Constantine Law
— Price Transparency in Immigration Cases
The Price Transparency Rules
We are required by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) to provide transparency in relation to the prices we charge individuals in respect of immigration cases. The costs information below is provided in accordance with the SRA Transparency Rules and the Law Society’s guidance on Price and Service Transparency.
Our Team
We are immigration law specialists. Our team is led by two partners, Rebecca Tester and Alex Finch, who have each practised in immigration law exclusively for more than a decade. John Hayes, Caroline Glacken and Shauna Clarke may also work on immigration matters. Every member of the immigration team is a practising solicitor. We provide a personalised and tailored service to all of our clients and each matter is typically led and supervised by a Partner or Senior Associate. Our priority is to offer clients a high standard of service in accordance with our core values of clarity, modernity, value and collaboration.
Further details of our highly experienced team of solicitors are available here.
Professional Fees
Immigration work can be complex and require bespoke solutions. We appreciate the privilege of sitting alongside you as a trusted advisor. Once we have discussed your requirements and understood your situation, we will provide you with an individualised fee quote before starting work.
We aim to work on a fixed fee basis in the majority of immigration matters. Where we act on this basis, our fee is based on what we consider reasonable taking into account the amount of time that will be required to complete your matter, based on our hourly rates, as well as the expertise involved, how urgent your matter is, and your circumstances, which include: whether any family members are applying at the same time; the complexity of your matter and the amount of supporting evidence to be considered.
We have displayed typical fixed fees for main case types in a table below. If your application is more complex, or there are unforeseen developments, then the costs may be higher than shown below. The fees are a guide only and actual costs may vary depending on your individual circumstances. We have provided an indicative fee range in the table below. If the service you require is not listed please contact us and we will be pleased to discuss.
Application | Professional Fees Range |
|---|---|
Naturalisation / Registration as a British citizen (applying to become British) | £4,000 - £15,000 + VAT |
Indefinite Leave to Remain (Settlement) | £4,000 - £8,000 + VAT |
Spouse / Civil Partner / Partner / Fiancé(e), of a British citizen / settled person | £4,000 - £6,000 + VAT |
Global Talent | £4,000 - £8,000 + VAT |
Senior or Specialist Worker (Global Business Mobility) | £3,000 - £5,000 + VAT |
Skilled Worker | £3,000 - £5,000 + VAT |
Where family members are applying at the same time as the main applicant, we typically charge between £500 to £1,000 per family member, depending on the size of the family and complexity of the matter.
We do not offer to work on a conditional fee, or “no win, no fee” basis.
Where we do charge on an hourly rate basis, our hourly rates vary between a partner, senior consultant, associate, solicitor or paralegal. These rates are subject to periodic review.
Our hourly rates are normally set as follows.
Position | Cost per hour |
|---|---|
Associate | £350 plus VAT |
Solicitor / Associate | £250 - £325 plus VAT |
Senior Associate | £375 - £395 plus VAT |
Partner | £525 plus VAT |
VAT is currently charged at 20%. VAT may be payable depending on where you live and what immigration permission you have. We will confirm whether VAT is payable when we are instructed.
Key stages and our service
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Where we have indicated a price, our service will typically include the following service.
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Taking your instructions and researching relevant law
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Discussing your case in detail and confirming the most appropriate immigration application for you, including the requirements and any strategic or practical considerations
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Providing you with all relevant information regarding the application process
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Setting out the documents and information required from you
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Preparing your application for submission to the Home Office, including finalising your application form, submitting and making payment, uploading supporting documents, and preparing a letter of representation to the Home Office detailing how you meet the requirements
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Providing you with instructions on the biometric enrolment process and post-application compliance
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Helping you to prepare for requests for additional information, as required
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Advising you on the outcome of your application, and advising on post-approval compliance with your immigration conditions and, if applicable, pathway to settlement
Unless otherwise indicated, our fees do not include the costs of any onward challenge or appeal.
In some cases where we have accepted instructions on a fixed fee basis,
Timescales
Upon receiving your instructions, we will endeavour to prepare your application promptly. The actual time take will depend on the complexity of your matter, and also on how quickly we receive the documents and information required.
Home Office processing times are subject to regular change and cannot be guaranteed. Information on typical processing times can be found here.
Disbursements
All immigration applications will involve payment of government fees and other disbursements. We will advise you on these at the outset of your matter, and where appropriate during its pendency. These costs may include Home Office application fees, appointment fees, court or tribunal fees, immigration health surcharge costs, translation costs, priority fees, as well as fees for English language testing, criminal record certificates, tuberculosis testing, and document procurement. In the case of complex applications, and appeals to the First-Tier Tribunal, costs may also include counsel’s fees, interpreter fees and expert witness reports. This list is not exhaustive.
Disbursements are separate from and additional to our professional fees.
UK immigration fees are subject to frequent revision. The latest Home Office fee schedule can be found here. VAT is not charged on government fees. Immigration fees normally include (at least) the following components: (1) the visa fee (2) immigration health surcharge, which is based on £1,035 per year of the visa, or £776 per year in the case of students, their dependants, those on a Youth Mobility Scheme visa, and applicants under the age of 18), and (3) the costs of any (optional) priority expediting service.
As an example, the anticipated disbursements on an application for a visa as the spouse of a British citizen, submitted from overseas, would be made up as follows.
Visa fee (‘Route to Settlement’): £1,938
Immigration Health Surcharge (adult, 2 years and 9 months): £3,105
Settlement priority fee: £500