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Immigration and Visas

Advice and support

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Immigration advice services

University advisers are able to provide immigration advice and guidance to our students about the UK’s Student and Standard Visitor Immigration Rules relating to studying at Essex.

An adviser can only provide advice within their level of competency as outlined by the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA). We hope you will find all the information you require within these international student pages and our Student Directory. If you can’t find what you are looking for or need further guidance you will be able to follow the links within the pages to the relevant team. Advice is offered by specialists within the University’s International Services team and the Student’s Union SU Advice service, the team you contact will depend on the nature of your enquiry and your student status.

If your enquiry is about another category of the UK’s Immigration Rules or it is beyond our level of competency, you will need to seek advice from elsewhere. Some organisations offer advice to students free of charge but others will charge a fee for their services, please check what their charges are likely to be before instructing them to act on your behalf.

External immigration advice services

Free advice services

The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA)

UKCISA is a charitable organisation specialising in UK student immigration law and publish information, advice and guidance online. 

UKCISA also offer free telephone advice to students and institutions, it is an extremely busy advice line so you may need to redial the number several times before you get through. We recommend reading the UKCISA website first as the answer to your enquiry may be found there.

  • Telephone: +4420 7788 9214, usually open 1pm - 4pm, Monday to Friday

Essex Law Clinic

Essex Law Clinic provides free legal advice on issues such as immigration, family law, employment, housing, equality, benefits and personal injury to the local community.

Citizens Advice

Citizens Advice offer free advice on many issues and offices can be found in most towns. However, many Citizens Advice offices are unable to offer immigration advice. Please check their websites for details of services in your area. Citizens Advice also offer some online information about immigration and finding an immigration adviser.

Regulated immigration advisers

You should check that any adviser you use is regulated to provide immigration advice in the UK by reviewing the IAA Register.

You can search for a regulated immigration adviser via:

We are unable to recommend an immigration lawyer to you, however, the services below are local to the University of Essex.

It may be possible to negotiate a fixed fee for certain advice/services. Please check how much you are likely to pay when you contact them.

Colchester

Fisher Jones Greenwood

Immigration Legal Services

Loughton and Southend

We are not aware of any immigration solicitors in Southend or Loughton - Use the IAA Adviser Finder tool to find your nearest regulated advice service.

Advice about seeking asylum in the UK

Advice on seeking Asylum in the UK is highly regulated and can only be given by registered advisers who are competent to do so. University advisers are only competent to provide advice relating to the UK’s Student Immigration Rules.

Visit the Refugee Council website for guidance and find out how to get support.

Refugee, Asylum seeker and Migrant Action (RAMA) give advice and guidance on the asylum process and provide support with all aspects of integrating to life in the UK.

You can find out more about seeking asylum and finding an immigration adviser on the government website.

Translation services

If you need documents translated into English for your application you must ensure the translation meets the Home Office requirements, as outlined in the Immigration Rules and Guidance. There are many organisations that offer translation services, the following have been recommended to us by students in the past and cover all languages:

Regulation of immigration advice and services

The Immigration Advice Authority (IAA) is a government body whose role is to protect seekers of immigration advice through regulation, enforcement and promoting best practice. The IAA is responsible for licensing and regulating immigration advisers by ensuring they are fit and competent and act in the best interests of their clients. Their Adviser Finder allows you to search for an IAA registered organisation based on your location. You can verify that a specific organisation or adviser is regulated by the IAA by reviewing the IAA Register. 

The IAA can investigate complaints and concerns about advisers and have the authority to prosecute individuals operating illegally or that fail to uphold their Code of Standards.

UK immigration rules and guidance
Read the relevant rules and guidance before applying for immigration permission to study and keep up to date during your stay.
During your studies
If you have a visa to study with us, find out about our right to study checks, your responsibilities during your course and what to do if anything changes.
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