Immigration & Asylum Fees
At Gordon & Thompson Solicitors, we provide legal advice and representation in relation to a wide range of immigration and asylum matters throughout England and Wales.
We are committed to providing transparent pricing information in accordance with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (“SRA”) Transparency Rules.
Our Immigration and Asylum Team has more than 10 years of combined experience advising individuals and families on immigration matters, including complex asylum applications, human rights claims and points-based immigration applications.
Services We Provide
We advise and represent clients in relation to:
Asylum applications;
Human rights applications;
Further submissions and fresh claims;
Family visa applications;
Spouse and partner visas;
Indefinite Leave to Remain applications;
British citizenship and naturalisation applications;
Skilled Worker and Points-Based System applications;
Sponsor licence applications;
Student visa applications;
Visit visa applications;
Appeals and Administrative Reviews; and
Judicial Review matters.
Our Fees
Our fees will depend on the complexity of the matter, the amount of supporting evidence involved, whether an interpreter is required, whether the matter is urgent, and the level of work required.
VAT is payable on our legal fees at the prevailing rate, currently 20%.
Immigration Applications
| Type of Matter | Typical Fee Range (Plus VAT) |
|---|---|
| Visitor Visa Application | £750 – £1,250 + VAT |
| Student Visa Application | £850 – £1,500 + VAT |
| Skilled Worker Visa Application | £1,000 – £2,000 + VAT |
| Spouse / Partner Visa Application | £1,250 – £2,500 + VAT |
| Indefinite Leave to Remain Application | £1,500 – £3,000 + VAT |
| British Citizenship / Naturalisation | £1,000 – £2,000 + VAT |
| Sponsor Licence Application | £2,000 – £5,000 + VAT |
| Administrative Review | £1,000 – £2,500 + VAT |
| Immigration Appeal | £2,000 – £6,000 + VAT |
| Judicial Review | From £5,000 + VAT |
| Asylum Application | £1,500 – £5,000 + VAT |
| Fresh Claim / Further Submissions | £2,000 – £6,000 + VAT |
Hourly Rates (Where Applicable)
In more complex matters, or where it is not possible to provide a fixed fee, work may be charged on an hourly basis as follows:
| Fee Earner | Hourly Rate (Plus VAT) |
|---|---|
| Director / Senior Solicitor | £250 – £350 + VAT |
| Solicitor | £200 – £300 + VAT |
| Caseworker / Paralegal | £120 – £180 + VAT |
Any quotation provided is an estimate only and may be revised if additional work becomes necessary during the matter. We will notify you of any significant increase in costs before additional charges are incurred wherever possible.
Likely Disbursements
Disbursements are costs payable to third parties as part of your immigration matter. These are separate from our legal fees.
Typical disbursements may include:
| Disbursement | Typical Cost |
|---|---|
| Home Office Application Fees | Variable |
| Immigration Health Surcharge | Variable |
| Barrister’s Fees (if required) | £500 – £5,000 + VAT |
| Interpreter Fees | £25 – £80 per hour |
| Translation Fees | £30 – £100 per document |
| Independent Expert Reports | £500 – £2,500 + VAT |
| Medical Reports | £250 – £1,500 + VAT |
| Courier / Postage Fees | £10 – £50 |
| Court / Tribunal Fees | Variable |
| Electronic ID Verification Checks | £10 – £30 + VAT |
Home Office fees and Immigration Health Surcharge fees can be checked on the UK Government website.
Please note that some disbursements are subject to VAT and others are not.
What Is Included in Our Fees?
Depending on the nature of your matter, our work may include:
taking your instructions and providing initial advice;
reviewing documentation and evidence;
advising on eligibility and immigration requirements;
preparing and submitting the application;
drafting legal representations;
liaising with the Home Office or Tribunal;
preparing witness statements and supporting evidence;
advising on appeal prospects;
preparing bundles and documents for hearings; and
representing you at hearings where agreed separately.
What Is Not Included?
Unless specifically agreed in writing, our fees do not include:
Home Office application fees;
Immigration Health Surcharge fees;
Barrister or Counsel fees;
interpreter or translation fees;
expert reports;
appeal hearing representation unless specifically included;
Judicial Review proceedings unless separately agreed; or
advice outside the agreed scope of work.
Additional fees may apply if:
urgent work is required;
extensive supporting documentation must be reviewed;
multiple dependants are included;
complex legal issues arise;
there are previous refusals or adverse immigration history; or
substantial additional work becomes necessary.
We will discuss any additional fees with you before they are incurred wherever possible.
Likely Timescales
Timescales vary depending on the type of application, Home Office processing times, and the complexity of the matter.
Approximate timescales may include:
| Matter Type | Typical Timescale |
|---|---|
| Visitor Visa | 3 – 12 weeks |
| Student Visa | 3 – 8 weeks |
| Skilled Worker Visa | 4 – 12 weeks |
| Spouse Visa | 3 – 12 months |
| Indefinite Leave to Remain | 3 – 12 months |
| Citizenship Application | 3 – 12 months |
| Appeals | 6 – 18 months |
| Judicial Review | 6 – 24 months |
| Asylum Claims | Variable |
Please note that these timescales are estimates only and depend on the Home Office, Tribunal listings, and the individual circumstances of the case.
Our Immigration & Asylum Team
Raphael Newton – Director | COLP | COFA
Raphael Newton leads the Asylum Department and has more than 10 years of experience advising clients on immigration and asylum matters, with particular expertise in complex asylum applications and Points-Based System applications.
Raphael qualified as a solicitor in 2016. He holds an Honours degree in Law from South Bank University and completed his training contract at A. Vincent Solicitors before joining Gordon & Thompson Solicitors in 2018, becoming a Director in the same year.
Raphael continues to develop his expertise through ongoing professional training and is fluent in French, enabling him to assist a diverse range of clients.
Fadeke Oralusi – Senior Solicitor
Fadeke qualified as a solicitor in 2022 after completing the Graduate Diploma in Law and Legal Practice Course at BPP University.
She has extensive experience handling complex immigration and asylum matters and has advised on more than 100 immigration cases. Fadeke is also fluent in Yoruba.
Folake Coker – Director | Senior Solicitor
Folake leads the Immigration Department and qualified as a solicitor in 2017. She holds an LLB Law degree from London Metropolitan University and completed her legal training in London.
She advises on immigration and asylum matters and has substantial experience assisting clients with complex legal applications and case preparation.
Deepak Bhattarai – Senior Solicitor
Deepak qualified as a solicitor in 2019 and holds an LLB Law degree together with the Legal Practice Course qualification.
He has experience advising on immigration, asylum, residential conveyancing, probate and commercial property matters, and has advised on over 100 legal matters since qualification.
Supervision and Regulation
All work is carried out by qualified solicitors or appropriately supervised legal staff under the supervision of Raphael Newton, Director and Head of Immigration and Asylum.
Gordon & Thompson Solicitors is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Important Information
The information provided on this page is intended as a guide only and does not constitute a binding quotation.
A personalised quotation can be provided once we have reviewed the details of your matter and supporting documentation.
For further information or to obtain a tailored quotation, please contact Gordon & Thompson Solicitors.
