clients, ensuring they are well-informed and have a complete understanding of the financial aspect of their case before proceeding. Our commitment to clarity and fairness in billing is all part of our dedication to providing a positive client experience.

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Most Expenses Included

 

We do not charge separately for typical firm expenses like calls, photocopying, printing, stationery, document storage, standard postage, or travel expected within the agreed work scope. If your matter includes a third-party report or service within the agreed fee, we will clarify the cost breakdown so that you always know exactly what is being paid and to whom.

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Our fees will not include costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties (known as disbursements), such as Home Office fees, Court or Tribunal fees, independent expert fees and translation/interpretation fees. Where such costs arise, you will be responsible for these.

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While exact costs vary based on individual requirements, we have set out below an overview of the types of reports we frequently arrange and a typical range of fees paid to third-party experts.

• Medical Expert Report: £1,000 – £2,000 depending on complexity and choice of expert

• Country Expert Report: £1,000 – £2,000 depending on complexity and choice of expert

• Translation: £100 – £500 depending on length of document(s)

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If you would prefer us to pay disbursements to third parties on your behalf, we would be happy to do so.  We will invoice you for the amount (including any VAT charged by the third party) and handle payment. We charge a 2.5% service fee, plus VAT if applicable, to cover bank charges and administration costs.

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Services are included in the fee quote

 

The work will involve: 

• Taking full instructions from you in order to provide initial assessment, advice on the key requirements and how these apply to your circumstances

• Providing a comprehensive list of necessary documents and information, and templates where appropriate

• Reviewing and collating supporting documents

• Liaising with third parties where required to obtain additional evidence upon mutual agreement in advance

• Preparing the relevant application forms, submitting these on your behalf and booking any necessary appointments

• Drafting a comprehensive covering letter in support of your application

• Advising on the application submission options and procedure, and on likely time frames

• Advising you on the outcome of the application and explaining your new immigration or nationality status, including information about how to remain compliant with your visa conditions and the eligibility criteria for extensions and indefinite leave to remain

Our quote here does not include any disbursements related to your matter (as stated above).

 

Typical timeframes

 

The processing times for your application will vary depending on the application service you select and where the application is being made. We cannot guarantee how long the Home Office will take to process your application, but we can give further information on the application options and likely time frames as part of the advice we will provide you if instructed. 

 

Please note the anticipated number of hours and fees are an estimate. All applications are likely to vary and we can give you a more accurate estimate once we have more information about your specific matter. 

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VAT

 

All fees quoted below are exclusive of VAT.  VAT will be added at 20% where this is required by law.  For example, VAT will be added where you are in the UK and have, or previously had, leave to remain. If you normally reside outside the UK then VAT will not be added. Where you ask us to pay a disbursement to a third party on your behalf, we will pass the invoice on to you in full. We will not add VAT to the supplier’s gross invoice; however, VAT will be applied to our service charge, if applicable.

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Services not included in the fee quoted

 

The fee will not include any advice or assistance on any follow up appeal or other action should the matter be unsuccessful. We can discuss any options and fees for those next steps if and when appropriate. We advise on immigration but not on tax or employment compliance or pensions. If you need specific advice on these matters, we can arrange for you to receive this from other specialists in these fields. When advocacy is required. we generally instruct counsel save for some preliminary hearings which we conduct ourselves.

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Sponsor Licence Applications & Management

 

Business differs in size and sector focus, and so do the complexities of their immigration requirements. Consequently, our professional fees for preparing a sponsor licence application and sponsor licence management are tailored to each individual matter. 

 

Our professional fee for preparing a sponsor licence application is typically between £5,000 and £6,500, plus VAT respectively, depending on the seniority of the solicitors engaged. If the application is more complex, then a higher fee may apply. 

 

As well as completing all the work required to prepare a strong sponsor licence application, we include a covering letter in support of each application and a comprehensive human resources policy and procedure package (including job description analysis, a Sponsor Licence Policy guide, Right to Work Checks guidance, a record keeping checklist and templates for record keeping, skilled worker’s application and ongoing advice regarding HR systems and procedures with additional fee quote upon mutual agreement in advance) as part of our service. If you already have employees, we will also check your right to work checks on 1-10 employees at no additional cost (if you would like us to check your right to work checks on more than 10 employees then an additional fee of between £500 and £1,000 will typically apply).

 

In addition to preparing sponsor licence applications that are ready for submission to the Home Office. We provide employers with a range of business immigration services to ensure they remain compliant with their sponsor duties and responsibilities:

• Sponsor licence compliance audit (1-20 employees): £2,500 – £4,000

• Sponsor licence compliance audit (21-50 employees): £3,500 – £5,000

• Sponsor change of circumstances request: £750

• Annual CoS allocation request: £500

• Defined Certificate of Sponsorship allocation request: £500

• In-year CoS allocation increase request: £500

• Assigning Certificate of Sponsorship for a worker: £500

• Withdrawing a Certificate of Sponsorship: £150

• Adding Sponsor note to a Certificate of Sponsorship: £100

• Adding or removing an additional Level 1 or Level 2 user: £250

• Reporting changes which need to be notified within 10 working days: £300

• Reporting changes which need to be notified within 20 working days: £250

• Job description analysis: £500-£800 

• Skilled worker’s individual application: £2,500 – £4,000 per main applicant’s application with £800– £1,500 per dependant application

• Error correction request: £250

 

Immigration Application Preparation & Submission:

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Because we approach each matter individually and no two matters are the same, our professional fees for preparing and submitting visa and immigration applications also vary from matter to matter.

 

Our professional fee for preparing and submitting a simple visa or immigration application is typically between £1,000 and £3,000. An application of medium complexity will typically cost between £3,000 and £6,000. Our professional fee for preparing and submitting a more complex application is likely to be between £6,000 and £10,000. We can also provide you with immigration application checking service. Our professional fees for checking a visa or immigration application are typically one-third of the fee that we would charge for fully preparing and submitting any given application.

 

Factors that may increase or decrease our overall fee quote include:

• the seniority of the solicitor;

• the complexity of the issues in the matter;

• the number of applicants, including any dependants;

• the volume of supporting documents or witnesses;

• the timeframe for completion of the application;

• whether it is a standard, priority or super priority application;

• whether we were instructed to prepare an earlier initial or extension application.

• As well as completing all the legal work necessary to prepare and submit a strong application, we include a solicitor’s opinion in support of each application and an independent check of each completed application by a second solicitor as standard.

 

We accept payment in advance and offer preferential rates where there are multiple main applicants, multiple dependants and for returning clients.

 

We will be pleased to provide you with a range of fixed fee options to choose from, based on the circumstances of your case and the level of service that you require, once we have more information about your matter.

 

Price information for private individuals

 

This section is intended to inform private individuals about our estimated fees for immigration and nationality matters. These fees do not apply to work undertaken for corporate clients. Please note the anticipated number of hours and fees are an estimate. All applications are likely to vary and we can give you a more accurate estimate once we have more information about specific matter. ​

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Who will be handling with my case?

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Your case will be handled by a trusted member of our experienced legal team, who are, generally speaking, qualified as a solicitor or as a barrister. Once we know who will be handling your case for you, we will introduce you to them and provide you with full details of their background, relevant qualifications and the types of work normally undertaken. All employment team members are supervised by Yiwen Lydia Gu who is a solicitor and Partner of Gu Legal. 

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