Shabana Bukhari 
In this blog, readers will gain insight into the trustworthy assistance for visa-related matters provided for in Birmingham by expert visa solicitors. Discover valuable information on dedicated Visa Solicitors in Birmingham, ensuring reliable guidance for your immigration journey.
What is a dedicated visa solicitor and what do they do?
‘Solicitor’ is another commonly used word for lawyer or attorney. 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, solicitors will also be qualified and able to represent you before an immigration tribunal if you are making an appeal.
Getting the help of a visa solicitor 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
Solicitors 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 solicitor will be able to give you the most up to date knowledge on the best visa for your situation.
Immigration solicitors 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 dedicated visa solicitors in Birmingham
- First Step:
Open your web browser and search for ‘visa solicitors in Brimingham’. Your maps will be able to show you the solicitors that are in the closest proximity to your home address within the city.
- Second Step:
Select a few solicitors 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 solicitor 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 solicitor they worked with and how they dealt with their application.
- Third Step:
Once you have read some reviews of various immigration solicitors in Birmingham 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 solicitors in Birmingham
What do immigration solicitors do?
Immigration solicitors maintain a high level of accuracy when completing your application and ensure that you as the client are informed of the progress and likelihood of your visa application being successful. They can provide advice on various other 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 dedicated visa solicitor in Birmingham?
Begin by searching online or on social media for lists of ‘immigration solicitors in Birmingham’. Once you have selected a range of solicitors 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 a dedicated visa solicitor in Birmingham?
This process can be fast with some online researching and reading of reviews. However, others prefer to contact many solicitors in Birmingham and get information on fees first. Note that the latter is a potentially lengthier process.
Will my case be successful with a solicitor?
This is highly dependable as the UKVI makes the final decision on your application which a solicitor has no control over. But by ensuring that the Birmingham solicitor 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 dedicated Birmingham solicitors help with?
Dedicated Birmingham solicitors 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. Solicitors 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, solicitors 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.
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.
What recent changes to UK family and work visas are coming into effect in 2024?
Recent changes to UK family and work visas that are coming into effect this year include the fact that social care workers will not be allowed to bring dependents on their visas, and that the baseline minimum salary to be sponsored for a skilled worker visa will rise from £26,200 to £38,700. Moreover, the government plans to reduce the number of jobs where it will be possible to sponsor overseas workers below the baseline minimum salary (shortage occupation list). Also, the minimum income normally required to sponsor someone for a spouse visa will rise in stages from £18,600 to £29,000 and then ultimately to around £38,700. Finally, the Migration Advisory Committee will review the Graduate visa, which is a two-year unsponsored work permit for overseas graduates of British universities.
Summary
In this blog readers have gained insight into the trustworthy assistance for visa-related matters provided for in Birmingham.
Please contact our expert team of Birmingham based immigration solicitors at Henleaze Law on 0117 908 4625 for legal assistance on Spouse Visas enquiries.
