Legal Advice

• Immigration

CIAC offers in-depth advice on all aspects of immigration law. In particular, we can help you if your problems relate to asylum, future leave to remain, student visas, EEC family members, spouse visas, or family reunion applications. We also undertake casework and provide representation for immigration appeals, as well as supporting other Chinese organisations on immigration issues.

Legal Advice Helpline: 08453 131 868
Open drop-in services are on Wednesday ftom 10am to 3pm.

In-person interviews, where appropriate, are by appointment only.

We hold the Legal Services Commission's Specialist Quality Mark in immigration / asylum. Our legal advice team is headed by a solicitor and all our immigration caseworkers are accredited by the Law Society's Immigration and Asylum Accreditation Scheme.

Immigration law continues to account for the largest category (72%) of cases undertaken by CIAC, with asylum advice accounting for another 4.4%. Asylum matters tend to be much more complex, averaging 15-20 hours per case, compared to an average of two hours per case for other immigration matters. The three categories of immigration matters most frequently handled by CIAC are:

1. Further leave to remain (24 months) as the spouse of a settled UK person;
2. Permanent settlement of the spouse of a settled UK person; and
3. Naturalisation.

• Legal Aid

40% of CIAC’s casework is for clients who qualify for legal aid. To qualify for legal advice funded by the Legal Services Commission, you must earn a gross income of less than £2,435 per month, have less than £672 in monthly disposable income and less than £8,000 in capital.

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