Immigration Advice for Russian women
who wants to settle in the United Kingdom
Getting Immigration Advice for Russian women who wants to settle in the United Kingdom
Original source:
United Kingdom Immigration & Nationality Directorate
http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk
This page provides guidance on:
-
how to choose an immigration adviser; and
-
how to seek immigration advice.
Applicants are
advised to take care when choosing an immigration adviser since
there have been cases of unscrupulous activity such as poor
advice and overcharging.
The information in these pages
is only a guide and aims to answer the questions that are most
likely to arise.
When should I get advice?
You do not have to get advice
for the completion of an application, but you may feel that you
need assistance, perhaps in completing some of the forms or if
your application is not straightforward.
How do I get advice?
Advice may be obtained from
various sources, including organizations
funded by public money, voluntary organizations,
independent non-legally qualified immigration advisers and
solicitors. There is information at the end of this leaflet on
who you might contact to assist you in finding a suitable
adviser.
Will my application be decided
sooner if I have an adviser?
No. The decision on your
application will not depend on whether you are represented by an
immigration adviser. It will depend on whether you supply all
the relevant information requested by the Immigration and
Nationality Directorate within the time limits specified.
However, a good quality adviser may be able to help you present
the information clearly and comprehensively.
Are all immigration advisers
able to give advice on immigration, asylum and citizenship
matters?
No. Some advisers are only able
to offer assistance on basic form filling. Others have expertise
on particular aspects of immigration, asylum and citizenship
law.
How much should I expect to pay
for immigration advice?
Many good organizations provide
their services free of charge. If you choose an organization which charges for its services, you should obtain details of the
charges and the service you may expect before you engage it as
your representative.
Can I get legal aid?
Legal aid is available in some
cases.
For information on legal aid in England & Wales, you
can contact the Legal
Services Commission
Community Legal Services Directory
Line on 0845 608 1122
For information on legal aid in Scotland, you can contact
the Scottish
Legal Aid Board
on 0131-226 7061. Please note the Scottish Legal Aid Board
does not provide legal advice. Legal aid allows people who
could not otherwise afford it to have the help of a solicitor
for their legal problems - this advice has to be given by a
solicitor. To apply for legal aid, you should contact a
solicitor.
For information on legal aid in Northern Ireland, you can
contact the Law Society of Northern Ireland, Legal
Aid Department
on (028) 9024 6441.
What do I do if I think I have
received poor advice or have been overcharged?
If you consider you have
received poor or incompetent advice from, or have been
overcharged by, a practising solicitor in England or
Wales you should complain to:
The Office for the Supervision of Solicitors
Victoria Court
8 Dormer Place
Leamington Spa
Warwickshire
CV32 5AE
Telephone: 0845 608 6565
If you have a complaint about the service you have received from
a practising solicitor in Scotland, you should contact:
Law
Society of Scotland
Client Relations Office
26 Drumsheugh Gardens
Edinburgh
EH3 7YR
Telephone: 0131-476 8137
If you have a complaint about the service you have received from
a practising solicitor in Northern Ireland, you
should contact:
The Law Society of Northern Ireland
98 Victoria Street
Belfast
BT1 3JZ
Telephone: (028) 9023 1614
If you think the advice you have received from any other
organisation was poor, incompetent or too expensive, you
should complain to the organisation which provided the advice.
Your local Citizens Advice Bureau will also be able to
help you.
If you wish to complain about immigration advice or services,
you can also write to:
The Office of
the Immigration Services Commissioner
Complaints Section
6th Floor
Fleetbank House
2-6 Salisbury Square
London
EC4Y 8JX
The Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) are
responsible for regulating immigration advisers, including
setting the standards advisers must meet and investigating
complaints about any person giving immigration advice, including
solicitors, barristers and legal executives.
The OISC's multilingual website (www.oisc.gov.uk)
details a list of advisers registered or exempted by the OISC.
You will also find links to other websites giving information
about advisers not required to register with the OISC, such as
practising solicitors, barristers and legal executives. It also
explains how to make a complaint to the OISC about an
immigration adviser.
The OISC's contact details are:
The Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner
6th Floor, Fleetbank House
2-6 Salisbury Square
London
EC4Y 8JX
telephone: 0845 000 0046 (calls are charged at local rates)
fax: 020 7211 1553
Organisations which provide
advice and representation free of charge:
Immigration
Advisory Service
County House
190 Great Dover Street
London SE1 4YB
Telephone: (020) 7967 1330
Fax: (020) 7403 5875
Refugee Legal Centre
Sussex House
39-45 Bermondsey Street
London
SE1 3XF
Telephone: (020) 7378 6242
In addition, free advice is available, for those who qualify,
from legally aided advice providers. Details of how to find
legally aided advice providers in your area are given above, in
the section "Can I get legal aid?"
Details of advisers who provide
advice free of charge or who will be able to direct you to those
providing competent advice locally:
Joint
Council for the Welfare of Immigrants
115 Old Street
London
EC1V 9RT
Telephone: (020) 7251 8708
Asylum Aid
28 Commercial Street
London
E1 6LS
Telephone: (020) 7377 5123
National
Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux
Myddelton House
115-123 Pentonville Road
London
N1 9LZ
Telephone: (020) 7833 2181
Legal
Services Commission
Community Legal Services Directory Line: 0845 608 1122
Law Centre (NI)
124 Donegall Street
Belfast
BT1 2GY
Telephone: 028 9024 4401
Citizens
Advice Scotland
26 George Square
Edinburgh
EH8 9LD
Telephone: 0131-667 0156
Association of Independent Advice Centres Northern Ireland
303 Ormeau Road
Belfast
BT7 3GG
Telephone: (028) 9064 5919
Northern Ireland Association Citizens Advice Bureaux
Regional Office
11 Upper Crescent
Belfast
BT7 1NT
Telephone: (028) 9023 1120
Scottish Association of Law Centres
c/o Paisley Law Centre
65 George Street
Paisley
PA1 2JY
Telephone: 0141-561 7266
A list of advisers can also be
obtained from:
Immigration
Law Practitioners Association
Lindsey House
40/42 Charterhouse Street
London
EC1M 6JN
UKCOSA: The Council for International Education
9-17 St Albans Place
London
N1 0NX
UKCOSA provides telephone advice for students and their families
1-4pm Monday to Friday on (020) 7354 5210
