Our team has extensive experience of supporting non-British residents who have been subjected to domestic abuse, whilst on a UK spouse or partner visa. Our team has supported many clients with applications for settled status after having been subjected to domestic abuse in the UK whilst on a partner visa and appreciates the sensitivity required in such matters.
If a person is suffering from domestic abuse whilst on a partner visa in the UK, it is important that they understand that their safety is first and foremost and that options exist for an alternative status in the UK, under Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules. An applicant may apply for indefinite leave to remain in the UK if they came here on a temporary visa as a partner and their relationship has ended because of domestic abuse.
An applicant for settled status in the UK (on account of the domestic violence that has ended their relationship) must be in the UK and their first grant of leave to remain must have been as the partner of a British Citizen, a person present and settled in the UK, a person with refugee leave, or a person in the UK with limited leave under Appendix EU.
The applicant for settled status in the UK after having experienced domestic abuse will need to provide evidence that their relationship with their partner has broken down permanently as a result of domestic abuse. It is important to understand that domestic abuse does not just have to be physical: it can also be emotional, financial, sexual, psychological, or coercive control (controlling behaviour). There are a number of ways to evidence domestic abuse, ranging from criminal convictions of the abuser to letters from social services or the applicant’s GP.
If an applicant for indefinite leave to remain due to domestic violence, cannot support themselves while they are making the application for indefinite leave to remain, they can complete a separate application form for permission to claim benefits for up to three months. This is called the Destitute Domestic Violence Concession. A person on a temporary partner or spouse visa in the UK, who is suffering from domestic abuse, should be aware of the alternative options for their ongoing permission to remain in the UK and take steps to protect themselves from harm.
Our team provides advice to those who have suffered domestic advice and helps them navigate applications for settled status in the UK, throughout the complex application process. Our team addresses applications from victims of domestic abuse with great care and sensitivity and uses the range of inhouse experience to draw such matters to safer conclusions.
Domestic Abuse and Violence Applications – Full Representation
Full representation is a comprehensive service, that allows our firm to become your legal representatives and to represent you in all matters concerning your UK domestic violence visa. This includes preparing the appropriate forms and liaising with UKVI or the Home Office on your behalf.
If you decided that full representation was the appropriate service for you and your family, we would take detailed instructions from you, issue a client care letter and other appropriate paperwork to you, plan works according to what we consider to be your best interests, advise you of any documents or information that we may need to prepare the case efficiently and lodge your domestic violence visa application for you. We would ensure that you are updated on any key developments on your matter and remain as your legal representatives until a decision is reached.
We would endeavour to be on hand throughout the domestic violence visa application process to guide you and answer any questions you might have about the process. Once the domestic violence visa matter has been concluded, we would send you a closing letter outlining any items that we think you may wish to know moving forwards.
Full representation may not be suitable for all clients, but our experience is that for those who have utilised this service with us, they have found it to be very helpful indeed. We would encourage readers to consider the wide range of positive reviews which are available on the internet, relating to our services.
We are proud to be able to offer a fixed fee for full representation in your application for a domestic violence visa for the UK. Many of our clients find this to be useful in managing their costs and expectations. Although the below pricing information provides a cost range, you will always be given a precise cost on instruction and this will be detailed in your client care letter. The reason that we provide a cost range is because cases can vary considerably according to their complexity.
UKVI (Usual) Fee: £2389 (where the applicant does not qualify for a fee waiver); &
Curzon Green (London based client) Fee: £1800-£2500 plus VAT; or
Curzon Green (Buckinghamshire based client) Fee: £1200-£1800 plus VAT.
Please do not hesitate to contact our team for advice on a precise fee for representation in your matter or with any queries that you may have.
UK Domestic Violence Visas – Consultancy Services:
Our charges for these consultancy services are outlined below.
Curzon Green (London based client) Fee: £250-£350 plus VAT per session which lasts up to an hour (depending on the experience of the person you book your consultation with); or
Curzon Green (Buckinghamshire based client) Fee: £200-£250 plus VAT per session which lasts up to an hour (depending on the experience of the person you book your consultation with).
Contact Us
If you are unsure as to which service might be appropriate for your matter, or have any other queries about our immigration services, we warmly invite you to contact our team of experienced practitioners. You can do this by clicking on the links below or by telephoning or emailing our offices. You can explain to the receptionists that you are seeking to speak with the immigration team.
Telephone our offices:
London: 020 3443 9576
High Wycombe: 01494 451355
Marlow: 01628 958445
Email our immigration practitioners: immigration@curzongreen.co.uk
