Answers to frequently asked questions
Some questions and problems come up so frequently in practice that it is useful to post my answers on this page, so that if you have exactly these uncertainties, you will receive the necessary explanations right here and right now. The section is constantly updated.
Not. No serious adviser can guarantee such a thing. The decision rests with Home Office caseworkers, who can accept or refuse an application. As long as the decision is not mine, I cannot guarantee that your application will be accepted. However, when I agree to be involved in an application, I do so because I have a reasonable expectation that that application will be successful. What I can guarantee is that the application is filled in correctly and accompanied by relevant and available evidence (of residence, relationship, dependency, income, funds, etc). So if I have accepted your case, I have done so because it is likely that your application will be successful and you will get the permission to enter, remain or settle in the UK that you want, or the British citizenship that you qualify for. But there can be no guarantees.
Not. I am in no way employed or associated with the British government or any government department. I am not employed by the Home Office. I have my own legal consulting firm, through which I offer immigration advice to my clients.
Payment is not made in advance, but on the day the immigration or citizenship application is submitted. Until then, we will gather together the documents and information that will help me decide whether the application has a chance of success. If there is a reasonable expectation that the application has a chance of being accepted, we gather all the supporting evidence (evidence of residence, relationship, dependency, income, knowledge of the English language, etc), I process it and prepare the application. Payment cannot be made after the application is submitted, as I cannot risk my advice not being paid for. Also, under no circumstances can payment be contingent on the success of the application, because the decision is not mine, and what is paid is my effort and time and the access to my legal knowledge, not the outcome of the application. So, if the application is refused, the amount paid for my advice is not refundable. Anyone who has doubts about my competence, honesty and professionalism is free to seek advice elsewhere.
I generally do not offer free advice, but I do offer some discounts when several members of the same family apply at the same time for the same type of visa or citizenship. Occasionally, when I deem it appropriate, I may offer free advice. I have a lot of compassion for people in need. On the other hand, it would be more appropriate for such persons to turn to organisations that offer free immigration advice and are funded by various grants and donations.
No, I do not provide advice related to asylum claims.
Most likely not. Not coincidentally, when I start working with a client, I first make sure that the evidence to support the application is already in place, and when it is not, or the person simply does not meet the requirements for a successful application, I do not accept the case. In recent years the process of applying for residency or citizenship has gone online and many people are somehow misled into thinking that if the procedure of completing the online application seems simple, the law behind that application is just as simple. Unfortunately, things are different. The rules are really very complicated. When the application has already been submitted and the applicant either does not meet the conditions or does not have the evidence required by the Home Office, it will be difficult or even impossible for me to intervene. My advice to anyone looking to file an immigration or citizenship application is to first consult with a licensed immigration lawyer and not submit the application on their own and uninformed.
My main office is in a building in Nottingham city centre. Occasionally I can see my clients there or in other offices I use in London, Birmingham or Manchester. However, face-to-face meetings have a cost (related to space rent, transportation, parking, hours spent in traffic, work day wasted by the client, etc) that the client generally does not want to pay. It is understandable. That’s why online communication, on days and times when both I and my client are available, is preferable. One important thing to remember is that preparing and submitting an application involves an effort of gathering documents and information, spanning several days or weeks. So a meeting in my office doesn’t solve much. Essential is, therefore, effective collaboration on a longer term and communication through the methods that technology makes available to us today. Statistically, every year, only a few people refuse my collaboration because they don’t trust me because they haven’t met me personally. I assume this risk.
Interest in my services is high. The UK is one of the most sought-after destinations for immigrants worldwide. My problem is on the one hand that I have a limited capacity to take messages from those interested in my services, and on the other hand that many of the messages I receive are from people who do not in any way meet the conditions to immigrate to UK. The contact form has been drafted and introduced to reduce the number of messages I receive from people writing to me without even understanding exactly what I do, such as those asking me to find them a job in the UK or wanting to apply for non-existent visas. The contact form allows me to filter clients better and get in touch with those who have a reasonable chance of success. So, by hiding my phone number and email address from the public, I only reduce the number of calls and texts that waste my time and spend more time with clients who really need advice.
