Student & Child Student
Appropriate basic points-based applications; CAS and eligibility evidence must be in place.
Regulatory scopeWhat we do.
What we do.
What we do not.
A public guide to our authorisation, our actual service focus and when a specialist referral is needed.
IAA Level 1 — advice and assistance.
What Level 1 means: work based on straightforward facts meeting the published criteria, within the adviser’s actual competence, and without immigration history likely to adversely affect the application. In-country permission-to-stay work ordinarily requires extant leave, subject to narrow official exceptions.
Level 1 is not a general authorisation to handle all matters in a named visa route. A previous refusal, adverse evidence or need for legal argument can move the case out of scope.
Skilled Worker and other eligible work visas
Personal applications under points-based and other routes, including suitable extensions where the rules and existing leave permit.
Visitor visas
Routine visitor applications meeting the published criteria.
Partner / fiancé(e) / family
Straightforward eligible applications on the five-year route and suitable dependant applications; not complex human-rights or family-reunion claims.
EUSS
Straightforward settled or pre-settled applications; late and complex scenarios require particular assessment and may be out of scope.
Nationality
Basic naturalisation, child registration, nationality status confirmation; narrow administrative reconsiderations only.
Other permitted categories
For example UK Ancestry, BN(O), suitable frontier-worker or diplomatic matters and eligible Appendix ECAA situations.
Narrow asylum/protection tasks
Address changes; straightforward variations of existing conditions; leave/refugee status in line for certain UK-born children. No substantive asylum cases.
Administrative review — narrow exception
Administrative review of Level 1-type applications may be permitted, except refusals based on credibility or fundamental genuineness of documents or relationships. We assess both the scope and our competence first; matters outside either are referred.
Outside our direct offer
Where we refer rather than act.
Some routes may be within Level 1 in theory but beyond the experience of a newly registered practice. We do not offer them without confirmed competence.
Substantive asylum claims or appeals
A Level 1 asylum authorisation does not allow initial substantive asylum applications or asylum appeals.
Appeals, tribunal advocacy, judicial review, pre-action letters
Court and appellate work is not Level 1 work.
Removal, deportation, detention / bail applications
Except certain straightforward bail-condition variations allowed in guidance.
Illegal entry and overstaying
Narrow published exceptions for some out-of-time within 14 days and eligible EUSS work; do not generalise.
Family reunion / Protection Route settlement
Listed as outside Level 1 in IAA competence guidance.
10-year family/private-life routes and complex DV settlement
Generally need detailed representations and higher-level expertise.
Complex EUSS and credibility disputes
For example retained/derivative rights, complex late applications or doubtful identity/evidence.
Employer work beyond our current competence
Sponsor-licence applications can fall within Level 1. We confirm competence and a separate employer scope before accepting work, and refer complex or unfamiliar sponsorship and compliance matters. The employer remains responsible for sponsorship and authorised SMS access.
CoS vs CAS vs CoA: a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) and Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) are issued through licensed sponsors, not independently issued by UK VISA TAX. A Certificate of Application (CoA) may be issued by the Home Office for a valid EUSS application; we cannot manufacture or guarantee one. Sponsor SMS “Level 1 user” is a separate employer-system role, not the IAA adviser level.
Primary scope source: IAA Level 1 competence guidance ↗. Check our registration ↗. Every client is individually screened against current law and guidance.
Start with the right conversation.
Tell us the essentials. We screen the matter before deciding whether we can help.
Choosing the right level of support
Complex casework is referred or signposted to an appropriately authorised Level 2 or Level 3 adviser or immigration solicitor. We do not lodge appeals or represent clients at hearings. Hearing representation requires the relevant Level 3 authorisation or another suitably authorised legal professional; judicial review requires additional appropriate authority.
Referrals are made with consent and subject to the receiving provider agreeing to consider the matter. The receiving provider agrees its own terms and fees.
IAA registration guidance — adviser levels and sponsor licensing ↗