Cost of applying to extend permission/status from inside the UK
The hourly rate will be £375 unless by agreement it is £385 if, for example, work will be done at weekends or in the evenings or if an application is particularly complex or urgent.
The exact number of hours will depend on the circumstances including the complexity of the application, the number of documents to read over, whether there have been previous refusals of applications, and the personal circumstances of the applicant or their sponsor (often their partner or their parent.)
The cost is likely to be between £1500 and £2250 unless a fixed fee is offered.
A fixed fee of £1500 will be offered when it is considered appropriate. This will include the services set out below. It will be offered when it seems that there will be no unusual complications or delays of over 6 months from the time of us being asked to assist. If it becomes clear that the work cannot be finished within a fixed fee we will let you know as soon as it becomes clear and will let you know in advance that we plan to charge for additional work at the usual hourly rate.
Sometimes a lower fixed fee will be offered if it is considered that there are compassionate reasons to do so. This will be entirely at our discretion.
VAT will be charged at the rate of 20%.
WHAT WILL BE INCLUDED WHEN ASSISTING WITH AN EXTENSION APPLICATION/VARIATION APPLICATION FROM INSIDE THE UK?
Initial communication about your situation, what you hope to apply for and what we think is likely to be the outcome of an application. This may be by telephone or zoom, but would usually be at a meeting.
Follow-up advice in writing on the information and documents you will need to make an application.
Completion and submission of your application – generally online and booking a biometric appointment.
Preparation of a letter of support to include with your other hard copy documents.
Advice on the outcome of the application and the things to think about in the future.
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED?
Uploading support documents
Help with an appeal if an application is refused (and there is the right to appeal).
Tax Advice.
WHAT ADDITIONAL COSTS WILL YOU NEED TO PAY?
You will need to pay the application fee which is likely to be £1404.
You may need to pay an immigration health surcharge, generally £1035 per year. The actual amount you will need to pay depends on how many years you are applying for but is likely to be £2587.50 for a 2.5-year stay.
You may need to pay the cost of attending a biometric appointment and you may decide to pay for additional services such as a priority service to have your application dealt with more quickly than usual.
You may also need to pay for the costs of taking an English language test.
You will be advised in advance of any disbursements (payments which we make on your behalf) that are likely to be needed. These could include the costs of getting documents translated or of a survey to check that the accommodation you are planning to live in is big enough.
HOW LONG WILL WE TAKE TO HELP WITH YOUR APPLICATION?
We can normally complete the above-listed services within a month of being asked to help but it of course depends on how quickly you give us documents to check, how quickly you respond to our feedback etc.
An application will usually take between 2 and 6 months to be decided but there may be ways of speeding this up if you are prepared to pay more and we can explain this to you.