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Our fees, published in full
Fixed fees for the legal work, stated with VAT. The Home Office fee is separate and is paid by you. No hourly surprises on a standard application.
The short answer
Our fixed legal fee for a long residence ILR application is £2,160 including VAT. Partner route settlement is £1,800 and family route settlement is £1,980, both including VAT. The Home Office fee of £3,226 per applicant is additional, and we tell you the full figure before you instruct us.
Fixed fees by application type
| Service | Legal fee (excl. VAT) | Total incl. VAT | Home Office fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| ILR long residence, SET(O) | £1,800 | £2,160 | £3,226 |
| ILR spouse or partner, SET(M) | £1,500 | £1,800 | £3,226 |
| ILR family route, SET(F) | £1,650 | £1,980 | £3,226 per applicant |
| Domestic abuse settlement, SET(DV) | £1,200 | £1,440 | £3,226, waiver possible |
| Document review only, no representation | £450 | £540 | Paid by you |
| Refusal review and options letter | £750 | £900 | Not applicable |
| Eligibility call, 20 minutes | Free | Free | Not applicable |
Each applicant needs their own application and their own Home Office fee. Our fixed fee covers the family unit for SET(F) where the applications are submitted together; separate applications are quoted individually.
What the fixed fee includes
- A written eligibility opinion before you pay the Home Office fee
- Document schedule and review of every item you send us
- Calculation of the financial requirement, including savings and exemptions
- Completion and submission of the online application
- Drafting of representations and a covering letter where it helps
- Biometric instructions and appointment guidance
- Correspondence with the Home Office until a decision is received
- An explanation of the decision and next steps, including eVisa checks
It does not include: the Home Office fee, Life in the UK or English tests, certified translations, courier or postage, counsel's fees, appeals, administrative review or judicial review, or any work after a refusal beyond the initial options letter. Those are quoted separately and in writing before we start.
Basis of charging and hourly rates
Most ILR work is charged as a fixed fee. Where a case falls outside a fixed fee — complex refused applications, appeals, or matters needing significant additional evidence rounds — we charge hourly, with a written estimate and a cap agreed in advance.
| Fee earner | Rate excl. VAT | Rate incl. VAT |
|---|---|---|
| Solicitor, 8+ years qualified | £275 | £330 |
| Solicitor, under 8 years qualified | £220 | £264 |
| Trainee or paralegal | £165 | £198 |
Letters, emails, calls and file review are charged in six-minute units where an hourly rate applies. We do not charge for the initial eligibility call or for a short update enquiry.
Disbursements you pay separately
- Home Office fee: £3,226 per applicant from 8 April 2026. See fees and processing times.
- Priority or super priority: £500 or £1,000, only where available for your route.
- Life in the UK test: £50. English test: typically £150–£200.
- Certified translation: from £40 per document, depending on language and length.
- Courier or special delivery: at cost.
- Barrister's opinion or representation: quoted per case before instruction.
How long the work takes
Preparation is usually one to two weeks from receiving your documents. Long residence files with a decade of evidence can take three to four weeks. The Home Office takes up to six months on the standard service, and that period is outside our control.
If you are close to a deadline — leave expiring, travel booked, a job start date — tell us at the eligibility stage. We will say plainly whether the timeline is realistic rather than taking the instruction and hoping.
Who does the work
Your matter is supervised by Rebecca Thorne, solicitor and head of immigration, . Day-to-day document work is carried out by a paralegal under her supervision, and every application is reviewed by her before submission. You will be told who is handling your file and how to contact them.
Regulation, insurance and complaints
Wanderson & Barrera Solicitors is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (firm number 654321). We hold compulsory professional indemnity insurance of at least £3 million.
If you are unhappy with our service, contact Rebecca Thorne in writing and we will respond within eight weeks. If the issue is not resolved, you may complain to the Legal Ombudsman within one year of the problem, or to the SRA about conduct. Complaints do not affect your right to complain to either body, and we do not charge for handling a complaint.
Questions about fees
Do I pay the Home Office fee to you?
No. You pay the Home Office directly when you submit the application. We tell you the exact figure in advance so you can budget for it.
Can I pay in instalments?
For fixed-fee work we normally ask for 50% on instruction and the balance before submission. Instalments can be agreed for larger family applications; ask before instructing.
What happens if my application is refused?
The fixed fee covers the application, not the appeal. If a refusal arrives, we provide an options letter and quote separately for administrative review, a fresh application or judicial review. The Home Office fee is not refunded.
Is VAT included in the figures?
Both figures are shown: the fee excluding VAT and the total including VAT at 20%. Disbursements such as the Home Office fee do not carry VAT.
Do you offer legal aid?
No. We are a private practice and do not hold a legal aid contract for immigration. For domestic abuse cases we can discuss a fee waiver and deferred payment.
Regulatory references
Free eligibility check
Get the eligibility answer first
The fee only matters if the route works. Start with a free call; we will confirm the fixed fee in writing if we can act.
SRA-regulated firm no. 654321.
What your case would cost
We confirm the fixed fee and the total including the Home Office fee in writing before you instruct us.
- No hourly billing on standard applications
- Disbursements listed separately
- Written quotation before any work starts
No commitment. Reply within one business day. SRA-regulated solicitors.