Fee Waiver Applications
Building the evidence base for Home Office fee waivers — apply without the standard fee.
Certain immigration applications — including most applications for leave to remain based on family or private life, applications for initial leave as a destitute domestic violence victim and certain protection-related applications — can be made without payment of the Home Office application fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge where the applicant can show that they are destitute or that paying the fee would otherwise breach their Convention rights.
Fee waiver applications are decided on the papers by the Home Office and refusal rates are high, in large part because applicants fail to provide the right type of evidence in the right format or because they claim expenses or sources of income that are not accepted by the published guidance.
Our fee waiver service begins with a detailed financial review: we work through your income, outgoings, housing costs, debts and any support you receive from friends, family, charities or the state, and then map the resulting financial position against the Home Office destitution thresholds and the relevant case law on affordability.
Once we understand your financial picture we prepare a detailed written application, supporting spreadsheet and representations package, cross-referencing every figure you disclose to the underlying documentary evidence. Where appropriate we also obtain and submit specialist support letters from key workers, social workers or medical professionals to confirm any vulnerability factors that are relevant to the application.
Level 1 Scope Notice
Fee waiver advice is provided within Legal i Services Ltd's IAA Level 1 authorisation. Complex human rights arguments or Article 8 challenges outside Level 1 scope will be referred to an appropriately authorised adviser or solicitor.
Important Notes
A fee waiver does not guarantee that the main immigration application will be granted.
The biometric enrolment fee (if applicable) is not covered by a fee waiver.
The Immigration Health Surcharge is separate and not covered by the fee waiver.
Fee waiver eligibility criteria and processes can change — advice is based on current Home Office guidance.
What's Included
Included in our Fee Waiver service:
- Detailed financial and affordability assessment
- Bespoke document checklist for income and expenditure
- Help obtaining evidence of benefits, housing and support
- Preparation of detailed fee waiver application form
- Drafting of representations on destitution and rights
- Support with any reconsideration if refused
Eligibility Checklist
Ensure you meet the core requirements: