Immigration & Asylum Law

With two solicitors and one full-time accredited caseworker we specialise in all aspects of immigration and asylum work.

We can help you to:

• Apply for spouses, unmarried civil partners and relatives to settle with you in the UK
  

• Apply for relatives to visit you in the UK

• Apply to extend your student visa

• Apply to extend your stay under the Points Based System

• Apply for British Citizenship

• Make a Claim for Asylum

• Make a Human Rights Clam

• Make a representations that amount to a fresh asylum and/or human rights claim

We focus on particularly vulnerable people such as sex trafficking victims and unaccompanied asylum seeker children. We are also able to provide a weekly drop in advice session, funded by Newcastle Council for the many individuals who are unable to find representation due to the limited suppliers in the North East.

IMMIGRATION OPEN DOOR SESSIONS- every THURSDAY

If you need immigration or asylum legal advice, please ensure that you will come to our office before 10am on Thursday. At the present time, these sessions are very busy and places are limited. Therefore, if you arrive after 10am, we will not be able to see you.

Please note that due to our funding we are not able to assist you unless you provide evidence of your means and qualify for legal aid, OR if you live in the Newcastle City Council area and your matter is suitable for up to 30 minutes one-off advice.

 What will happen when you get here?

• Everyone who comes to the door between 9am and 10am will be given a number

• Between 9am and 10am you will be screened by an immigration caseworker to see if you have a legal issue that can be dealt with. You will be assessed to see if potentially qualify for legal aid and whether you can be given one-off advice as a person who lives in the Newcastle City Council area.

• If you potentially qualify for legal aid and have evidence of means with you, you will be passed to another member of our team for a detailed assessment to confirm whether you qualify for legal aid. You can check in advance if you are eligible for legal aid here.

• If you are eligible for legal aid, you will be informed whether we have capacity to take you on as a client. If we have capacity, we will complete the relevant legal aid forms and an appointment will be made to see you either then or via telephone or letter within the next 7 days. If we do not have capacity to assist you, you will be provided with contact details for alternative legal providers in our area.

• If we are unable to take you on as a client and you live in the Newcastle City Council area, we may, if appropriate, see you to provide you with free one-off advice for up to 30 minutes once the advice session begins after 10am. Usually our advice sessions are completed by 12 noon.

• Please be aware that we are unable to arrange for interpreters to attend this advice session and therefore you may wish to bring a friend who speaks English with you when you attend the drop-in if you are not fluent in English.

What should I bring with me?

• Evidence of your income. Please see our guidance below as to what kind of evidence we require.

•  Any papers you have relating to your immigration/asylum matter

•  If you have received legal advice in past, please bring the contact details for the previous legal provider and if they have withdrawn from your case, also bring the closing letter (and the completed CW4 form if it is an appeal matter funded under legal aid).

• Please note that you are not eligible to receive advice under legal aid in the same matter within 6 months unless exceptional circumstances apply for example there has been a change in your circumstances or you have an ongoing matter and have relocated which means that you require new local legal representative.

What do we mean by 'Evidence of Means'?

IIn order to be eligible for legal aid, we must ensure that your income and capital do not exceed the allowed limits. Evidence of means means documents that confirm your total income for the last 30 days. Please note that if you are living with a partner, we also require proof of their income so kindly ensure that you will also bring their documents with you. You should also provide us with documentnts confirming any capital you have.

Please be aware that if you do not bring evidence of means with you we will be unable to take you on as a client as we would not be able to determine whether you are eligible for legal aid.

What kind of documents can I use as my 'Evidence of Means'?

• Your most recent pay slip. If you are paid weekly or every two weeks, please provide all pay slips covering the month before attending our offices.

• Your most recent tax credit award letter, within 6 months confirming the amount of child and/or working tax credits you are in receipt off

• Your most recent bank statements for all your bank accounts (including ISAs and other saving accounts)

• Yout student loan/grant letter

• Proof of all benefits or NASS support you are in receipt off such as income benefit, jobseekers allowance, child benefit, housing benefit, council tax benefit, pension credits

• If you are self-employed; bank statements or working accounts/cash books showing drawqings, most recent tax assessments or set of accounts

• Evidence of any valuable assets such as shares, investment property, business, boat or caravan

• If you have no income and are being supported by another person, or an organisation, we will need a letter signed by the organisation/supporter confirming the about of money(if any) or other support they provide you on regular basis. You must also provide evidence how you cover your housing costs. All letters must also have the full name, address and telephone number for the person supporting you.

Do I also need to bring documents confirming my expenditure?

There are certain expenses that you are required to provide documents. These include:

• Any childcare costs over £600 that you pay

• Maintenance payments for a child or ex-partner

• Rent/mortgage, if it is more that third of your gross income, eg bank statement/mortgage statement/rent book

• If you are homeless with no fixed abode, evidence/letter from the organisation/individual who provides you with accommodation

If you require any further information about our open door sessions or evidence of means, you can contact our office on 0191 230 4777 to speak to a member of staff and we will be happy to advise you further.

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