Immigration
We are pleased to provide you with a customized quote tailored to your unique immigration needs. In our commitment to transparency, we aim to offer a clear and reasonably accurate representation of the range of expenses that may be incurred when engaging Karam, Missick & Traube LLP for assistance with UK immigration applications.
How we explain our fees to our clients
We provide each of our clients with a Letter of Engagement that accompanies our Terms and Conditions. Within these documents, we delineate the specific particulars of your proposed application.
Whenever feasible, we strive to offer either a fixed fee or an estimated cost for the particular legal matter at hand. In cases where providing a precise figure is impracticable, we make every effort to supply you with a range of anticipated fees, as outlined below. This range is derived from our extensive experience handling similar applications.
Should there be any circumstance necessitating an adjustment beyond the upper limit of the estimated fee, we will promptly apprise you and furnish an explanation. Such adjustments may arise due to unforeseen complexities, urgency in processing, the need for specialized resources (including collaboration with other teams such as employment, corporate, or legal counsel), or the volume of supporting documentation, whether provided or required for consideration. It is worth noting that the more comprehensive the information you initially provide, the more precise our initial cost estimate will be.
Furthermore, we afford our clients the choice between two billing methods: time spent or fixed fees. Billing based on time spent encompasses various activities such as meetings, telephone calls, document review and preparation, correspondence, research, communication with third parties (including, but not limited to, the Home Office), note-taking, travel to and from meetings, as well as incoming and outgoing telephone conversations.
What is not included
• Disbursements and VAT (as referred to below)
• Attendance at Home Office Interview
• If your application is refused, advice related to any appeal, review, resubmission or Judicial Review.
• Post completion advice and support
Value Added Tax (VAT)
Our fees, as well as the majority of disbursement costs (which will be explained in more detail shortly), are subject to Value Added Tax (VAT) at the current rate of 20%.
Disbursements
Disbursements encompass a range of expenses, including but not limited to Counsel's fees, Home Office fees, bank charges, special delivery or courier fees, search fees, Court fees, fees for professionally chartered photocopying services, travel expenses, expert fees, and translation fees.
We adhere to the practice of providing you with advance notification regarding any anticipated disbursements relevant to your specific matters.
Under certain circumstances, disbursements, including Home Office and embassy fees, may require direct payment from you.
These disbursement amounts can vary on a case-by-case basis. We will be able to provide you with an accurate figure once we have had the opportunity to review your specific documents and engage in a comprehensive discussion to gain a full understanding of your background and situation.
What services are included
Our work will involve the following (as applicable to your matter)
• Discussing you individual/dependent(s) situation in detail with you and confirming the most appropriate application to make in the circumstances and advising on any other available options;
• Providing you with legal advice with respect to the requirements of the Immigration Rules
• Providing you with advice to alternative options should you not fulfil the relevant criteria for an application to be successful
• Talking you through the application form and requirements;
• Reviewing and considering supporting evidence you have provided;
• Where necessary helping you to obtain further evidence (such as bank statements, supporting statements, expert reports);
• Assisting you with your business or individual application to the Home Office in the UK or embassy, outside the UK;
• Advising you on the outcome of your application and any further steps you should take;
• Attendance at Home Office interview; if the Home Office ask you to attend an interview, we will give you clear advice (and discuss the possibility of us attending with you) at the appropriate time;
• The number of hours to review your documents will vary according to the number and length of documents, whether these need to be translated, whether anything is missing. The time frame may be extended where there are missing documents, and you are required to obtain duplicates;
• In the event we attend an interview with you, there is likely to be additional charges and disbursements in respect of our mileage/ travel expense.
Hourly rates
In certain scenarios, our legal fees are structured as an hourly rate. The specific fee will be contingent on the complexity of your case and the hourly charge-out rate associated with the member of our immigration team handling your matter. When we opt for an hourly rate-based approach to determine our legal fees, it will be commensurate with the total time expended by the designated team member to oversee all facets of the case. The hourly rate will be subject to variation based on the seniority of the team member
How long will my application take to process?
We will provide you with an estimation of the approximate duration required for the application and approval process. It is important to clarify that we are unable to offer a definitive guarantee on the exact timeframe due to potential variations influenced by Home Office resource availability and the volume of applications they receive.
Typically, the Home Office necessitates a considerable amount of supporting documentation, which can be time-consuming to review and organize. Nevertheless, once we have received all the requisite information, supporting documents, and the necessary funds on account, we will endeavor to assist you with your matter in a timely manner.
The exact number of hours it will take to complete your application, and supporting representations, will depend on the circumstances in your case such as:
• The nature of the application
• Whether this is your first application, an extension or an application following a refusal
• The amount of supporting evidence
• Your immigration history
• Criminal checks
• Whether we require an interpreter to translate on your behalf
• Your employment (if relevant) status i.e. whether you are employed, self-employed or a director
• Whether you are applying with other dependants
• Whether any documents are required to be translated
• Whether your application needs to be supported with country expert reports or medical reports
• Whether we need to obtain supporting statements from third parties
Should you be able to furnish substantial evidence and conclusively meet the applicable Immigration Rules during our initial meeting, it is likely that the cost will fall towards the lower end of the specified range. Please be aware that all fees provided are exclusive of VAT.
Applications under the PBS (main applicant only) and Range of likely costs (£UK Sterling) Exc. VAT
Investor (closed to initial applications)
Investor: Extension £8,000 to £12,000
Investor: Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) £10,000 to £18,000
Innovator Founder
Innovator Founder: Entry Clearance/ in country switch: £3,500 to £5,000
Innovator Founder: Extension: £3,500 to £6,000
Innovator Founder: Indefinite Leave to Remain. £6,000 to £8,000
Global Talent
Initial advice: £400 to £650
Entry Clearance: £2,500 to £3,500
Extension: £2,500 to £3,500
Indefinite Leave to Remain: £3,000 to £4,500
Sole Representative. (closed category)
Sole Representative: Extension £3,500 to £5,000
Sole Representative: Indefinite Leave to Remain £3,500 to £5,000
Skilled Workers
Skilled Worker entry clearance: £2,000 to £3,500
Skilled Worker extension: £2,000 to £2,500
Skilled Worker ILR: £3,000 to £4,000
Minister of Religion
Minister of Religion- Entry Clearance: £2,300 to £3,000
Minister of Religion -Extension: £2,300 to £3,500
Minister of Religion -ILR: £2,300 to £3,500
Students (over 16 years old)
Student- Entry Clearance:
£2,200 to £3,500
Student- In country switch £2,000 to £3,500
Student – Extension: £2,000 to £3,000
UK Ancestry
Application for UK Ancestry. £2,500 to £3,500
Applications under the EU Settlement Scheme (late applications)
Application for Pre-Settled Status £1,800 to £3,500
Application for Settled Status £1,800 to £3,500
Elderly dependents £3,500 to £5,000
Visitors
Visitor Visa: £2,000 to £3,500
Application to join a spouse in the UK
Entry Clearance application. £2,800 to £3,500
Extension/ Further Leave to Remain. £2,500 to £3,500
Indefinite Leave to Remain. £2,800 to £3,500
Applications for British Nationality
British Citizenship
£2,000 to £4,500
Long Residence
Application for Long Residence. £3,500 to £5,500
Tribunal Hearings: Initial filings, preparing and attending £7,000 to £15,000 for a hearing lasting one day. This does not include counsel’s fees which generally range from £3,000 to £6,000 for a one-day hearing.
Example factors that could make a case more complex (and expensive) include the following:
• Where you have a previous history of non-compliance with immigration laws in the UK or any other country
• Where you have a criminal conviction or any issues relating to your past conduct that the Home Office may take to suggest you are not of good character
• where the Home Office asks you to attend an interview, and
• The seniority of the lawyers working on your case
Immigration Appeal Hearings
Immigration appeal hearings are subject to our standard hourly billing rates. The fees for these hearings are variable and contingent on several factors, including the intricacy of the case, the number of witnesses involved, the necessity for expert testimony, and the requirement for interpreter services. In most instances, a dedicated barrister with specialized expertise will represent you during the appeal hearing.
Consequently, we incorporate barrister's fees into our cost estimation. These fees may vary according to the seniority of the barrister. For a one-day hearing, Counsel Brief rates typically range from £4,000 to £8,000, which encompasses preparation for the case.