Worthingtons provide both our personal and business clients with the full compliment of immigration legal services. Immigration law is multi-layered and can be extremely difficult to understand for the unacquainted. It is also constantly changing as it is very politically charged and emotive area. We pride ourselves in being able to navigate clients successfully through this complex area – our expert team keeping on top of the latest legal developments, and we are able to deliver a high quality, effective and responsive service.

Whether you are a business seeking to recruit or employ an overseas national and require a licence to do so, or if you are applying for family to join you in the UK, seeking permanent residence here, or seeking to establish your right to stay in the UK on the basis of human rights and other international obligations, Worthingtons can provide bespoke, dedicated advice and representation in these cases, taking pride in what we provide to our clients, and staying with them every step of the way. 

We are skilled in providing assistance in relation to all immigration related applications, and representation in relation to applications for administrative review, appeals to the First-tier and Upper Tribunal, and applications for judicial review. We have the right people in our team and have access to specialist immigration barristers where such representation is necessary or desired. 

We assist individuals with all aspects of the immigration system from applications for entry clearance, for extensions of stay in the UK, for permanent residence / indefinite leave to remain, for discretionary leave, and for naturalising as a British citizen, to claiming asylum in the UK, or permission to stay here on humanitarian protection or human rights grounds (including further submissions in relation thereto). We also have experience of dealing with issues relating to immigration detention, bail, removal and deportation. In addition, we have extensive experience in dealing with all aspects of the present EEA system including making applications for family permits, residence cards, derivative residence cards and for permanent residence, and we have made numerous successful applications on behalf of clients for these documents.

Entry clearance applications

Entry clearance applications can be some of the most challenging immigration applications. Often, they are being made on behalf of loved ones by their UK sponsor. Complex rules govern entry clearance applications in terms of the evidence that is required to be gathered and submitted in connection with them. We can advise in relation to all aspects of this process and have assisted clients in successfully making entry clearance applications in several countries worldwide.

EEA nationals

We are fully conversant with the EEA system for migration and advise clients and their family members in relation to family permits, residence cards and registration certificates, permanent residence and derivative residence cards.

Asylum and human rights claims

Brian Moss from our office has extensive experience in dealing with asylum, humanitarian protection and human rights claims on behalf of individuals. Brian has represented many such individuals before the First-tier Tribunal and Upper Tribunal, in making further submissions in relation to such cases, and he has also been involved in a number of immigration-related judicial reviews in the High Court.

Brian is familiar with acting for clients who are subject to detention under the immigration laws, and in applying for bail or temporary admission, on their behalf.   

Brian is delighted to have been recognised and included in a list of immigration practitioners in this area in a recent Best Practice guide, published by the Northern Ireland Council for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (‘NICRAS’).

Nationality and naturalisation

We provide advice in connection with applications for naturalising as a British citizen, including the evidential and procedural requirements relating thereto.

Brian Moss from our Belfast office is a member of the Law Society NI’s Immigration Practitioners’ Group and is currently serving as that group’s representative on the Judicial Review Liaison Committee.