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Frequently asked questions

Why choose ICS Legal?

We specialise in Immigration Law, Human Rights Law, British Nationality Law & European Law. Our lawyers provide honest, exceptional service to our clients. We believe that our service starts when we submit your application and we want our client to know we will keep them informed, answer there questions and your case worker will be just a phone call away.

What is the benefit of using our legal services when you want to come to the UK or extend or switch?

Our speciality lies in the field of Immigration, Nationality and EU Law, so it means we always are dealing with this side of the law. We are able to support you in making a correct decision, avoid delays on your case, save money and time, not forgetting the stress of any doubts with your application.

There are many routes available to come to the UK, extend or switch, some of them do not allow extension or even switching. Knowing what is right can be a difficult task and this is why we are here. Simple task of not using the prescribed forms can mean your application is invalid, which means if you have no valid stay, you would have to return back and there is no appeal rights.

Our initial consultations are a chargeable service. We initially discuss the requirements of the application to ensure you meet the requirements and have the documentation required at hand for the submission. It gives you an opportunity to meet us and ask questions.

Each case will be checked thoroughly, everything will be cross referenced so guidelines are met and we will also add our legal document which would outline the Immigration Rules and how the client has satisfied the rules. We use documents that are used by Home Office case workers, so we know exactly what they would look for in your case.

The most important fact is that law constantly changes, policy guidelines and requirements are always changing, so it is best that you always use specialised services to support you. We never compromise our services, our fees remain very competitive but our expertise is at the very highest standard.

How can I trust your service?

We are regulated by the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC). OISC is the government regulated body and it is a criminal offence if someone is providing Immigration advice without being regulated by the OISC. We are also members of Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI). JCWI is an independent national voluntary organisation, campaigning for justice and combating racism in immigration and asylum law and policy.

What happens in the initial consultation?

Your case worker would take some background information regarding yourself. Relevant questions would be asked to ascertain whether your case can be handled by our team. You will also be able to ask questions, understand what is required to meet the Immigration Rules, Nationality Law and EU Law where relevant. Should we be able to provide assistance, your case worker will give you a customer care letter whereby it would outline the service agreement and the cost associated.

What happens after the consultation?

After each consultation we aim to provide a consultation report which would outline what was discussed, the action plan and what to do next.

When I meet the caseworker and I disclose personal information, would this be disclosed to anyone else?

We have a procedure in place for ensuring client confidentiality. We keep the affairs of our clients and all information relating to our clients confidential, except where we are compelled to disclose information by reason of a legal or regulatory obligation.

What is a customer care letter?

A customer care letter from us will ensure that we outline the service we would be providing, it would also provide a break down of the costs associated so you can rest assure that there are no hidden charges and that fees do not go up unless changes are made (i.e. Home Office fees etc).

Once I sign the customer care letter and my case would possibly fail, do I still have to pay your fees?

We place our clients first, so when you sign the customer care letter and we go through your case file, and we believe that the case would not be successful, we will terminate the agreement and return your documents. We will also provide alternative solutions with no added costs. We also have a cancellation period should you feel you want to withdraw your file.

 

Please note that all cases cannot be guaranteed as circumstances depends and whether you met guidelines, however the Home Office caseworker can still refuse cases on the balance of probabilities and other factors. Our job would be to prepare your case in the best possible way.

Do you provide one day Premium Services?

Yes, we have a special provision with the Home Office and majority case decisions are made on the same day.

Do you do “No Win No Fee”?

As a private legal firm, we want to ensure we can provide the service you want. Our fees are very competitive and that is why we do not provide a No Win No Fee service as we do not feel the need to over charge our clients with such schemes.

How is the fees paid and are there any surprises?

With us, you will know exactly what we would be charging. The fees are to be paid through cheque, cash or bank transfer. Home Office fees can be paid to us and we can make the payment on behalf of you. If there is any changes in Home Office fees, we will let you know immediately.

How often would I get updated once my case have been submitted?

Our commitment to our clients is that we will update you every time we get an update from the Home Office. The waiting period can be a very daunting time as decisions can be life changing however the Home Office do set some guidelines on waiting times, but we intend to keep you updated throughout the process.

Can you guarantee an application?

No, and this is the same even if you use a no win no fee service, it would be impossible for anyone to guarantee a successful application. The likelihood of an application being successful can be given based on previous cases or success rates, however we do not operate such a policy of selling our services based on previous applications.

What is your aftercare service?

We aim to ensure that this service is not used by any of our clients, but there are times where even with the best possible applications are unsuccessful. As we take our clients cases personally, we would like to provide a helping hand. We have designed an aftercare service whereby if your case fails, then your case worker would be able to help you look at other formalities of staying in the UK should you have valid leave still remaining or help you make an out country application. Please note should you require appealing on your matter, we can only deal with the initial appeal and your application will be straight away referred to an advisor who deals with representations.

Can I give you feedback on your service?

It is vital that all our clients can provide honest feedback, we would encourage this and this helps us to become better on our service delivery.

Can you help me find a UK Employer to sponsor a work permit or find me work?

No, we are a law firm which provides support in UK Immigration, Nationality and EU Free Movement Rights. However we have a subsidiary company which is jobslibrary.co.uk whereby you can look for work, apply and discuss with potential employers. We cannot influence any decisions and finding work is not something our team deals with.

How we deliver service

1) You contact us through e-mail or phone.

2) We take some basic information, we ask some relevant questions to understand the type of query and what type of support is required.

3) Your case then gets passed to a case worker.

4) Case Worker would contact you to set up an initial meeting.

5) You attend a consultation, an action plan is drawn up and we find out whether ICS Legal can support your case. A report would be sent where there is a requirement to outline what was discussed and what to do next.

6) You authorise us to be your legal representative by signing our customer care letter.

7) We will then start to request documents and information about your case this will build up your case pack.

8) We will then write our legal report and use Home Office caseworker’s documents to ensure everything has been checked and all requirement have been met.

9) Where possible we will go through every aspect of your case before case submission.

10) We will continue to update you throughout the case life cycle .

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Apply for UK Ancestry Visa | Costs, Application & Requirements


To apply for a UK Ancestry Visa, you must meet the requirements of the immigration rules on UK Ancestry Visa. You will need to understand how you can apply for the visa and what process you must follow.

In short, the UK Ancestry Visa allows you to live and work in the UK. It does not come with any working restrictions, paving way for you to be employed, self-employed or even open your company in the UK.

Requirements of the UK Ancestry Visa

When you apply for a UK Ancestry Visa, you need to meet the following requirements:

  1. You must be 17 years of age or over. 

  2. You must show that you have a grandparent born in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.

  3. Have funds to support yourself and dependants in the UK.

  4. Can and plan to be working in the UK.

  5. You cannot claim UK ancestry through step-parents.

It was a specific visa category opened in line with the British Nationality Act 1981, allowing those with ancestral connections to the UK, to apply for a working visa. You must be a commonwealth citizen and the full list can be found on the UK Home Office website. 

As you may have read on the previous page, you can bring your partner and dependants to the UK. They will have to meet their requirements of the immigration policy and will need to apply either with you or can join you in the UK, once you have secured your UK Ancestry Visa. Please remember that you must also satisfy the requirements of meeting the adequate financial threshold and also have adequate accommodation in the UK. 

We know that immigration will also be part of the UK’s economy, so immigration requirements change over time, the UK Ancestry does not usually go through any significant changes. The only changes were related to absences, however there is greater discretion applied depending on the reasons why you have spent considerable time outside of the UK. 

The visa process of applying for UK Ancestry Visa

Once you have prepared all your documents, and ready to apply, you must lodge your application online at the Home Office website. The application form is dictated by your answers, so you need to read the application correctly, and lodge the application once you are happy with all the answers.

The next screen on your visa application when applying under the UK Ancestry category will allow you to pay the visa fees. Once completed, you would be able to book your visa appointment and complete the submission in person. 

We hear a number of feedbacks from our clients when they visit the visa centres, that they are sometimes given advice. Please remember they are not actual case workers nor can they help on the visa process. 

Visa costs to apply for a UK Ancestry Visa
The costs to apply for the UK Ancestry Visa changes on a yearly basis. The costs depends whether you are also including dependants to the visa application. The most updated information is available here on visa costs related to a UK Ancestry visa is clicking here.
 
Processing time for the UK Ancestry Visa
Once your visa application is lodged, you will expect to hear back from the Home Office around 8 weeks. You can also choose the priority visa service if you would like to get a decision quicker but you must do so, prior you submit your UK Ancestry visa application.

UK Ancestry Visa refusal

We know that sometimes a decision may be wrong or that you have failed to complete the application correctly or the evidences were missing at the date of application.

Getting a UK Ancestry visa refusal is not pleasant news you want to receive. As with all immigration applications, you can seek to challenge the decision.

Here is a list of common grounds of refusal that you should be aware of when applying for the UK Ancestry Visa:

  1. If you are not a commonwealth citizen, then your application will be refused automatically. This is regardless of meeting the requirements or you have held previous citizenship.

  2. Your grandparents were not born in the UK or that you cannot provide the evidential ties. As with all immigration based application, evidences are crucial with your legal submission.

  3. You are not able to work in the UK. As we discussed this earlier, simply not working now is not a ground of refusal but if you fail to show the intention of working in the UK, this would result in the refusal.

  4. Not being able to meet the adequacy test for either maintenance or accommodation requirements. Simply stating that you would live with family or friends without any evidences are not sufficient. The Home Office will not make contact to check on this. 

  5. However not all challenges are appropriate because if you have failed to provide the evidences or missed critical information to the application, then submitting an administrative review would not be advised. 

Sending UK Ancestry visa refusal letter & appeals
At first, please email us a copy of the decision letter, we will advise on the merits of the refusal and whether it would be advisable to challenge or simply reapply for the UK Ancestry Visa.
 
As we say, going back to the root cause of the problem is better and correcting this, could potential delay in coming to the UK. Where your UK Ancestry visa is refused and you need some legal advice on what to do next, call us on 0207 237 3388 or you can email us at info@icslegal.com with a copy of your decision letter. 
Travelling to the UK on the UK Ancestry Visa

Once your visa is granted, you will be expected to travel to the UK as soon as possible and in most cases within 30 days. This is because, your visa is valid for 5 years and you would be expected to complete those periods in order to extend your leave to remain in the UK. 

Where you have arrived in the UK, you would not be expected to register with the Home Office. Your visa will be activated at port, and the details of your arrival will be inputted into the Home Office Atlas system. 

As your visa prevents you from seeking local authority help for housing or seeking public funds from the DWP, you can live with family until you are able to secure employment.

You must be self-sufficient throughout your periods of residency in the UK. At the time of your visa being granted, you would have provided sufficient evidences to show there would be adequate accommodation and financial support available when you come to live in the UK under your UK Ancestry Visa. 

Taking legal advice on your UK Ancestry Visa

A visa application needs to be carefully planned and lodged, so if you meet the requirements of your UK Ancestry Visa, we can help and prepare the application. At ICS Legal, we care about how an application is prepared and lodged. 

We make sure that you meet each and every requirements of the UK Ancestry visa is met prior submission and provide clear guidance’s. You can speak to one of our UK Immigration Lawyers on 0207 237 3388 or you can email us at info@icslegal.com

Coming soon our digital apps to help manage your legal matter with us.