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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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UK Visit Visa Types - UK Tourist Visa, Family Visitor Visa

On the 24th of April 2015, the UK Government decided to simplify and remove a number of visit visa categories. It was important that changes were made, to reflect the ever-changing environment. The introduction of Appendix V of the Immigration Rules HC395 was an important change.

The sub-categories of visit visa intention remained the same, however, the changes were to reflect the new approach made by the UK Home Office. We hope you will find this page useful and as always, you can read more about how ICS Legal can help.

UK Tourist Visitor Visa
Those wishing to visit the UK without having any family or friends connections in the UK are permitted to apply as a tourist. With a UK Tourist Visa, you would be able to travel to the UK for leisure, and sightseeing to name the reasons for the travel. The UK is extremely diverse in its landscape and people and has a wealth of culture, history and scenic beauty that can be discovered and explored.

You must be able to show clearly your intention, that you have the financial means, and adequate accommodation available when you enter the UK and that you have clear intentions to depart from the UK. The visa issued is valid for up to 6 months, and depending on your immigration history, you can apply for a longer-term visit visa.

Family Visitor Visa
Individuals can travel to the UK for the specific purpose of visiting friends and family who live in the UK. UK family members can sponsor the Applicant by providing an invitation letter to confirm the relationship, the purpose of the visit, and also the support they will be providing in terms of financial assistance and/or accommodation.

Applicants in this category must prove to the UK Immigration Authorities that they can financially maintain and accommodate themselves in the UK with or without assistance from a family member(s) living in the UK but without resources to public funding or employment.

As a family visitor, you must only visit the UK for a maximum of six (6) months, demonstrate that they will be able to financially support themselves (if necessary with the support of friends and family) and meet the cost of their onward journey. They must not take up any paid or unpaid employment in the UK.

Child Visitor Visa
Children under the age of 18 years can travel to the UK to visit friends and family who live in the UK. Your child can either travel on their own or in the company of a designated guardian. Applicants in this category must prove to the UK Immigration Authorities that suitable arrangements have been made for their reception and care whilst in the UK and that they have a parent or guardian in their home country who is otherwise responsible for their care.

To qualify under the Standard Visitor Visa, for child visitor purposes there are basic requirements that must be met. Child Visitor visa applicants may only visit the UK for a maximum of six (6) months and must be aged under 18 years. Applicants will be required to show that they will be accommodated and able to financially support themselves (with the support of friends and family) during their stay in the UK and meet the cost of their onward journey. They must also not take up any paid or unpaid employment in the UK.

Child Visitor visa holders travelling in the company of a responsible adult will be required to provide details of the individual at the time of lodging their application. If granted, their details will be endorsed on the child's visa. Child Visitor visa holders found to be travelling without that responsible adult may have their visa cancelled.

Medical Visitor Visa
The United Kingdom has some of the highest quality health care in the world. UK Hospitals, Doctors and Medical research facilities have a global reputation for quality and state-of-the-art technology.

The UK Government is aware that the medical provisions in the UK may be more advanced or suitable for individuals from other countries. Therefore provisions are made for people to travel to the UK for the sole purpose of receiving medical treatment and care.

To qualify for a Standard Visitor visa for private medical treatment, Applicants must satisfy the general requirements for the Standard Visit Visa criteria and in addition, show that their proposed treatment is for a set period of time. They must also provide evidence of their medical condition requiring treatment, the estimated costs of the treatment and that they can meet those costs.

Sports Visitor Visa
The Sports Visitors Visas purpose is geared towards sportspeople, support staff and officials who want to come to the UK to participate in a sporting event, competition or related activity. Sportspeople, support staff or officials who do not meet the sports visitor visa requirements or who may be considered employed (paid or unpaid) for their visit may be eligible for a Tier 2 (Sportsperson) visa or Tier 5 (Temporary Worker) visa.

Sporting activities include:

Participating in a charity, exhibition or competitive sports event, tournament or series of events.
Joining an amateur sports team.
Making a personal or promotional appearance.
Negotiating a contract or sponsorship deal.
Participating in a trial or short period of training, either as part of a team or as an individual.

Sportspeople, their officials and support staff coming to the UK as a visitor cannot be paid or sell goods or services to members of the public. They must intend to visit the UK for no more than 6 months and show that they have enough money for their stay in the UK and their return or onward journey. Visitor visa applicants may also be required to meet certain health and character requirements.

This visitor visa entitles the holder to participate in the sporting event, competition or related event in the UK. A Sports visitor visa is usually granted for a maximum of 6 months and holders are expected to leave the UK at the end of their permission to stay. A visitor visa does not entitle the holder to work, conduct business or study in the UK. This means a sports visitor to the UK cannot receive payment for their appearance in the UK or sell goods, such as merchandise, to the public.

Entertainer Visitor Visa
Applicants can now use this new category of visa to undertake specific paid work without having to be sponsored for up to 1 month if they satisfy the visa requirements. This visa is often used by entertainers, assessors, lecturers, performers, media personnel, the fashion industry and other similar personnel who wish to take part in certain major arts festivals, music competitions, charity events or other events in the UK.

To qualify for an Entertainer Visitor visa, applicants must meet the following requirements:

be at least 18 years of age.
intend to visit the UK for less than one (1) month.
have the intention to leave the UK at the end of their visit.
have enough money to support and accommodate themselves without recourse to public funds.
can meet the cost of the return or onward journey.

This visa entitles holders to come to the UK for less than one (1) month to participate in the events according to the permitted activities.

Visit: Approved Destination Status (ADS)
This visa option is not open to all nationals. The ADS agreement is an agreement between the UK and China allowing Chinese nationals to enter the UK with an approved tour group & are allowed to be in the UK for a maximum period of 30 days.

There are certain requirements that need to be met, and the tour operator must be licensed. The minimum group is 5 people and you must remain with the group for the entire trip. This may also include re-entering the UK depending on how the trip has been organised by your tour operator.

Permitted Paid Engagements (PPE)
The intention of this category as a visitor is to allow a visitor to undertake paid engagements and is only granted for 1 month. This route does not allow a visitor to make repeat PPE engagements, rather this option is to give a person the flexibility to travel in and out of the UK.

Short-Term Study
This route had changes being implemented and only allows someone to study for a period of 30 days in the UK, however, this cannot be their main intention of applying under this route. Any bona fide institution in the UK, that is not a state-funded school or academy, can offer recreational courses, for example, horse riding or dancing course. Courses that lead to formal qualifications are not normally considered recreational.

Non-recreational short courses, including English language courses or study that is part of a course of study overseas, are only allowed in line with the Immigration Rules as a visitor.