Need a recommendation immigration lawyer

Yeah, location does not matter. How does one KNOW if they are experts in EU immigration law in the UK? They all say they have experts....

When I had a quick look, some of the practices seemed to promote themselves as specialising in that area. Although you're right.. we only have their word as to the extent of their expertise!

Yeah, location does not matter. How does one KNOW if they are experts in EU immigration law in the UK? They all say they have experts....

I looked at their "About Us" page and looked at the experience and qualifications of their team members.  They seem to focus on non-EU immigration.  Spouse visas, student visas, one person is designated for asylum and higher appeals.  There doesn't seem to be a lot of emphasis on EU.

Yeah, that's what I'm seeing, too. I just wrote to Legal Services Agency Ltd, here in Glasgow to see if they can answer our two burning questions, or, if not, if they can refer us to a competent lawyer here in Glasgow.  (It's a nonprofit Immigration advice-giving organisation and they were listed on the Immigration Law Practitioner's Association website.)

Seriously, we have only two questions (basically) at this point:

1) Can she work, and if so, is there any sort of limit on the income she is allowed to make? Or should she stop working altogether, immediately?
2)  If she's offered a funded place for more higher education (such as a fee waiver and/or a stipend) can she accept it and still be considered my dependent?

The other company has been peppering me with emails, and phoned even though I said to please not phone as I have trouble hearing people on the phone. They are offering a 25% discount, so only £150 for an hour's advice, with a follow-up letter stating what we were told, plus 7 days to ask any other questions. I looked at them on Trust Pilot and their reviews are all over the place. So I'm hoping the nonprofit will respond with at least a referral to someone local.

I might also see if these people can help, without draining my bank account. http://www.loughransolicitors.com/nicola-loughran.php

Yeah, that's what I'm seeing, too. I just wrote to Legal Services Agency Ltd, here in Glasgow to see if they can answer our two burning questions, or, if not, if they can refer us to a competent lawyer here in Glasgow.  (It's a nonprofit Immigration advice-giving organisation and they were listed on the Immigration Law Practitioner's Association website.)

Seriously, we have only two questions (basically) at this point:

1) Can she work, and if so, is there any sort of limit on the income she is allowed to make? Or should she stop working altogether, immediately?
2)  If she's offered a funded place for more higher education (such as a fee waiver and/or a stipend) can she accept it and still be considered my dependent?

The other company has been peppering me with emails, and phoned even though I said to please not phone as I have trouble hearing people on the phone. They are offering a 25% discount, so only £150 for an hour's advice, with a follow-up letter stating what we were told, plus 7 days to ask any other questions. I looked at them on Trust Pilot and their reviews are all over the place. So I'm hoping the nonprofit will respond with at least a referral to someone local.

I might also see if these people can help, without draining my bank account. http://www.loughransolicitors.com/nicola-loughran.php

Have you considered a Freedom of Information request?

eeeeeH?

To whom?

https://www.gov.uk/make-a-freedom-of-information-request

Hi. Yes, I know HOW to do a FOI.     I'm just not sure who I'm asking, and for what.

"gives you the right to access recorded information held by public sector organisations."

I think that means they have to turn over any reports, emails, statistics.... not sure how that would help us?

Hi. Yes, I know HOW to do a FOI.     I'm just not sure who I'm asking, and for what.

"gives you the right to access recorded information held by public sector organisations."

I think that means they have to turn over any reports, emails, statistics.... not sure how that would help us?

I assume you would send the FOI request to UKVI and ask them for the answers to the two questions you posted above:

“1) Can she work, and if so, is there any sort of limit on the income she is allowed to make?

2)  If she's offered a funded place for more higher education (such as a fee waiver and/or a stipend) can she accept it and still be considered my dependent?”

As UKVI are the ones who issue the residence permits and publish the rules, they are the ones who will know the answers for definite.


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I thought FOI was for the release of information, not an inquiry service?

But, I don't think it'd hurt. If it's as I believe, they'll just say that. Perhaps if I worded it to say something like

"We would like the most recent case law decisions and regulations related to the status of non-EU adult dependent children's rights to work and receive education funding while in the UK on an EU Family Member card and the regulations pertaining to their eventual "Settled" status under the UK's new immigration plan for EU citizens."

I thought FOI was for the release of information, not an inquiry service?

But, I don't think it'd hurt. If it's as I believe, they'll just say that.

When googling for answers to the more obscure immigration questions, the responses to FOI requests are often all that comes up. It was a great idea of KFdancer's and definitely worth a shot.
Think carefully about the way you word the question as they will wriggle out of answering it if they can and be prepared to go back again to clarify if they try to palm you off!

Good luck! 

I thought FOI was for the release of information, not an inquiry service?

But, I don't think it'd hurt. If it's as I believe, they'll just say that.

All the FOI requests I've read online have been people asking for clarification on immigration rules.

For example:
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/eea_direct_family_member_residen
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/eea_applications
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/can_i_get_ex_eea_partner_immigra

There's no harm in submitting one anyway - if it's not something they can help with, they will let you know.

COOL.
Thanks.

Note that they say

Please be aware that we have decided to handle your correspondence of 12
April 2019 outside the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act. This
is because it does not meet the criteria for a Freedom of Information
request, as it does not ask for recorded information.

So they answered even though it was not what the FOI request page is for. We could get lucky. Then again, farther down they request that the person provide their details. I don't know if we want to flag us up at the HO or not....


Please note the onus is upon individual customers to ensure that they
satisfy the requirements for the visa they are applying for.  Guidance
material accompanies each and every application and should be considered
when making an application. UK Visas and Immigration is not able to give,
indicate or advise upon the outcome of any such application prior to it
being given full and careful consideration.
Directing you to the guidance material is the only advice we can give you.
If you need any further help you should seek independent immigration
advice. Immigration advisers can help you with immigration matters,
including completion of forms and representing you at a tribunal. The
Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) regulates
immigration advisers, which mean they must meet certain standards.
Please see the below link to find an immigration adviser:
[3]https://www.gov.uk/find-an-immigration-a...
Yours Faithfully

(In the States, the relevant offices tend to use arbitrarily set amounts one should have to pay for rent, utilities, etc. They'll say something like you should be able to rent a two bedroom house and support your three kids on $600 a month in San Francisco.)

Think you're missing a zero! 

d'ya think? 

No, seriously, the county welfare offices are notorious for saying you can live on what is completely impossible.  It's been a number of years, so I checked and the most recent I could find are about five years old. A blind person would be expected to live on $640 a month, qualified SSI elderly would get about $500 a month, and the average cash grant on welfare for a family of three in California was $463 (not per person).  Calif is extremely generous, compared to the rest of the country.

I'm hoping that the UK doesn't use similar figures.

Depressingly, except for the "hard sell" law office, none of the three others I've emailed have responded in a week. If I don't hear from them in another week I guess I'll try to phone.

Edit:  The EU is taking this up for us. Under EU law, the Daughter, as my family member, had to be dependent on me prior to her arrival in the UK to come in on a Family Permit and get a FM Residence card, which she did. She is now supposed to be able to work or take up education on the same basis as a national of Scotland, per EU law.

The legal advice we've gotten from the UK government-funded EU help service says that to be granted "settled" status in 3 more years she would have had to have remained my dependent that entire time - the full five years. The EU says that this is in  violation of EU law, and as Daughter is covered as an EU family member they are referring it on to their SOLVIT agency, who will contact the pertinent UK entities and get it sorted out. Supposedly it will take 10 weeks.

At least we'll have a solid answer as to what she can/can't do at that point. From the ultimate authority, no more picking lawyers' brains. 

The EU also said that, yes, we can go to another EU country, since the Daughter is still my dependent. Same drill - have to prove she's dependent to get permission to enter, and once there she can do as any other EU citizen as far as working/school/starting a business, etc.