Immigration Law
“Our immigration solicitors provide expert legal guidance on visas, work permits, and appeals. Whether you’re an individual seeking settlement or a business hiring internationally, we simplify the process and ensure compliance.”
Key Legal Services Offered – Immigration Law for Individuals
Forest & Co provides expert legal advice and representation for individuals navigating the UK immigration system. Our solicitors help clients secure visas, challenge refusals, and achieve settlement or British citizenship.
Applying for a visa or extending your stay in the UK can be a complex and stressful process, especially with constantly changing immigration rules. At Forest & Co, we provide clear and strategic advice tailored to your circumstances to help you submit strong, well-prepared applications that meet the Home Office’s requirements.
We assist with a wide range of visa categories, including:
- Visitor visas
- Student visas
- Skilled Worker and Health & Care Worker visas
- Family visas
- Graduate and Youth Mobility visas
If your current visa is due to expire, we can advise on your eligibility for an extension or switch to a different visa category. We ensure that all necessary documents are submitted correctly and on time to minimise the risk of refusal or delays.
We also advise individuals who are currently on immigration bail or facing barriers due to overstaying, and we can help regularise your status where possible.
Whether you are applying from outside the UK or seeking to extend your stay from within, Forest & Co offers step-by-step guidance and expert support to make the process as smooth and successful as possible.
Applying for a UK Spouse or Partner Visa is one of the most common — and often most emotionally sensitive — immigration routes. At Forest & Co, we support couples in building strong applications that reflect both the legal requirements and the real-life nature of their relationships.
We assist with:
- Spouse visas (married or civil partners)
- Unmarried partner visas (for couples in long-term relationships)
- Fiancé(e) visas (for those intending to marry in the UK)
- Visa renewals and extensions within the partner route
UKVI has strict criteria regarding relationship evidence, accommodation, financial requirements, and English language ability. We help you gather and present the right documents and prepare a clear narrative that demonstrates your eligibility and compliance.
We also advise on:
- Overcoming refusals through fresh applications or appeals
- Switching into the partner route from another visa
- Pathways from a partner visa to Indefinite Leave to Remain
We understand how important it is to keep families together. Whether you are starting a new life with your partner or continuing an existing one, our goal is to make the process smooth, supportive, and successful.
Securing Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) is a significant milestone in your immigration journey, offering stability, freedom from visa restrictions, and a clear path toward British citizenship. At Forest & Co, we guide individuals through every step of the settlement process to help ensure long-term security in the UK.
We assist with ILR applications based on:
- Long residence (10-year route)
- Family life (5- or 10-year routes)
- Work visas (e.g. Skilled Worker, Tier 2)
- Refugee status or humanitarian protection
- Private life or discretionary leave
Our team ensures that your application includes all necessary evidence, such as continuous lawful residence, financial records, and proof of English language proficiency and Life in the UK test completion.
We also help identify and address issues that may affect your eligibility, such as gaps in immigration history, time spent outside the UK, or past criminal convictions. In many cases, we assist clients in resolving these issues before submitting an application.
For those who are not yet eligible, we provide clear advice on how to maintain your current status and prepare for ILR in the future.
Becoming a British citizen is often the final step in a long immigration journey. It grants you the right to live, work, and travel freely without immigration restrictions, and offers a sense of security and belonging. At Forest & Co, we help clients navigate the citizenship process with confidence and clarity.
We assist with:
- Naturalisation as a British citizen (including based on ILR or settled status)
- Registration applications for children and adults
- Applications based on birth or descent
- Advice on dual nationality and renunciation
- Resolving issues with previous immigration history
We ensure your application meets all the key requirements, including:
- Continuous residence and lawful immigration status
- Good character requirements
- Life in the UK Test and English language qualifications
Our solicitors also advise on complex cases where there may have been absences from the UK, immigration breaches, or concerns about previous criminal convictions.
Where necessary, we help clients prepare strong supporting documents and written representations to explain any exceptional circumstances or clarify eligibility.
Whether you are applying for yourself or your children, Forest & Co is here to make the path to citizenship as smooth and stress-free as possible.
If your immigration application has been refused, you may have the right to challenge the decision through an appeal, an administrative review, or a judicial review. At Forest & Co, we provide strategic advice and representation to help you fight unfair decisions and protect your right to remain in the UK.
We assist with:
- First-Tier Tribunal appeals (e.g. refusal of family, human rights, or protection claims)
- Upper Tribunal appeals and permission applications
- Administrative reviews of visa refusals
- Judicial reviews in the High Court (e.g. for unlawful decision-making or delay)
Our team will assess your case carefully to determine the most appropriate route of challenge. We help gather supporting evidence, prepare legal arguments, and represent you in court where necessary. We also work closely with expert barristers when appeals reach a more complex or advanced stage.
We regularly deal with refusals involving:
- Spouse/partner visas
- Settlement (ILR)
- Visitor or student visas
- EUSS (EU Settlement Scheme) decisions
- Claims based on human rights or private life
Whether you are challenging a Home Office decision made in the UK or overseas, Forest & Co will fight for your rights and ensure your case is properly and professionally argued.
Since the end of free movement, EU, EEA, and Swiss nationals and their family members must now hold valid immigration status to live, work, or study in the UK. At Forest & Co, we assist individuals and families with all aspects of their status under the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) and other post-Brexit immigration routes.
We provide advice and support with:
- Applications for pre-settled and settled status
- Switching from pre-settled to settled status
- Joining family members of EU/EEA citizens
- Late applications or appeals after a refusal
- Retained rights of residence after divorce or bereavement
We understand that many EU nationals who have lived in the UK for years still face difficulties navigating the new system. We help ensure that applications are complete, accurate, and supported by the right documentation — especially where circumstances are complex or sensitive.
Our team also advises clients who are struggling with delays, unclear status, or loss of employment due to changes in eligibility. If your application has been refused, we can assist with appeals or administrative reviews and work to secure your lawful status.
At Forest & Co, we believe in clear communication and proactive support — especially when your life in the UK is at risk of being disrupted by immigration uncertainty.
Facing deportation or removal from the UK is one of the most distressing and urgent situations an individual or family can experience. At Forest & Co, we act swiftly and strategically to defend our clients against removal, protect their rights, and preserve their life in the UK.
We provide expert advice and representation in cases involving:
- Deportation following a criminal conviction
- Administrative removal due to overstaying or breach of visa conditions
- Human rights defences against removal, particularly where children or family life are involved
- Detained clients facing imminent removal
- Appeals and judicial reviews challenging deportation decisions
Deportation and removal cases often involve tight deadlines and high-stakes consequences. Our team prepares urgent legal representations, gathers supporting evidence, and liaises with the Home Office and immigration tribunals to seek cancellation of removal directions or to pursue legal challenges.
We also assist with:
- Bail applications for clients in immigration detention
- Submitting fresh human rights or asylum claims to prevent removal
- Criminal deportation appeals where rehabilitation, family ties, and proportionality are key factors
Forest & Co combines legal precision with a compassionate approach, recognising that many of our clients have deep roots in the UK, including British children, long-term residence, or vulnerable circumstances.
If you or a loved one is at risk of removal or has received a deportation notice, it is crucial to act quickly. Contact us to discuss your options and take immediate steps toward protecting your future.
The UK offers several immigration routes tailored to high net worth individuals, entrepreneurs, and business innovators. At Forest & Co, we provide specialist legal support to investors and entrepreneurs seeking to enter or remain in the UK under business-related immigration pathways.
Although the traditional Tier 1 Investor and Entrepreneur Visas have been closed, we assist clients with the current alternatives, including:
- Innovator Founder Visa – for individuals with innovative business ideas supported by an approved endorsing body
- Start-up Visa – for early-stage entrepreneurs launching a business for the first time
- Global Talent Visa – for leaders in digital technology, science, and the arts
- Sole Representative Visa (for overseas businesses)
- Advice on transitioning from legacy Tier 1 routes to settlement
We also advise clients on:
- Business plans and endorsement requirements
- Meeting the investment and maintenance criteria
- Visa extensions and ILR (Indefinite Leave to Remain) under business routes
- Family member applications and long-term immigration planning
Our team works closely with accountants, business advisors, and endorsing bodies to ensure your application is commercially sound and immigration-compliant. We also assist in resolving refusals or complications involving source of funds, business activity, or compliance with endorsement terms.
For clients with complex international portfolios or investment backgrounds, we provide discreet, bespoke advice and long-term immigration strategy planning.
Book a legal consultation
Frequently Asked Questions
You should usually apply no earlier than 28 days before your current visa expires. However, we recommend seeking advice a few months in advance so you have time to gather the correct documentation and avoid last-minute issues.
If your application is refused, you may have the right to appeal, request an administrative review, or submit a fresh application. We will assess your case and advise you on the best route forward based on the reasons for refusal and your individual circumstances.
Possibly. Overstaying is a serious issue, but in some cases — especially where human rights or family life are involved — you may still be able to regularise your status. We can advise you on your eligibility and help prepare a strong application.
Yes. Most applicants for Indefinite Leave to Remain or British citizenship must pass an approved English language test (at level B1 or higher) and the Life in the UK Test. We can guide you on which tests are acceptable and how to prepare.
Both provide permanent residence in the UK. Settled status is granted under the EU Settlement Scheme, while ILR is the broader form of permanent residence available through other immigration routes. We can advise you based on your specific background.
In many cases, yes. The UK immigration system allows dependants to join or remain with the main applicant, provided you meet the financial and relationship requirements. We can help with family applications at every stage.
Contact a solicitor immediately. There may be grounds to challenge the decision through an appeal or judicial review, particularly if you have family in the UK, medical concerns, or risk persecution in your home country. Forest & Co will act quickly to protect your position.
Yes — while the Tier 1 Investor Visa has closed, there are still options such as the Innovator Founder route or the Global Talent Visa. We offer bespoke advice for clients with business or investment interests in the UK.
