Shabana Bukhari 
Discover the essential guide to expert legal counsel from a top-notch Visa Attorney in Manchester. Uncover insights on efficient legal representation for your British immigration journey.
What is an efficient attorney and what do they do?
Attorney is another commonly used word for lawyer or solicitor. Their job is to guide you through your legal problems, in this case related to British immigration law.
They will assist you with a range of applications including UK visas, British citizenship, ILR, and asylum. In most cases, attorneys will also be qualified and able to represent you before an immigration tribunal if you are making an appeal.
Getting the help of an attorney is a crucial step to completing any British immigration application or appeal you wish to make. They often have years of experience in this field of law and with how the Home Office process applications. Therefore, with their aid you can increase your chances of a successful application which saves you both time and money in the process.
Examples of visa matters
Attorneys will be able to assist you with a wide range of visa matters, the most common UK visas will be discussed below:
- Spouse visa
This visa comes under the Family Category and enables a foreign national (“applicant”) to live with their British partner (“sponsor”) in the UK.
The initial Spouse visa application will allow you to remain in the UK for 30 months. Then you must apply for an extension which allows for an additional 30 months. After the expiration of this extension, you would have lived in the UK for 5 years and now you can apply for ILR (Indefinite Leave to Remain).
Note that applicants under this visa should not have more than 180 days absence from the UK.
- Skilled Worker Visa
This visa is for those coming to the UK to take up a job offer from a UK employer who holds a sponsor licence.
Skilled Worker visas are issued for up to a period of 5 years which means that the earliest you can apply for ILR is up to 28 days prior to the end of this period.
Note that applicants under this visa, similarly to those under Spousal visas, should have no more than 180 days absence from the UK during any consecutive 12-month period within the 5 years.
- Student Visa
This visa (tier 4) is for those offered a secure place on a UK course by a Home Office licensed student sponsor.
Student visas are issued for up to a period of 5 years. However, time spent on this visa will not count towards ILR under the 5-year route. It may count towards the 10-year route (also known as “long residence”).
Instead, to qualify under the 5-year route you must switch to another visa that does provide a route to settlement. For instance, applicants can switch to a Skilled Worker visa (tier 2).
Please note that these are not the only UK visas available for you to apply for. There are many more and as immigration law is extremely fast changing your attorney will be able to give you the most up to date knowledge on the best visa for your situation.
Immigration attorneys will also be able to assist you turning your UK visa into British citizenship. This is through gaining Indefinite Leave to Remain first which is discussed above.
How to locate efficient visa attorney in Manchester
- First Step:
Open your web browser and search for ‘visa attorneys in Manchester’. Your maps will be able to show you the attorneys that are in the closest proximity to your home address within the city.
- Second Step:
Select a few attorneys in your area and read their reviews.
Reviews are extremely important because they are written by previous clients and so will give an accurate depiction of how experienced and reliable that attorney is. They will usually include a description of what a client was applying for – so look for reviews involving visa applications. As well as whether their application was successful. Sometimes they may mention the name of the attorney they worked with and how they dealt with their application.
- Third Step:
Once you have read some reviews of various immigration attorneys in Manchester you can choose which one you wish to use.
Think about the reviews you have read as well as proximity to you when making your final decision.
FAQs about Visa attorney in Manchester
What do immigration attorneys?
Immigration attorneys maintain a high level of accuracy when completing your application and ensure that you as the client are informed. By completing application forms this avoids a mistake which you negatively affect the success. They can provide advice on various applications and appeals with your best interests in mind and any time constraints on your part.
Where should I start when thinking about hiring a visa attorney in Manchester?
Begin by searching online or on social media for lists of ‘immigration attorneys in Manchester’. Once you have selected a range of attorneys then you can browse their websites and reviews. Thinking about factors such as professional accreditation, breadth of immigration law experience, reviews, price, and consistent communication you can compare firms to find the perfect one to suit your needs.
How long will it take me to find an efficient visa attorney in Manchester?
This process can be fast with some online researching and reading of reviews. However, others prefer to contact many attorneys in Manchester and get information on fees first. Note that the latter is a potentially lengthier process.
Will my case be successful with a visa attorney in Manchester?
This is highly dependable as the UKVI makes the final decision on your application which an attorney has no control over. But by ensuring that the Manchester attorney you are entrusting is experienced by doing your research online and reading reviews. Their legal advice and expertise have various benefits, such as minimising the risk of rejection and therefore increasing your chances of success compared to acting independently.
What visa matters can efficient Manchester attorneys help with?
Efficient Manchester attorneys should be able to help with all types of visa matters. They are usually able to offer their services in completing applications on your behalf or dealing with visa refusals. Lawyers will have expert knowledge on newly introduced UK visas which may suit your needs, such as High Potential Individual and Global Business Mobility Visa. Finally, attorneys can help guide you through turning your UK visa into British citizenship.
Does marriage to a British citizen automatically grant a non-UK spouse citizenship?
Marriage to a British citizen does not automatically grant a non-UK spouse citizenship. Instead, applicants must meet the Home Office’s eligibility requirements for British citizenship by naturalisation. You can read Henleaze Law’s guide on how to attain British citizenship by naturalisation here: https://www.gov.uk/british-citizenship
Are there any other ways to achieve ILR other than the 5-year route above?
Yes! Applicants can follow the 10-year route which allows you to apply for ILR if you show continuous residence in the UK for 10 years. It doesn’t matter if this has been under different visas. The only negative is that unfortunately this route takes longer to achieve.
Does ILR expire?
Not technically but be careful! For ILR to remain valid an applicant must live in the UK, and you may lose it if you are absent from the UK for more than 2 continuous years.
Summary
In this blog readers have gained information on how to gain expert legal counsel from a Manchester Visa Attorney.
Please contact our expert team of immigration lawyers at Henleaze Law on 0117 908 4625 for legal assistance on visa matters.
