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Immigration applications are life-changing. Whether you’re seeking to reunite with family, build a career in the UK, settle permanently, or become a British citizen, choosing the right legal representation can make the difference between success and a devastating refusal.
We recognise this can be a challenge as there will be many factors you need to consider including cost, expertise, service and a strong track record of achieving the results you are aiming for.

Keep Your Freedom

If you’re facing deportation or removal proceedings, our solicitors will provide a strong defence to help you maintain your freedom and stay in the UK.

Business Setup

If you’re an entrepreneur or investor, we can guide you through the process of setting up a business in the UK, ensuring you meet all visa and legal requirements.

UK Citizenship

Our solicitors will help you understand the criteria and guide you through the process of becoming a UK citizen, ensuring you meet all the necessary requirements.

Family Reunification

Our team will support you in reuniting with your family members in the UK, helping you navigate the complex family immigration process.

Visas for Work and Stay

We will assist you in obtaining the necessary visas to legally live and work in the UK, ensuring compliance with all immigration requirements.

How can we help?

Are you looking to immigrate to the United Kingdom?
Whether it’s for family reunification, studying, starting a business, seeking asylum, or facing deportation, navigating the complex and ever-changing UK immigration laws can be overwhelming. That’s why you need a trusted expert by your side.

Smiling diverse family of six with kids on shoulders amid wildflowers and lagoon, illustrating family law and child welfare services.

At Scarsdale Solicitors, we specialise in UK immigration law and are here to guide you through the process, ensuring your rights are protected and your goals are achieved. Here’s how our experienced immigration solicitors can assist you.

Types of Immigration Cases We Handle

We provide a comprehensive advice and representation across a wide range of immigration matters.

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Appeals and Human Rights Claims

From appeals to complex human rights claims, we offer skilled advocacy and dedicated support to safeguard your future.

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Asylum and Refugee Claims

Our team understands the sensitivity of asylum and refugee cases. We work with empathy and dedication to protect your rights and help secure a safe future.

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British Citizenship and Naturalisation

From eligibility checks to application submission, we provide step-by-step support to help you secure British citizenship with confidence.

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Business Immigration

Whether you’re expanding your workforce or relocating talent, we guide you through the complexities of business immigration with efficiency and clarity.

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Further Leave to Remain (FLR)

Our team guides you through the FLR process with care, helping you extend your stay in the UK smoothly and confidently.

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European Free Movement Application

From initial applications to appeals, we offer skilled support in all European free movement matters, safeguarding your future in the UK.

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Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)

With proven experience in ILR cases, we offer tailored advice and reliable representation to help you achieve permanent status in the UK.

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Sponsor Licences

We assist businesses in obtaining and maintaining sponsor licences, ensuring full compliance with Home Office requirements.

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Spouse and Family Immigration

We provide expert guidance on spouse and family visa applications, ensuring your loved ones can join or remain with you in the UK.

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Tier 1 to 5 Visa Applications

We advise on all Tier 1 to 5 visa applications, ensuring your case is prepared thoroughly and submitted in line with UK immigration rules.

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UK Ancestry

Our solicitors guide you through the ancestry visa process with care, making it easier to establish your future in the UK based on family heritage.

The Immigration Application Process

We assess your eligibility and provide honest advice about your options

1

Initial Consultation & Assessment

Free Consultation: We assess your eligibility and provide honest advice about your options.

KEY DECISIONS AT THIS STAGE:

  • Assess eligibility for visa routes
  • Review previous refusals and identify issues
  • Explain current immigration rules
  • Provide realistic assessment of chances
  • Fixed-fee quote with no hidden costs
2

Document Preparation & Checking

Comprehensive preparation of application with all required evidence:

  • Document Checklist: Detailed list of all required documents
  • Document Review: Check all documents for compliance
  • Certified Translations: Arrange translations where needed
  • Financial Evidence: Ensure financial evidence meets specific requirements
  • Supporting Letters: Character references, employer letters, relationship evidence
  • Covering Letter: Comprehensive legal submission

Important: Missing documents result in automatic refusal. Incorrect document formats cause delays or refusals. We ensure every document meets Home Office requirements.

3

Application Submission

Professional Submission: Complete application form and submit to Home Office with supporting evidence.

SETTLEMENT CONSIDERATIONS:

  • Complete all application forms accurately
  • Prepare comprehensive covering letter
  • Submit application with all supporting documents
  • Arrange biometrics appointments
  • Payment of Home Office fees and IHS
  • Application tracking and updates
  • Priority service arrangements if required
4

Home Office Decision & Appeals

Await Home Office decision - appeal if refused with valid grounds:

  • If Approved: Visa/status granted - celebrate!
  • If Refused: Review refusal decision for errors
  • Appeal Rights: Lodge appeal within strict deadlines (14-28 days)
  • Administrative Review: Challenge caseworker errors (14 days)
  • Judicial Review: Challenge unlawful decisions (3 months)
  • Fresh Application: Reapply with strengthened evidence
  • Tribunal Representation: Expert representation at hearings
What If My Application Was Refused?

A refusal doesn’t mean your case is hopeless. Many Home Office refusals contain errors in law or fact that can be successfully challenged on appeal or administrative review. Our appeals team has a 96% success rate overturning refusals at tribunal.

Your Options After Refusal

Appeal to First-tier Tribunal: If you have a right of appeal (usually refusals made outside the UK), you can appeal within 28 days. Appeals take 6-12 months but success rates are high for meritorious cases.
Administrative Review: If refused inside the UK, you may request an administrative review within 14 days if there was a caseworker error.
Judicial Review: Challenge unlawful Home Office decisions in the High Court within 3 months (strict time limits apply).

Fresh Application: Reapply with strengthened evidence addressing the refusal reasons. We can identify what went wrong and how to fix it.

How We Help After Refusal

Review refusal decision for errors of law and fact
Identify strongest challenge route (appeal, review, or fresh application)

Prepare comprehensive grounds of appeal

Represent you at First-tier Tribunal hearings
Prepare detailed legal submissions and evidence bundles
Cross-examine Home Office presenting officers
Present oral submissions to Immigration Judges
Achieve appeal allowed and visa granted without reapplication
Frequently Asked Questions

Understanding the immigration  law and process helps you make informed decisions about your future.

Processing times vary significantly by visa type and service level:

  • Visitor visas: 3 weeks standard, 5-10 days priority
  • Spouse/partner visas: 12 weeks standard (outside UK), 8 weeks priority
  • Skilled worker visas: 3 weeks standard (outside UK), 8 weeks inside UK
  • ILR applications: 6 months standard, 5 days super priority
  • British citizenship: 6 months standard

Priority and super priority services are available for most application types at additional cost (£500-£800). Processing times can be longer during peak periods or if the Home Office requests additional information. We monitor all applications and chase delays proactively.

You can apply yourself, but immigration rules are extremely complex and errors lead to refusals. Home Office statistics show DIY applications have significantly lower success rates than professionally prepared applications.

Common DIY errors include:

  • Wrong document formats (Appendix FM-SE requirements)
  • Insufficient financial evidence
  • Missing required documents
  • Incorrect application route chosen
  • Failure to meet specific rule requirements
  • Inadequate relationship evidence

Our 97% success rate compared to approximately 75-80% for DIY applications shows the value of professional help. Given that refusals mean losing application fees (£1,000-£10,000+) and delays of 6-12 months, our fixed fees are a worthwhile investment.

We offer a free initial consultation to assess your case and provide an honest opinion on whether you need our help.

We offer transparent fixed-fee packages for immigration services:

  • Spouse visa application: £1,500-£2,500 (plus £1,846 Home Office fee)
  • Skilled worker visa: £1,000-£1,800 (plus £719-£1,423 Home Office fee)
  • ILR application: £2,000-£3,000 (plus £2,885 Home Office fee)
  • Citizenship application: £1,200-£2,000 (plus £1,500 Home Office fee)
  • Appeals (First-tier Tribunal): £2,500-£5,000
  • Sponsor licence application: £3,000-£5,000 (plus £536-£1,476 Home Office fee)

What's included: Free initial consultation, document review and checking, application form completion, covering letter preparation, application submission, progress monitoring, and email/phone support throughout.

Home Office fees are payable directly to the Home Office (not to us). Payment plans available for most services. Given the cost of refusals (lost fees + reapplication), professional representation often saves money in the long run.

The UK sponsor must show gross annual income of:

  • £29,000 (for spouse only - increased from £18,600 in April 2024)
  • £32,200 (+ one child)
  • £35,400 (+ two children)
  • +£3,200 for each additional child

Income sources that count:

  • Employment salary (6 months with same employer)
  • Self-employment income (last full financial year)
  • Pension income
  • Property rental income (UK only)
  • Cash savings above £16,000 (£1 = £2.50 toward requirement)

Income that doesn't count: Benefits, overseas income (in most cases), investments, lodger income, maintenance payments.

Evidence requirements are strict: 6 months payslips + employer letter for employment, 2-3 years accounts for self-employment, 6 months bank statements showing deposits, original documents required. We ensure all financial evidence meets specific Appendix FM-SE requirements to avoid refusal.

Sometimes - it depends on your current visa and the visa you want to switch to.

You CAN switch inside the UK:

  • Visitor to spouse visa (if you met UK resident after arrival and exceptional circumstances apply)
  • Student visa to skilled worker visa
  • Skilled worker to spouse visa
  • Graduate visa to skilled worker visa
  • Most work visas to other work visa categories

You CANNOT switch inside the UK:

  • Visitor visa to work visa (in most cases)
  • Short-term student visa to other routes
  • Immigration bail to other routes
  • Seasonal worker to skilled worker

Some visas require you to leave the UK and apply from abroad (e.g., most visitor to work visa switches). Switching inside the UK is usually quicker and cheaper than applying from abroad as you avoid travel costs and can continue working. We advise on the best strategy for your individual circumstances.

Your options after refusal depend on where the decision was made and the type of decision:

1) Right of Appeal (most refusals outside UK):

  • Lodge appeal to First-tier Tribunal within 28 days
  • Appeals take 6-12 months to be heard
  • We represent you at tribunal hearings
  • High success rate for appeals based on Home Office errors
  • If allowed, visa granted without reapplication

2) Administrative Review (most refusals inside UK):

  • Request review within 14 days if caseworker error
  • Review takes 28 days
  • Cannot add new evidence - limited scope
  • Only available for specific error types

3) Judicial Review (some decisions):

  • Challenge in High Court if Home Office acted unlawfully
  • Strict time limits (usually 3 months)
  • High costs but can be very effective

4) Fresh Application:

  • Reapply with stronger evidence/corrected errors
  • Must pay application fee again
  • We identify what went wrong and how to fix it

Time limits are strict - contact us immediately if refused. Missing appeal deadlines means losing your right to challenge and having to reapply from scratch with new fees.

ILR eligibility depends on your immigration route:

5-year route (most common):

  • 5 continuous years on work, family, or other qualifying visa
  • Not more than 180 days outside UK in any 12-month period
  • Not more than 540 days total absences over 5 years
  • Passed Life in UK test
  • English language requirement (B1 level - CEFR)
  • No criminal convictions (good character requirement)
  • Still meet requirements of current visa category

10-year route (long residence):

  • 10 continuous years lawful residence on any valid visa
  • Same absence requirements as 5-year route
  • Same Life in UK and English requirements
  • Good character requirement

EU Settlement Scheme:

  • 5 years continuous residence for settled status
  • Different absence rules apply

What ILR gives you: Permanent residence with no time limit, no conditions on work or study, access to public funds, ability to apply for British citizenship after 12 months.

We review your residence history and identify any issues (absences, gaps, criminal records) before applying to maximize chances of success.

Your employer can sponsor you if they meet these requirements:

1) Employer must hold a valid sponsor licence:

  • Applied to Home Office (takes 8 weeks, costs £536-£1,476)
  • Genuine trading business with UK presence
  • HR systems in place to track sponsored workers
  • Compliance with employment law
  • No immigration non-compliance history

2) Job must meet requirements:

  • On skilled worker occupation list (RQF Level 3+)
  • Minimum salary: higher of general threshold (£26,200), going rate for occupation, or £10.75 per hour
  • Genuine vacancy (not created to facilitate immigration)

3) Employer must issue Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS):

  • Electronic reference number confirming sponsorship
  • Costs employer £239 per CoS
  • Contains job details, salary, start date

4) Ongoing compliance duties:

  • Right to work checks before employment starts
  • Report changes to UKVI within 10 working days
  • Keep records on Sponsor Management System (SMS)
  • Comply with salary and conditions of sponsorship

We can assist employers with sponsor licence applications, compliance systems, and CoS applications. We also advise workers on switching employers and ensuring CoS meets requirements.

Testimonials

Real stories from clients who trusted us with their most important cases. Your peace of mind is our greatest testimonial. Read what our clients share about their journey with us.

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I would like to thank Shazia and the Scarsdale team. Super efficient, fast responding and knew exactly what to do in the situation I was in. Highly recommend for any immigration needs

I would like to thank Shazia and the Scarsdale team. Super efficient, fast responding and knew exactly what to do in the situation I was in. Highly recommend for any immigration needs

Sherri Cronin

Dynamic Program Designer