Druces for Business

Costs Information for Immigration

Druces for Business

Costs Information for Immigration

The Solicitors Regulation Authority requires solicitors to provide detailed information as to the costs of certain services via our website. For individual clients, this includes immigration applications and representation.

The information we provide is either the average cost of the work or a range of costs, usually based on hourly rates, and any likely third-party payments (known as “disbursements”), for example to the Home Office which we re-charge to you.

We also provide information about the solicitors and other fee earners who will be involved, their qualifications and experience.

The costs information provided is based on our experience of typical transactions or cases. The actual charges may vary, for example, if your case is more or less complex than the norm. We will give you a cost estimate at the outset, taking into account the actual circumstances of your case. We will also update the estimate if complications arise.

 

Fees

Our fees are based on the number of hours we take to complete the work, multiplied by the hourly rates for the fee earners involved. Immigration matters are dealt with by Phillip Vallon, Partner, whose hourly rate is £470 per hour.

For typical cases, our fees (and the disbursements) are set out below. In more complex cases, our fees may be higher. If an immigration matter requires representation in the Courts we may have to instruct Counsel to represent you in Court. In such cases, you would have to pay Counsel’s fees in addition to our fees.

The fees set out below do not include any Home Office fees for visa applications. They relate solely to the legal cost of preparing the application. The cost of preparing an extension to a visa (and an indefinite leave to remain application at the end of the visa) are charged at the same level as the initial cost of the visa application, as set out in the Fee Schedule below. The fees for each visa do not include the cost of visas for any dependents or additional family members who are likely to come to the UK with the main visa holder, these will be an additional cost.

Fee Schedule:

  1. Initial Consultation: £1,000 to £3,000 plus VAT;
  2. Global Talent Visa (including for Digital Technology) – Initial applications, Extension applications, ILR applications: £6,000 to £10,000 plus VAT;
  3. Investor Visa – Extension applications, ILR applications: £15,000 to £25,000 plus VAT;
  4. Innovator Founder Visa – Initial applications, Extension applications, ILR applications: £10,000 to £15,000 plus VAT;
  5. Sponsor licence (including Expansion Worker and Service Supplier) applications: from £5,000 plus VAT;
  6. Skilled Worker Visa – Initial applications, Extension applications, ILR applications: from £3,500 plus VAT;
  7. Senior or Specialist Worker (and other Global Business Mobility) Visas – Initial applications, Extension applications (where available): £2,500 to £3,500 plus VAT;
  8. International Sportsperson Visa – Initial applications, Extension applications, ILR applications: £2,500 to £5,000 plus VAT;
  9. Student Visa (Child / General) – Initial applications, Extension applications: £2,000 to £3,000 plus VAT;
  10. Graduate Visa – Initial applications: £2,500 to £3,500 plus VAT;
  11. Temporary Worker (GAE, Creative Worker, Charity Worker etc.) Visa – Initial applications, Extension applications: £2,000 to £3,000 plus VAT;
  12. Representative of an Overseas Visa – Initial applications, Extension applications, ILR applications: £5,000 to £10,000 plus VAT;
  13. Commonwealth Ancestral Visa – Initial applications, ILR applications: £3,000 to £5,000 plus VAT;
  14. High Potential Individual Visa – Initial applications, Extension applications: £4,000 to £7,000 plus VAT:
  15. Fiancé(e) / Spousal visa (Family of a settled person) Initial applications, Extension applications, ILR applications: £5,000 to £8,000 plus VAT;
  16. Marriage Visitor Visa: £2,000 to £3,500 plus VAT;
  17. Standard Visitor Visa: £2,000 to £3,500 plus VAT;
  18. Business Visitor Visa: £2,000 to £3,500 plus VAT;
  19. Turkish Business Person Visa (ECAA- Ankara Agreement) – Extension applications and ILR applications only: £4,000 to £6,000 plus VAT;
  20. Domestic workers in a private household visa: £2,000 to £3,000 plus VAT;
  21. Frontier Worker Permit: £2,500 to £3,500 plus VAT;
  22. Returning Resident Visa: £1,500 to £2,500 plus VAT;
  23. Hong Kong British Nationals Overseas Visa: £2,500 to £3,500 plus VAT;
  24. Application for Registration / Naturalisation / UK Citizenship: £3,500 to £4,500 plus VAT.

What is included?

  • Client meetings.

  • The provision of document lists, and review of supporting documents.

  • The preparation of the application to the UKVI.

  • All communications with client and third parties (letter, email, telephone, Skype).

  • Assistance with responding to queries raised by the Home Office once submitted.

What factors could increase the price?

  • An increase in the complexity of the application in light of new information provided by you.

  • A change of instruction or change in circumstances.

  • Difficulty in receiving prompt responses for requests of documentation from you.

  • Liaising with third parties on a client’s behalf.

What’s not included in the price?

  • Home Office Application Fee, Immigration Health Surcharge, Home Office Appeal fees, and any additional Government fees. The most up to date information can be found here.

  • Courier fees, translation fees, photocopying.

  • The cost for representation at Home Office Appointments.

  • Specialist report fees (e.g. psychiatry, child welfare etc).

  • The cost to retrieve title deeds to property.

  • The cost of instructing an Immigration Barrister to represent you at appeal or Judicial Review hearing or for advice in connection with Appeals on Applications for Judicial Review.

Typical timescales

In our experience, cases can take anywhere between 4 days and 18 months to be processed depending on the type of application, complexity of the case and the timescales set by the Home Office. We will endeavour to provide you with a timescale for completing your application during the initial consultation stage.

The fee earners who work on these matters are:

Phillip Vallon is a Partner specialising in Employment and Immigration law. He has a wealth of experience in handling a broad range of employment and immigration cases with particular expertise in resolving intricate HR issues and providing advice on sponsor licence and corporate visa applications.

Phillip’s hourly rate is £470 per hour.

Graeme Kirk, a Consultant at Druces LLP. Graeme is a solicitor qualified in England & Wales, with over 40 years post qualification experience. Graeme’s hourly rate is £380 per hour.

Trainees: Where appropriate, some of the work required to be carried out on your case may be undertaken by a trainee solicitor, whose charge out rate is £150- £180 per hour, subject to the supervision of a more experienced lawyer.

All figures for fees and disbursements are exclusive of VAT which in the majority of cases will be charged in addition at the standard rate of 20%.

If you have any questions regarding this cost information, please contact Phillip Vallon.

Phillip Vallon, Partner in the Employment Law Team
PHILLIP VALLON

Partner

Phillip is a Partner specialising in Employment and Immigration law. He has a wealth of experience in handling a broad range of employment and immigration cases with particular expertise in resolving intricate HR issues and providing advice on sponsor licence and corporate visa applications.

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