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Our Immigration Fees

At JD Spicer Zeb, we strongly believe in ensuring the quality of our services and always strive to ensure the funding of your immigration case is cost-efficient and clearly transparent.

We understand how important it is for our clients to be fully aware of how much they may be expected to pay for our services, which is why we always agree costs in advance of starting any specific work.

Our immigration solicitors take the time to understand your situation, your specific requirements and the likely work involves so that we can generate a fair and accurate assessment of the fees you will pay. To give you a clearer idea of how much your case will cost, we can offer a fixed fee initial appointment in person.

A fixed fee involves setting a fixed price from the outset to cover up to a certain amount of fixed work. An hourly rate involves charging based on the number of hours required, however, this option often works out more costly. Please note that not all immigration cases attract Value Added Tax (VAT), particularly if you reside outside of the European Union. However, if VAT is applicable, 20% will be added to our fees, as well as to any expenses or disbursements.

There may be certain situations where there may be additional costs that would be required to complete your work. Where this is the case, we will let you know well in advance so you can budget accordingly. Our primary goal is to ensure that you have a clear understanding of what you will be expected to pay and when.

For individuals, we can also offer a legal aid service for those who qualify.

Get in touch with our immigration solicitors today

For immediate specialist advice on your immigration matter, or to find out more about how our dedicated team of immigration lawyers in London, Birmingham or Manchester can help you, please do not hesitate to contact us for a free initial discussion on telephone: 0207 624 7771 or email: solicitors@jdspicer.co.uk

Alternatively, you can fill out our quick online contact form and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

Our immigration services

We cover a wide variety of immigration matters which our fees apply to, including:

What fee arrangements our immigration solicitors offer

or

1) Fixed Fee

What is it?

  • A fixed fee is an agreed fee for up to a certain amount of work or stage in the case. We can offer competitive fixed fees for most of our work, so you will be well aware of what your costs will be from the outset. So long as there are no unforeseen complications or significant changes to the work that needs to be completed, the fee you will pay will remain the same, even if it takes longer than anticipated to complete.

How do you determine the fixed fee I must pay?

  • To determine the fixed fee, we determine the complexity of the case and then offer you a fee based on the level of seniority of the lawyer you require. We charge for all the time spent on your case, travel and waiting if required away from our office, reading, or considering any papers, documents, or emails, attending on you or any party on the telephone, in person or otherwise. We charge for preparing notes, applying the law, and considering this in your case. All emails, messages, and letters in and out are charged at 6 minutes unless greater time is incurred. We do not charge for purely administrative matters, such as copying a few pages or posting a routine letter or drawing up a bill etc.

What if I need to appeal?

  • If an immigration application is refused, you will need to appeal the decision for it to be overturned. To have the best prospects of success at appeal, representation is advisable, and this will require additional fees to be agreed for the extra work required by us. 

Please note: our fixed fees are non-refundable.

What is included in the fixed fee:

  • Initial attendance and discussion of available options
  • Assessing the most appropriate course of action and application based on specific circumstances
  • Advising on requirements of the immigration rules /guidance related to Ancestry Visas and specific evidence
  • Advising on method of submission priority
  • Assessing and advising on supporting evidence
  • Sourcing and obtaining further evidence. This might include engaging with third parties where permitted, such as medical experts, banks and employers
  • Collating and preparing supporting evidence
  • Preparing detailed representations with index and finalising application submission.
  • Further submission/ providing updates on progress
  • Advising on outcome of application /implications of status/application and next steps

If you can provide sufficient evidence and clearly meet the applicable immigration rules, the costs are likely to be at the lower end of the range.

On average, most immigration cases take anywhere between 10 and 30 hours to complete. Some cases are simpler and some more complicated in which case we will agree the appropriate fee. This means that on average fixed costs can range from £2,500 to £7,500 depending on the type of visa and time required. All figures exclude VAT which is charged at 20%. If you reside outside of the European Union no VAT is chargeable.

Factors that affect our fixed fees

The exact number of hours agreed with you in our estimate depends on the circumstances of your case such as:

  • The type and amount of supporting evidence that is being considered
  • Which language(s) you speak
  • Whether any other dependants are included in an application
  • Additional issues that may affect an application such as past refusals, criminal convictions, and/or adverse immigration history
  • Repeated calls or emails to us
  • Obtaining your notes from another solicitor and considering
  • Non-cooperation by any party we seek information from
  • Non-legible notes from former advisers/lawyers
  • Consideration of voluminous documents

What is not included in the fixed fee:

These fees can range from £19 - £2389 on average for general applications. More specific premium services and business sponsorship applications can incur fees of up to £25,000. Home office fees are exclusive of VAT. The Home office reviews fees and we update when we become aware of changes.

Plus 

Potential expenses and disbursements:

Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as visa fees. We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process. Examples of disbursements include the below and are all exclusive of VAT:

  • Translations from £20 per page
  • Interpreting from £25 per hour
  • Attendance from £20 per hour
  • Travel from £15 per hour
  • Waiting from £15 per hour
  • Plus travel expenses (will depend on distance)
  • Non-standard postage(will depend on quantity)
  • Medical reports (will depend on work needed)
  • Country reports (will depend on work needed)
  • DNA reports (will depend on work needed)
  • Printing and photocopying (will depend on work needed)
  • Any Home Office fees (You will pay this to the Home Office directly as part of the application process. The fees change as advertised by the Home Office so we will always confirm the fees on the Home Office Website) / Interpreter fees/Independent expert reports. You can find an updated list of Home Office Fees here.

We will let you know as far in advance as possible when these additional fees are due to be incurred. It is not possible to estimate the exact value of disbursements at this stage as it is dependent on each case. We will let you know as soon as we know the cost of disbursements. However as an estimate, most applications require between 3 and 10 hours of contact with an interpreter, depending on the complexity of your case. Independent expert reports are generally not required in many cases. Therefore the average cost of disbursements ranges from £75 - £700 in most cases excluding VAT if charged. Every case depends on complexity and this is just a guide.

Please note: some experts and professionals charge VAT and others do not if they are not registered for VAT. If VAT is charged it will be at the standard rate of 20%. VAT is not chargeable to non-UK citizens.

First Tier Tribunal are not underaken by fixed fee

  • If your case requires us to advise and represent you at an appeal we will charge by the hour in line with the hourly rates below if your matter is not covered under legal aid. The time taken to prepare for an appeal varies but will likely be within the range of 20 – 40 hours. On this basis, the average costs would be between £5,500 - £11,000 Exclusive of VAT which is charged at 20%. where the work is undertaken by a solicitor. If you are not resident in the European Union then VAT is not chargeable. If we need to instruct a barrister for the appeal hearing we will offer you a range with a variety of experience and prices. The cost for a barrister will likely be within the range of £1,000 - £5000 excluding VAT. This will depend on the level of seniority of the barrister chosen by you. If a very specialist barrister is needed by you then this is likely to cost more. 

How we deal with Value Added Tax (VAT)

  • It must be noted that not all immigration cases attract Value Added Tax (VAT). However, if VAT is applicable, 20% will be added to our fees, as well as any expenses or disbursements. All the figures given exclude VAT unless explicitly stated. VAT is charged at 20% unless specifically stated.
  • Charging VAT in relation to immigration matters may depend on where you live and what immigration permission you have. This will normally apply if your usual place of residence is the UK, including if you had leave to remain but overstayed. If you are not a resident in the UK, you are not normally liable to pay VAT. We will confirm whether VAT (at a rate of 20%) is payable when you instruct us and we can work out if VAT is properly chargeable.

Please note: in terms of expenses and disbursements some experts and professionals charge VAT and others do not if they are not registered for VAT. This VAT is also not chargeable to non-UK citizens.

Will your fees increase?

  • This could occur if the work agreed in the fixed terms or quoted hours is exceeded because more work arises or work required was not anticipated. This can happen for several reasons example you require more meetings and work than we had estimated for, or new or further evidence arises requiring consideration and instructions from you. Sometimes new material arise(s), requiring more extensive work. Delays caused by any matters can also increase time and costs.

2) Hourly Rate

  • We can also work by hourly rate and take fees on account from you based on the estimated costs. However, this option is more costly. Subsequently, most clients prefer to work with us on a fixed fee basis as your case usually works out costing less.
  • Our hourly rate is £275 per hour exclusive of VAT. 

On this option we will agree an hourly rate with you and estimate the number of hours and provide an overall estimate based on the work we anticipate. We will ask for the fees on account in advance or by instalment if agreed in writing with you. We will also advise on likely fee costs for the home office and other disbursements and expenses likely to be incurred by you. All letters, calls, emails, and messages in and out are charged at 1/10th of the hourly rate or 6 mins unless greater time is incurred with the item of work. 

Please read as above in fixed fees for all potential expenses, disbursements, and home office fees that also apply in addition when you pay by an hourly rate. The guidance above also deals with the time scales. The guidance we have given about fees increasing also applies to your hourly rate cost estimate should further work arise.

For Kam Dhanjal (Head of Immigration and a solicitor) the hourly cost is: £275. 

For Pritesh Davdra (Immigration Solicitor) the hourly cost is: £275

The hourly rate is subject to VAT at 20% unless you reside outside of the European Union. The hourly figures above are exclusive of VAT.

Kam Dhanjal supervises Pritesh Davdra and Pritesh Davdra supervises Kam Dhanjal. Both are qualified solicitors and accredited (Supervising Senior Caseworkers)

Kam Dhanjal - /site/people/profile/kam.dhanjal

Pritesh Davdra - https://www.jdspicer.co.uk/site/people/profile/pdavdra

All work at the firm is overseen by the partners - /site/people/partners/

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

  • All calls with us and any party
  • Emails and messages with us and any party
  • Reading papers and all documents we receive.
  • Preparing notes of our meetings.
  • Considering any matter on your case
  • Considering and applying the law to your case.
  • Taking instructions and advising you
  • Charging for the time of a second lawyer or paralegal in a meeting where required by us
  • Listening and sitting in on any meeting with you or any party to your case.
  • Travelling and waiting in connection with your case

Get in Touch

Get in touch with our immigration solicitors today

To find out more about how our dedicated team of immigration lawyers in London, Birmingham or Manchester can help you, please do not hesitate to contact us for a free initial discussion on telephone: 0207 624 7771 or email: solicitors@jdspicer.co.uk

Alternatively, you can fill out our quick online contact form and we will get back to you as soon as possible.