An authorised immigration representative should be verified for the specific type and complexity of work required. Check the current regulatory route and scope rather than relying on a trading name or a claim of extensive experience. [1]
Check the individual and the organisation Use the official adviser-finding route or the relevant professional regulator to verify the person who will advise you. Match the name, organisation and contact details against the engagement letter. A company registration, impressive website or general legal qualification does not by itself establish permission to undertake the particular immigration work.
Ask which level and category of work the adviser can accept. Application advice, tribunal representation and more complex challenges may require different authority or expertise. If the first contact is an administrator, identify who will make the legal assessment and approve the work.
Make the instruction specific enough to compare Request the scope, charges, applicable VAT, official fees and complaint process in writing. Ask whether the quote includes document review, form completion, submission, further correspondence and a written explanation. Compare these tasks rather than comparing only headline prices.
The distinction in Distinguishing immigration advice from document administration helps when a service offers document organisation. Through Immigration appeal referral coordination, ask who would undertake the regulated component and verify that person before instructing it. Do not assume that an enquiry has appointed a representative. Retain the accepted terms and tell the adviser about the deadline before payment or a routine meeting is arranged.
Match the regulatory route to the person doing the work
Ask for the name of the professional who will give advice and the organisation responsible for the instruction. Immigration advisers may be regulated through the Immigration Advice Authority, while appropriately authorised legal professionals can operate through other professional systems. Verify the relevant route rather than assuming that every legitimate provider must appear in the same register.
Compare the register details with the engagement letter and payment information. A similar trading name can be misleading. If the person communicating with you is an administrator, ask who will assess eligibility, approve legal advice and handle any representation. Company incorporation and a website describing immigration services do not themselves identify the individual's professional authority.
Check the scope of immigration work permitted
Within the IAA framework, adviser levels distinguish the work that may be undertaken. Official guidance describes level 1 assistance, more complex level 2 casework and level 3 advocacy and representation. A provider's ability to handle a straightforward application should not be assumed to cover a tribunal hearing or a complex challenge. [2]
Explain the actual problem before asking for a quotation. A refusal involving disputed evidence, a detention matter or a criminal-history issue may require a different level of expertise from routine document preparation. Ask the proposed adviser whether the matter is within their permitted scope and experience, and who would handle any stage requiring another professional.
Compare written scope rather than promotional language
Request an itemised description of assessment, drafting, document review, submission and later correspondence. Identify whether a hearing, further decision or dependant's application is included. A promise of complete support can be difficult to evaluate unless the tasks and limits are written down. The engagement terms should explain what happens if the matter develops beyond the original instruction.
Check the charges, applicable VAT, official fees and third-party expenses separately. Ask when further approval would be needed for additional work. If a fixed fee is offered, establish the assumptions on which it depends. Comparing those details helps distinguish a document-only service from professional casework without relying on a headline price that may cover very different tasks.
Confirm communication and client responsibilities
Agree how advice will be delivered and who will monitor official messages. Ask whether the applicant receives copies of submitted forms and correspondence. Explain language or accessibility needs at the outset so interpretation can be arranged appropriately. An unprepared relative should not have to translate complex advice about deadlines or status simply because no one discussed communication beforehand.
The client also needs to know what they must provide and approve. Set dates for obtaining records, checking the factual account and responding to questions. If the adviser cannot act within an urgent timetable, establish that promptly. A consultation booking or preliminary payment discussion should not be mistaken for an accepted instruction to preserve a particular procedural right.
Evaluate claims about outcomes and introductions
Ask a provider making strong claims to explain what they can actually control. No adviser makes the Home Office's decision. Experience with similar applications may be relevant, but it is not a guarantee that a new client's facts satisfy the rules. A sound assessment should identify weaknesses and uncertainty as well as favourable features.
If work is referred to another professional, confirm the receiving person's identity, scope, fees and acceptance. Agree what information may be shared and who remains the point of contact. Do not assume that a network relationship means every professional has reviewed the case. The applicant should understand who is responsible before documents are transferred or substantive work is commissioned.
Retain the engagement letter, regulatory details checked and the agreed next action. Recheck the arrangement if the person handling the case changes. An orderly handover should preserve the application file, deadlines and instructions rather than leave the client explaining the same urgent issue to an unidentified replacement. Ask for clarification while the change can still be managed coherently.
Frequently asked questions
Is incorporation at Companies House proof of immigration authorisation?
No. Corporate registration and professional permission are different checks. Verify the named adviser through the appropriate official route.
What should I ask about a fixed-fee package?
Ask exactly which stages and correspondence are included, what costs extra and who submits the application. A fixed price is useful only with a clear scope.
Must a solicitor appear in the IAA register to give immigration advice?
Not necessarily. Check the professional's applicable regulatory route and authority for the work rather than assuming one register covers every type of authorised provider.
What should I compare between two fixed-fee quotations?
Compare the actual assessment, drafting, submission, correspondence and representation included, together with VAT, official charges and the circumstances that trigger additional fees.
Does a referral mean the receiving adviser has accepted my case?
No acceptance should be assumed. Confirm the professional, scope, costs and responsibility for deadlines before relying on the referral as an active instruction.
Official sources
Sources checked: 9 September 2026. Check the linked guidance for subsequent changes.
General information only. The appropriate action depends on your circumstances and the applicable jurisdiction.
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