Table Of Contents:
- Preparing and Submitting Application
- Preparing Documents
- When there are high chances of refusal of your application
- Legal Representation in Complex Immigration Cases
- If you are applying for a complex visa category
Representing You at a Tribunal- Addressing the Issues for an Administrative Review
- Making a Fresh Application after Refusal
- Sponsor License and Hiring Foreign Workers
- Indefinite Leave to Remain and British Citizenship Applications
- Final Thoughts
UK immigration rules are complex. Hence, you can seek the services of a legal expert. UK immigration experts help you navigate through UK immigration applications. Hiring a legal expert may cost you significantly, but still, it is worthwhile to seek advice, especially if you are unsure of how to go about a UK immigration application. When you decide to apply for entry clearance, permission to stay, indefinite leave to remain, or British citizenship, you don’t want your application to be refused due to mistakes or complexities of the process. In such scenarios, a
legal expert can make your job easier and even apply completely on your behalf. A legal expert also helps you choose the right course of action when your visa application is refused.
In this article, we will discuss when you should hire a legal expert to get UK immigration advice.
1. Preparing and Submitting Application
Immigration legal experts help you prepare and submit visa applications. They tell you which visa category would be the most appropriate for your situation, in line with UK immigration regulations. A UK immigration lawyer serves as a liaison between you and the Home Office. This means they will help you answer any questions raised by the Home Office during the application process. This helps in maximizing the possibilities of a successful visa application outcome in your favor.
UK immigration experts assess your eligibility for different UK visa types and recommend the best option. They provide you with a personalized document checklist based on your situation. They help you select the correct application form, complete application forms, and draft supporting statements. At the end, they review self-prepared applications to identify errors before submission.
2. Preparing Documents
Even if you understand English well, it is still difficult to understand legal terms. A UK immigration expert can answer all the questions you have regarding what the documents are that are required and in which format you need to submit them. If you are unsure of what information and evidence to submit, you should ask a legal expert. They will advise you appropriately so that no necessary and desired documents go missing with your visa application.
For example, if you are applying for a UK spouse visa, meeting relationship and financial requirements are the key ones. A UK immigration expert will tell you how you can meet them and documents you can submit to prove that you meet the requirements.
3. When there are high chances of refusal of your application
There can be numerous situations where you fear the refusal of your visa application. For example, if you have breached the UK’s immigration law in the past, it may impact your current visa application. Here, UK immigration experts can help identify potential issues with your UK visa application and help you address them with correct information and evidence before you
submit it. An immigration expert evaluates your application thoroughly and helps your application be more likely to receive approval.
4. Legal Representation in Complex Immigration Cases
Specialist UK immigration experts provide legal representation in complex immigration cases. For example, cases involving deportation, asylum claims, or criminal convictions often require detailed legal arguments and court appearances. Hence, seeking experts’ help becomes crucial.
5. If you are applying for a complex visa category
Different visas have different requirements. Some visas, such as UK adult dependent relative visas or UK parent visas are quite complex in terms of meeting their eligibility requirements. Hence, it can be helpful to have an immigration expert who is familiar with the specific requirements and how to meet them and thus can guide you through the entire immigration application process.
6. Representing You at a Tribunal
If your visa application has been refused, you may have been given the right to appeal. Appealing a refusal decision is a challenging and costly job. A UK immigration expert will advise you, after assessing your situation, if at all you should appeal a decision made by the Home Office. Only when there are strong reasons available to believe that the Home Office has wrongfully applied the UK immigration law will an immigration expert tell you to appeal.
The legal expert can represent your case to the first-tier tribunal and attend hearings on your behalf. He can present evidence there and make the arguments to help turn the tribunal’s decision in your favor.
7. Addressing the Issues for an Administrative Review
Similar to appeal, the administrative review is also an option in case your visa application is refused. If you believe that the UKVI’s caseworker has made an error while deciding to refuse your visa application, you can apply for an administrative review. However, you must be provided the right to administrative review.
In such a scenario, instead of addressing the issues yourself, it is better to seek expert legal advice from someone who can not only address the reasons for refusals but also provide new documentary evidence if required.
A legal expert will also tell you what your best option is in the first place after your visa application has been refused.
8. Making a Fresh Application after Refusal
If your visa application has been refused, a UK immigration expert can tell you the best option you have. In some cases, they will advise you to make a fresh application instead of appealing or going for an administrative review.
They will help you reapply, addressing all the reasons for your initial UK visa application refusal. They will make your application stronger this time, increasing the chances of a successful application on the second attempt.
9. Sponsor License and Hiring Foreign Workers
UK immigration experts also help businesses navigate the complexities of hiring foreign workers. They help businesses obtain and maintain a sponsor license to employ non-UK workers. They assist UK employers with issuing the correct certificate of sponsorship for skilled worker visa applicants. They guide businesses through visa applications for their employees. They also ensure businesses prevent illegal workers and comply with Home Office regulations to avoid penalties or sponsor license revocation.
10. Indefinite Leave to Remain and British Citizenship Applications
Applying for settlement, i.e., indefinite leave to remain, and British citizenship is an important life decision. However, once you are sure that you want to apply for ILR, you should get help from a UK immigration expert because an ILR application requires a deep understanding of the requirements for it. ILR status can be applied for after living continuously in the UK for 2, 3, 5, or 10 years, depending on which visa you hold and other circumstances. Depending on your visa, you may have to meet specific requirements for ILR. Only a legal expert can guide you through this complex process in detail.
British citizenship is the final status a foreign national living in the UK can acquire. But it goes through strict scrutiny before awarding you British citizenship. You may be asked for information and evidence multiple times. In this scenario, a UK immigration expert can handle the queries and demands raised by the Home Office appropriately, making chances of your acquiring British citizenship brighter.
Final Thoughts
At each stage of UK immigration, you may require help. From planning to posting Home Office decision actions, you may require an expert’s advice. Hence, you should take advice from a UK immigration expert. It will surely cost you, but you can rest assured that it will also maximize the chances of a successful visa application. Not only that, but you will also save yourself from going through the complex process of doing everything on your own without thorough knowledge.
However, you should only hire a registered immigration adviser, or else you may lose your money and time.
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