Personal Immigration Services

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Immigration advice and consultations

  • We provide immigration advice consultations for individuals who need clear guidance on their UK immigration position, available visa routes, application options, risks and next steps. A consultation can help identify the correct route before a client spends money on an application, especially where the case involves refusal history, overstaying, family issues, asylum, human rights, settlement or complex evidence.

  • We offer focused 30-minute consultations for clients who need initial immigration guidance, a quick route check, clarification on a Home Office letter, or advice on whether they need full representation. This is suitable for people who have a specific question and want to understand their options before deciding what to do next.

  • We offer 1-hour consultations for clients who need more detailed immigration advice, including a review of their immigration history, family circumstances, visa conditions, eligibility requirements, possible application routes and evidence needed. This is useful where the client has several issues to discuss or needs a more complete assessment before starting an application.

  • We support clients who may need free, low-cost or means-tested advice by checking whether they may be suitable for Tulia’s accessible services or referral pathways. This advice is only for clients referred to Tulia Group by professional organisations only.

Family and private life immigration

  • We assist married partners who want to join or remain with their spouse in the UK. This includes checking relationship evidence, financial requirements, accommodation, English-language requirements, immigration history, dependants and the online application. GOV.UK confirms that a person may be able to apply for a family visa to live with their spouse or partner in the UK, or switch to a family visa from another eligible route.

  • We assist civil partners applying to enter or remain in the UK under the family visa route. This includes preparing evidence of the civil partnership, checking sponsor status, financial eligibility, accommodation, English-language requirements and supporting documents. The family visa route covers people applying to live with a spouse or partner, and GOV.UK confirms applicants may be able to switch to this route before their current permission expires.

  • We assist clients applying to come to the UK to marry or enter a civil partnership with their British or settled partner. This includes checking the relationship history, marriage or civil partnership plans, sponsor eligibility, financial requirements, accommodation and the next-stage spouse or civil partner application after the ceremony. GOV.UK notes that people on a 6-month family visa as a fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner may be able to switch to a family visa in the UK.

  • We assist unmarried partners who want to live together in the UK under the family visa route. This includes reviewing evidence of a durable relationship, cohabitation or other proof of commitment, financial eligibility, accommodation, English-language requirements and immigration status. GOV.UK’s family visa guidance covers applications for partners and confirms that applicants may be able to apply, extend or switch depending on their circumstances.

  • We assist children applying to join or remain with a parent in the UK. This includes checking the child’s age, dependency, living arrangements, parent’s immigration status, consent from parents or guardians, financial requirements and supporting documents. GOV.UK confirms that family visa applications can cover people applying to live with a child, parent, spouse or partner in the UK.

  • We assist parents applying to live in the UK because their child is British, settled, or otherwise eligible under the family route. This includes checking parental responsibility, contact arrangements, the child’s status, care arrangements, financial or adequate-maintenance evidence and whether the application should be made from inside or outside the UK. GOV.UK confirms that applicants may be able to switch to a family visa to stay with their child or parent, depending on their current immigration status.

  • We assist people whose relationship has broken down because of domestic violence or abuse and who need immigration advice to protect their status. This may include urgent advice, evidence gathering, settlement applications and support with the Migrant Victims of Domestic Abuse Concession where appropriate. GOV.UK states that a person may be able to apply to settle in the UK permanently if their relationship broke down because of domestic violence or abuse, and that the concession can provide temporary permission to stay and apply for benefits.

  • We assist people who have overstayed or have an irregular immigration history and need advice on whether they can regularise their status. This may involve family life, private life, long residence, domestic abuse, human rights or exceptional circumstances, depending on the facts of the case. GOV.UK’s family visa page confirms that in some circumstances a person cannot apply for or switch to a family visa from inside the UK, so we help clients identify the correct and safest route before applying.

  • We assist people applying to remain in the UK based on their private life, including long residence, strong ties to the UK, children who have lived in the UK for many years, young adults who have spent a significant part of their life here, and people with complex immigration histories. This includes reviewing residence evidence, family circumstances, education, community ties, immigration history and any compassionate or exceptional factors. GOV.UK confirms that private life applications can allow a person to stay in the UK for 2 years and 6 months, or in some cases 5 years.

  • We assist adults who have lived continuously in the UK for at least 20 years and need to apply based on private life. This includes preparing residence evidence across the full period, addressing gaps in evidence, reviewing immigration history, and explaining the applicant’s life and ties in the UK. Home Office private life guidance states that an applicant over 18 who does not meet the half-life test must usually have lived continuously in the UK for at least 20 years at the date of application.

Settlement and citizenship

  • We assist people who are ready to apply for permanent residence in the UK, often called Indefinite Leave to Remain or settlement. This can include checking the correct settlement route, residence period, absences, immigration history, English-language and Life in the UK requirements, supporting evidence, dependants and the online application. GOV.UK explains that people may be able to apply for ILR through several routes, including work, family, long residence, UK Ancestry and other immigration categories.

  • We support applicants who want to settle in the UK after completing the required period on an eligible visa route. This includes settlement through work routes, family routes, long residence, private life, UK Ancestry and other qualifying categories. We help clients understand whether their current immigration route leads to settlement, when they can apply, and what documents they need to show continuous lawful residence and eligibility. GOV.UK describes settlement as indefinite leave to remain and provides different routes depending on the applicant’s immigration history and family circumstances.

  • We assist clients applying for settlement based on long residence in the UK. This usually involves reviewing the applicant’s full immigration history, periods of leave, absences, gaps, overstaying issues, Home Office records and supporting evidence. GOV.UK confirms that people may be able to apply for indefinite leave to remain if they have lived in the UK for 10 years or more, with different rules applying where the person has leave based on private life.

  • We assist eligible adults who want to become British citizens after obtaining indefinite leave to remain, indefinite leave to enter or settled status. This includes checking residence requirements, absences, good character, immigration history, English-language and Life in the UK requirements, referee requirements and supporting documents. GOV.UK states that a person with ILR or settled status can usually apply for citizenship if they meet the relevant requirements.

  • We assist adults applying to naturalise as British citizens. For most applicants, this involves showing they have lived in the UK for at least 5 years, hold ILR or settled status, meet residence and absence requirements, and satisfy the good character, English-language and Life in the UK requirements. GOV.UK confirms that applicants with ILR or settled status must usually have lived in the UK for at least 5 years before applying.

  • We assist people who may be eligible to register as British rather than naturalise, including children and some adults whose entitlement depends on birth, parentage, residence history or nationality law. Registration applications can be technical, so we help clients identify the correct legal basis, prepare evidence and avoid using the wrong form or route. GOV.UK explains that some people can apply to register as British citizens depending on when and where they were born and their parents’ circumstances.

  • We support EU, EEA and Swiss nationals and their family members with immigration status issues connected to residence in the UK. This may include EU Settlement Scheme applications, settled status, pre-settled status, family permits, late applications and advice on proving digital immigration status. GOV.UK’s citizenship and settlement guidance confirms that settled status can be relevant both to remaining in the UK and to later British citizenship applications.

Work, study and specialist visa routes

  • We assist individuals who have been offered an eligible job by a UK employer licensed to sponsor overseas workers. This includes checking the Certificate of Sponsorship, job role, salary, English-language requirement, supporting documents, dependants and the online application process. A Skilled Worker applicant must usually have a Certificate of Sponsorship from an approved employer and apply within the required timeframe.

  • We assist with legacy Tier 2-related matters, including extensions, dependants and applications that now fall under the modern sponsored work routes. The old Tier 2 General route has largely been replaced by the Skilled Worker route, while the Minister of Religion route is still referred to as Minister of Religion visa (T2) on GOV.UK.

  • We assist individuals who have been offered a role within a UK faith community, such as a minister of religion, missionary or member of a religious order. This includes checking sponsorship, English-language requirements, maintenance funds, dependants and the application process. GOV.UK describes this route as being for people offered a job within a faith community in the UK.

  • We support eligible health and social care workers applying to work in the UK for an approved employer. This route is linked to sponsored employment and is commonly used by healthcare professionals and adult social care workers where the role and sponsor meet the Home Office requirements. GOV.UK confirms applicants can apply up to 3 months before the job start date shown on the Certificate of Sponsorship.

  • We assist students aged 16 or over who wish to study in the UK on an eligible further or higher education course. This includes checking the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies, funds, English-language requirements, documents, dependants where permitted, switching rules and online submission. GOV.UK confirms the Student visa is for people aged 16 or over studying on a further or higher education course in the UK.

  • We assist applicants applying under the UK’s Temporary Work routes, including Creative Worker, Charity Worker, Religious Worker, Government Authorised Exchange, International Agreement and Seasonal Worker routes where relevant. These routes are for short-term work and usually require a Certificate of Sponsorship from a licensed sponsor. GOV.UK caseworker guidance confirms these routes were previously called T5 Temporary Worker routes.

  • We support sponsored workers who need to update their visa because their job, employer or occupation code has changed. GOV.UK states that Skilled Worker visa holders may need to update their visa when changing job or employer, and Senior or Specialist Worker visa holders may need to update their visa if their job changes to a different occupation code.

  • We assist eligible Hong Kong British National Overseas status holders and qualifying family members who wish to live, work and study in the UK. This includes first applications, extensions, family applications and settlement planning. GOV.UK states that BN(O) status holders and certain family members can apply for this route, and that it can lead to settlement after 5 continuous years in the UK.

  • We assist entrepreneurs who want to set up and run an innovative business in the UK and have, or need guidance on obtaining, endorsement from an approved endorsing body. This includes reviewing eligibility, endorsement requirements, business evidence, English-language requirements, dependants and switching or extension options. GOV.UK states this route is for applicants with an innovative business idea endorsed by an approved body and that it replaced the old Innovator visa.

  • The Start-up visa is now closed to new applicants, so we can assist only with related legacy issues where relevant, such as dependant matters, previous grants of leave, or considering alternative routes such as the Innovator Founder visa. GOV.UK states that people can no longer apply for a Start-up visa and may instead be able to apply under the Innovator Founder route.

  • We assist leaders and potential leaders in academia or research, arts and culture, and digital technology who wish to work in the UK. This includes advice on endorsement, eligible awards or prizes, switching, dependants and the visa application process. GOV.UK explains that most applicants need an endorsement showing they are a leader or potential leader, unless they have won an eligible prize.

  • We assist partners and children applying as dependants of a main applicant under eligible work, study and specialist visa routes. This includes checking family relationship evidence, financial requirements, separate application forms, visa expiry alignment and whether dependants are permitted under the relevant route. GOV.UK confirms that dependants may be able to apply under routes such as Skilled Worker, Student, UK Ancestry, Global Talent and other work routes, but the rules differ by visa category.

  • We assist EU, EEA and Swiss citizens, and eligible family members, with EU Settlement Scheme applications, late applications, settled status, pre-settled status and conversion from pre-settled to settled status. GOV.UK states that the main deadline was 30 June 2021, but some people can still apply, including those with reasonable grounds for a late application or those converting from pre-settled to settled status.

Visitor and entry clearance applications

  • We assist people who want to visit the UK for a short period, including for tourism, family visits, business meetings, short study, medical treatment or other permitted visitor activities. This includes checking whether the applicant needs a visa or ETA, preparing evidence of the purpose of visit, finances, accommodation, ties to their home country and intention to leave the UK at the end of the visit. GOV.UK states that a Standard Visitor can visit the UK for tourism, business, study for courses up to 6 months and other permitted activities.

  • We assist clients applying for permission to enter the UK from overseas under the appropriate immigration route. This can include visitor visas, family applications, work and study visas, dependant applications and specialist routes. For visitors, GOV.UK explains that people who need a Standard Visitor visa must apply online before travelling to the UK and attend a visa application centre appointment.

  • We support applicants seeking permission to enter the UK for private medical treatment, including complex cases where the treatment period, funding or supporting medical evidence needs careful explanation.

    This includes checking whether the applicant needs a Standard Visitor visa before travel, preparing medical letters and evidence of private funding, and advising on permitted length of stay. GOV.UK confirms that visits for medical treatment lasting longer than 6 months require a Standard Visitor visa regardless of nationality.

  • We assist parents who want to accompany their child while the child studies at an independent school in the UK. This includes checking the child’s Child Student visa, the parent’s eligibility, financial evidence, accommodation and restrictions on bringing other family members.

    GOV.UK states that a Parent of a Child Student visa applicant must be the only parent accompanying the child in the UK, while the child’s other parent must live abroad and cannot apply to join them in the UK.

Appeals and Home Office challenges

  • We assist clients who have received a refusal decision and have a right of appeal to the Immigration and Asylum Tribunal. This includes reviewing the refusal letter, checking appeal deadlines, identifying the legal grounds of appeal, preparing evidence and guiding the client through the tribunal process. GOV.UK explains that the Immigration and Asylum Tribunal deals with appeals against visa, asylum and immigration decisions.

  • We prepare and submit notices of appeal for clients who need to challenge an immigration, asylum or human rights refusal. This includes checking whether the client has a right of appeal, completing the correct appeal form or online appeal process, drafting clear grounds of appeal and ensuring the appeal is lodged within the deadline. GOV.UK says postal or email appeals use form IAFT-1, and that the tribunal will check the appeal and tell the appellant what to do next.

  • We prepare pre-action protocol letters challenging Home Office immigration or nationality decisions before formal judicial review proceedings are issued. This can be appropriate where there may be an unlawful decision, unreasonable delay, failure to consider evidence, certification issue, removal issue or other public law error. GOV.UK describes the immigration pre-action protocol as a template letter used to help resolve disputes with the Home Office before court proceedings are started.

  • We draft Appeal Skeleton Arguments setting out the key facts, legal issues, evidence and reasons why the appeal should be allowed. This is particularly important where the case involves human rights, asylum, family life, private life, credibility, best interests of children or complex immigration history. GOV.UK-published HMCTS material confirms that the reformed appeal service introduced an Appeal Skeleton Argument for legal representatives to build the client’s case, with an equivalent “Reasons for Appeal” process for unrepresented appellants.

  • We represent or arrange representation for clients at final appeal hearings before the First-tier Tribunal. This includes preparing the client and witnesses, explaining the hearing process, presenting submissions, dealing with Home Office arguments and ensuring the tribunal has the evidence needed to decide the appeal. GOV.UK’s unrepresented-appellant guidance explains that the tribunal is part of HM Courts and Tribunals Service and provides guidance on what happens before and during hearings.

  • We assist clients who have lost an appeal in the First-tier Tribunal and need advice on whether the judge made an error of law. This includes reviewing the tribunal determination, identifying arguable legal errors, drafting grounds of appeal and submitting the application for permission to appeal. GOV.UK states that a person must first ask the First-tier Tribunal for permission to appeal to the Upper Tribunal, and that deadlines are usually 14 days inside the UK or 28 days outside the UK from the written reasons.

  • We assist clients who have lost an appeal in the First-tier Tribunal and need advice on whether the judge made an error of law. This includes reviewing the tribunal determination, identifying arguable legal errors, drafting grounds of appeal and submitting the application for permission to appeal. GOV.UK states that a person must first ask the First-tier Tribunal for permission to appeal to the Upper Tribunal, and that deadlines are usually 14 days inside the UK or 28 days outside the UK from the written reasons.