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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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Categories of Migrant -Immigration by Category: Workers, Students, Family Members, Asylum Applicants

The introduction of the Points Based System by the UK Home Office have simplified and created categories for businesses, organisations and educational providers. In this section, there will be a brief summary of each category:

Tier 2 - Skilled Worker

The Skilled Worker Category (Tier 2 General) is for people coming to the United Kingdom with a skilled job offer to fill a gap in the workforce that cannot be filled by a settled worker unless working through the exemption requirements.

The job must be at S/NVQ level 6 or above (unless they are part of the transitional arrangements), and the migrant must earn the appropriate salary or another package of remuneration appropriate for the job in the United Kingdom.

Tier 2 - Intra-Company Transfer

The Intra-Company Transfer Category is for migrants who have been working for multinational companies and are being transferred by their overseas employer to a skilled post in a related United Kingdom entity. The migrant must have been working for the overseas employer for at least six months directly before the transfer.

If you want to register to employ intra-company transferees, all of the branches (or entities) given in your application must be linked by common ownership or control and you will have to provide evidence to prove this. Because of the specific nature of these transfers, you do not have to meet the resident labour market test.

Tier 2 - Sports Person

The Tier 2 - Sports Person Category is for elite sports people and coaches:

  • who are internationally established at the highest level; and 

  • whose employment will make a significant contribution to the development of their sport at the highest level in the United Kingdom; and

  • who intend to base themselves in the United Kingdom.

Migrants under this category must be sponsored by a club (or equivalent) that is licensed by The Home Office to issue certificates of sponsorship under this category.

Tier 2 - Ministers of Religion

The minister of religion category is for people coming to the United Kingdom to work in a job as religious workers within a genuine (bona fide) religious organisation for up to three years.

Categories of Temporary Workers

This section explains the different categories of temporary worker that you can apply to sponsor under Tier 5.

Tier 5 - Creative and Sporting 

This category is for migrants who want to come to the United Kingdom to work as sports people for up to 12 months, or to perform as entertainers or creative artists for up to 24 months.

It does not cover people who currently enter the United Kingdom under the permit-free concessions for entertainers (including permit-free festivals) and sports people. These concessions have been brought within the immigration rules (outside the points-based system) under the revised visitor categories.

Tier 5 - Charity Worker

Migrants coming to work temporarily in the United Kingdom as charity workers should do only voluntary activate and not paid work. They should intend to carry out work directly related to the purpose of your organisation. Migrants entering the United Kingdom under the charity workers category will be given a maximum of 12 months' permission to stay.

Tier 5 - Religious Worker

The religious worker category is for people coming to the United Kingdom to work temporarily. Religious workers can:

  • do the preaching, pastoral work and non-pastoral work;

  • work in the United Kingdom in the same way that they are working in an overseas organisation (although their duties in the United Kingdom may be different) - the job should be done in their holiday from their job overseas; or

  • work in a religious order with a community which involves a permanent commitment, such as a monastery or convent. The work in a religious order must be in the order itself or be outside work directed by the order. A migrant can apply if he or she is a novice whose training means taking part in the daily community life of the order.

Tier 5 - Government Authorised Exchange

The government authorised exchange category is for people coming to the United Kingdom through approved schemes that aim to share knowledge, experience and best practice. This category must not be used to fill job vacancies or to bring unskilled labour to the United Kingdom. Migrants entering the United Kingdom under the government authorised exchange category will be given a maximum of 24 months' permission to stay.

Tier 5 - International Agreement

This category is for migrants who are coming to the United Kingdom under contract to provide a service that is covered under international law, including:

  • the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS);

  • similar agreements between the United Kingdom and another country;

  • employees of overseas governments and international organisations; and

  • private servants in diplomatic households.

Migrants in the GATS and similar agreements between the United Kingdom and another country can come for up to a maximum of 24 months. Employees of overseas governments and international organisations can come for an initial maximum of 24 months. They then have the option to apply from inside the United Kingdom for an extension for periods of 12 months at a time, up to a total maximum of 72 months.

Tier 5 - Youth Mobility Scheme

Sponsors under the youth mobility scheme are the national governments of the participating countries. The youth mobility scheme is for young people from participating countries who would like to experience life in the United Kingdom. Sponsored young people from participating countries will be allowed to come to the United Kingdom for up to two years, while young United Kingdom nationals enjoy similar opportunities in participating countries. 

These young people will be free to do whatever work they like during their stay in the United Kingdom, except for setting up their own business, playing the professional sport or working as a doctor in training.

Categories of Student

This section covers the different categories of student that you can apply to sponsor under the Tier 4 of the points-based system.

Tier 4 (General) Student

This category (also referred to as 'adult students') is for people who want to come to the United Kingdom for their post -16 education. Students aged 16 or 17 are advised to apply as general students if they want to take a course at or above National Qualification Framework level 3 (or equivalent) lasting more than two years. Students aged 16 or 17 must apply as general students if they want to study for an English language qualification at Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) Level A2 or above.

Tier 4 - Child

This category is for children between 4 and 17 years old. Children between 4 and 15 years old will only qualify as child students if they are coming to the United Kingdom to be educated at independent fee-paying schools. Students aged 16 or 17 must apply as child students if they want to take a course below National Qualification Framework level 3.

Categories outside the points-based system

The 'prospective student' and 'student visitor' routes remain outside the points-based system.

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