Legal advice and representation
- Legal clinics and charities can offer free immigration advice. They can have long waiting times.
- Private solicitors will charge a fee. This could be between £500 and £2500. It will be more if you have to appeal a decision.
- Make sure your immigration advisor is OISC registered.
- Legal Aid Exception case funding (+ DNA test Find out more)
- Family Reunion costs can be expensive. Think about how to budget for it.
Interpreting and translation:
- You may need interpreting during your legal appointment.
- You will have to pay for the interpreter directly or via the solicitor
- The cost depends on the language, length of time and is about £20 – £40 an hour.
- Travel and expenses of the interpreter might be charged to you.
- You will have to pay for your documents to be translated.
Passports and birth certificates:
- Passports are needed for international travel.
- Applications for passports can take weeks or months and be expensive.
- If your family do not have passports and cannot apply for them safely, the Home Office can issue a one-way travel document to the UK for free.
- Applications for birth certificates or other official documentation such as a family book, residence permit or ID cards can take time and cost money.
- A legal advisor can give guidance on what evidence is needed for an application.
- These documents will need to be translated
DNA testing:
- DNA testing is not required for family reunion applications.
- However, it can be important in complex cases to evidence a family link
- DNA tests should only done through Home Office recommended providers.
- DNA tests cost between £150 to £1000 depending on family size and family location
- Your family might have to travel to DNA test centres in Capital or larger cities.
- In Scotland and Northern Ireland, DNA testing costs are normally covered by legal aid.
(If exceptional case funding is granted)
TB test certificates:
- The UK requires all applicants from certain countries to undertake a TB test.
- There is a Home Office webpage for each country where a TB test is required.
- The test is valid for six months.
- Costs in each country are different and TB tests cost approx. $150 USD per person, children under 11 years, approx. $60 USD per person.
- Your family must use only Home Office approved clinics that are located in major cities
- You will need to pay for Transport to the TB centre and maybe accommodation and food.
Travel to appointments:
- Your family might have to travel many times for appointments in capital cities and large cities.
- Plan for the cost of transport, accommodation, and food etc