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You can get immigration advice from an immigration adviser if you need help with getting permission to stay in the UK.

Immigration advisers can help you with most things to do with immigration, including helping you to fill in the right forms and representing you at a tribunal. They do not make immigration decisions.

Check if the adviser is registered and if they charge a fee before you use them.

Find a registered immigration adviser

Use the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA) Adviser Finder to .

All immigration advisers must be registered with IAA or be a member of an approved professional body.

If you want legal help

You can find solicitors who give immigration advice through:

• if you live in England or Wales

A solicitor can help manage your case and find a barrister.

If you鈥檙e managing your own case but want legal advice or advocacy, you can find a barrister through:

• if you live in England or Wales
• if you live in Scotland

Make a complaint

You can complain about an immigration adviser if you think you鈥檝e had a bad service.

You cannot get your money back if an adviser is not regulated.

Suspended immigration advisers

You can see a list of people who are banned from acting as immigration advisers.

Immigration advisers are only allowed to give you advice on things they鈥檙e qualified to help you with.

You can see what advice they can give you by their 鈥榣evel鈥�. There are 3 levels.

Check an immigration adviser is allowed to give you the advice you need before you use them.

Level 1 - advice and assistance

A level 1 adviser can give you advice on simple cases, for example getting a business visa extension when you have no problems with work and all necessary documents.

Level 1 advisers can advise you on:

• entry clearance
• leave to enter
• leave to remain
• nationality and citizenship
• EU and EEA law

Level 2 - casework

Level 2 advisers can do everything that Level 1 advisers can do, but can also accept more complicated cases.

You may want to use a level 2 adviser if you鈥檝e had problems in the past with immigration and want permission to remain in the UK.

Advisers in this category can also help:

• with claims for asylum and human rights applications
• get your visa application decision reviewed (an 鈥榓dministrative review鈥�)
• if you entered the UK illegally or stayed after your visa expired
• if you鈥檙e being removed or deported

Level 3 - advocacy and representation

Level 3 advisers can do everything that Level 1 and 2 advisers can.

They can also appear on your behalf at an immigration tribunal. In certain situations they can help you if you go to court.

Find out more about adviser levels

Find out more about what advisers can do at each level.

When you hire an immigration adviser:

• find out how much they charge and if you鈥檒l have to pay them
• get a signed and dated receipt if you pay them any money
• ask how much you鈥檒l have to pay if you decide you do not want to use them any more
• agree a fee before they do any extra work for you

Some advisers do not charge a fee. If they do not charge, you鈥檒l still have to pay for any expenses like translation costs and application fees.

Your adviser must give you a letter immediately after you hire them saying:

• what work they鈥檙e doing for you
• how much you鈥檒l be charged
• how you鈥檒l pay them

You can complain to the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA) about either:

• bad service you received from an adviser registered with IAA
• immigration advice you received from an unregulated person

You can also ask someone to make a complaint on your behalf, for example a friend, solicitor or voluntary organisation.

What you can and cannot complain about

You can complain about:

• poor advice or service
• unreasonable fees
• an adviser claiming you鈥檒l be successful
• an adviser charging for work not done
• an adviser missing deadlines or failing to appear in court
• an adviser

You cannot make a complaint about:

• how long your immigration application has taken
• something that鈥檚 already part of an ongoing legal action
• a refund or compensation
• Home Office staff
• a person or organisation outside the UK

You usually cannot make a complaint about something that happened more than 12 months ago - IAA will decide whether or not to investigate depending on the situation.

IAA may refer your complaint elsewhere if you complain about a solicitor or barrister.

How to complain about an adviser regulated by IAA

The easiest way to complain is to:

• download and fill in the complaints form
• include any documents that are relevant with your complaint
• send the complaints form and documents to [email protected] or by post to the Complaints Team

The form is available in different languages and your complaint can be translated if needed.

Complain by letter

You can also make a complaint by sending a letter or email.

You need to provide as much detail as you can about who you鈥檙e making the complaint against and what the complaint is about.

How to complain about an unregulated adviser

You can email IAA to report someone giving immigration advice who is not regulated by either IAA or another approved body.

Get help with your complaint

You can get support and advice from:

What happens next

You鈥檒l get a letter with a decision on your case within 5 months of making your complaint.

IAA may decide to:

• take action against the adviser, for example warn the adviser about their conduct
• refer the complaint, for example if it鈥檚 about a solicitor or barrister