To Secure Your Future in The UK Only Use A Qualified OISC Immigration Adviser

Cynthia Barker writes…Make sure you use a legal, OISC registered qualified immigration adviser for immigration advice to secure your future in the UK. I've been warning migrants to stay away from illegal, fake immigration advisers for years, yet I still hear stories of migrants being ripped off by crooks.

The OISC (Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner) regulates immigration advisers in the UK. Advisers have to train, pass exams and carry out CPD to keep up with changes in the Immigration Rules. 

You can check the OISC adviser finder to make sure your adviser is registered and qualified at the correct level - for instance, only level 3 firms can handle appeals, bail hearings or detention cases.

It is illegal to give immigration advice in the UK unless you are qualified and registered with one of the regulatory bodies, such as the OISC or Bar Council.

Lawyers can give advice, but often lack the specialist knowledge of the UK Immigration Rules and guidance, which the Home Office change every five minutes!

My Solicitor can tell me everything I need to know about buying a house or making a Will, but would know nothing about lodging a visa appeal against a visa an immigration refusal or how to help an overstayer who has been detained by the Home Office and is about to be deported form the UK.

He would not even attempt to draft an application for indefinite leave to remain, UK citizenship or a spouse visa for an EEA national’s non-EU partner.

By the same token, when I see a client who also needs specialist advice on an employment matter or divorce, I refer them to the right lawyer.

In one case an abused domestic worker for a Middle Eastern family won an out of court settlement of £140,000! He came to me for immigration advice, but we identified further issues with the terms of his employment.

Finally, remember that the fake immigration adviser, or someone pretending to be a lawyer or barrister, will only tell you what you want to hear – they feed on the fact that many of you will believe anything because you want to remain in the UK. Migrants, especially those who have overstayed their visa, are vulnerable and desperate and easy prey for the criminals who steal their money and often never even submit an application to the Home Office.

If you have been affected by Home Office changes or need advice on any immigration matter, including overstaying your visa, EU or UK immigration law, or want to appeal against a refusal, call Cynthia Barker on 07850 307687 or 0208 731 5972 or email her your details to immigration@londonccs.com. Cynthia Barker is a qualified OISC Registered Immigration Adviser, with 15 years experience in immigration matters, with a team of Level 3 Immigration Law Practitioners, Concept Care Solutions, Middlesex House, 29-45 High Street, Edgware, HA8 7UU.

See also: How to spot a fake immigration adviser

Worked Until Midnight On UK Settlement Forms With Conflicting Information On Knowledge Of Language And Life In The UK

Cynthia Barker writes...Worked until midnight last night re-writing four 75 page forms, thanks to a last minute change of SET-O forms by the Home Office.

But these things are part of the job of an immigration adviser, where our biggest 'competitor' is not another firm, but the Home Office! 

Immigration Rules are constantly being changed, rarely to the migrant's benefit, websites disappearing, fees increasing and of course visa forms changing every five minutes with little no and NO grace period to use the previous version.

One reason why the Home Office have to keep ‘updating’ their forms is that they are so poorly drafted.

For instance, on page 62 of the settlement (SET-0) forms under the heading ‘Knowledge of language and life in the UK’, the question is written as follows:

“If you have to complete section 4 and you and/or a partner applying with you are aged 18-64, you must provide one of the following for each of you:”

Note the word “one”, because it then goes on to say:

“A Life in the UK test pass notification letter; and

“A relevant speaking and listening qualification, as described in the guidance on our website..." (which takes you to -https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/285139/KoLL_v14.0EXT.pdf a ridiculously long link leading to a guidance document for Knowledge of language and life in the UK) - and so it goes round and round!

If the Home Office are asking for one of the following, should the form not state “or” rather than “and”?

In other parts of the form they ask for both language and Life in the UK, and the guidance is also confusing.

Despite all this, the client comes first and they are not really interested that the forms have changed or the Home Office website is down. Frankly, they just want their visa, indefinite leave to remain, UK citizenship or successful appeal against a refusal. That's why they are paying for our services, to get results!

If you need advice on any immigration matter, EU or UK immigration law, or want to appeal against a refusal, call Cynthia Barker on 07850 307687 or 0208 731 5972 or email her your details to immigration@londonccs.com. Cynthia Barker is a qualified OISC Registered Immigration Adviser, with 15 years experience in immigration matters, with a team of Level 3 Immigration Law Practitioners, Concept Care Solutions, Middlesex House, 29-45 High Street, Edgware, HA8 7UU.

Home Office Increases Visa Fees But Not Spending On Immigration Website

Cynthia Barker writes...Hi from London, hope you had a great 'May Day' weekend! Monday was a public holiday in England, but holidays can't last forever, so back to work today with a long appointment for family settlement applications for an old and dear client. I really feel appreciated when a client comes back to me to help with an immigration matter such as: Indefinite Leave to Remain, Dependant Visa or UK Citizenship.

What has happened to the Home Office or UK Border Agency website? Someone has revamped it, in the process completely wrecking the site to the point where information on Immigration Rules are almost impossible to find!

The new Home Office fee increases, for visa and immigration applications, have obviously not been spent on improving the website! Whole sections have disappeared.

Ok, lunch over, must get back to preparing that important immigration application. Have a great day.

If you need advice on any immigration matter, including overstaying your visa, EU or UK immigration law, or want to appeal against a refusal, call Cynthia Barker on 07850 307687 or 0208 731 5972 or email her your details to immigration@londonccs.com. Cynthia Barker is a qualified OISC Registered Immigration Adviser, with 15 years experience in immigration matters, with a team of Level 3 Immigration Law Practitioners, Concept Care Solutions, Middlesex House, 29-45 High Street, Edgware, HA8 7UU.