Facing detention or a refusal of a visa or protection claim is one of the most stressful experiences an individual can face. If you or a family member is detained or facing removal, we act swiftly. Our specialist immigration team offers urgent, expert representation at every stage, focusing on securing a positive and timely resolution for you and your family. We prepare bail applications, challenge detention, and represent clients at tribunals and judicial reviews.
Immigration Bail Applications
First-tier Tribunal (FTT) Appeals
Upper Tribunal (UT) Appeals
Judicial Reviews
Unlawful Detention Claims
Mistreatment Claims
Removal & Deportation Challenges
'Adults at Risk' Challenges
Unlawful detention must be challenged immediately. We operate with speed to assess the legality of your detention and prepare applications for release.
We conduct immediate file reviews and visit detained clients at Immigration Removal Centres (IRCs) to assess the grounds for detention and initiate action.
We prepare and present comprehensive bail applications to the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) (FTT), compiling necessary documentation, including sureties and accommodation evidence.
Where detention is deemed unlawful, we pursue judicial review claims for release and compensation, challenging the Home Office’s exercise of power.
We proudly serve clients across England & Wales, covering all major cities, including:
Bangor, Cardiff, Newport, St Asaph, St Davids, Swansea, Wrexham, Bath, Birmingham, Bradford, Brighton & Hove, Bristol, Cambridge, Canterbury, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Chester, Chichester, Colchester, Coventry, Derby, Doncaster, Durham, Ely, Exeter, Gloucester, Hereford, Kingston-upon-Hull, Lancaster, Leeds, Leicester, Lichfield, Lincoln, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Milton Keynes, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Norwich, Nottingham, Oxford, Peterborough, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Preston, Ripon, Salford, Salisbury, Sheffield, Southampton, Southend-on-Sea, St Albans, Stoke on Trent, Sunderland, Truro, Wakefield, Wells, Westminster, Winchester, Wolverhampton, Worcester, York.
A refusal decision is not the end of the road. We manage all levels of the immigration appeal process, meticulously preparing your case for an independent judge.
Human Rights, Protection (Asylum), and EU Settlement Scheme Refusals.
Detailed Grounds of Appeal drafting, witness statement preparation, and in-person advocacy at the hearing.
Seeking permission to appeal based on an ‘error of law’ in the FTT’s decision.
In-depth analysis of the FTT judgment, identification of legal errors (e.g., misapplication of law, lack of evidence), and persuasive application drafting.
Challenging UT decisions or Home Office decisions where no right of appeal exists (e.g., some visit visa refusals).
Applying to the High Court, providing a strong argument that the decision-maker acted unlawfully or irrationally.
We are committed to providing clear, transparent advice throughout this complex journey, fighting passionately to protect your right to live and remain in the UK.
We proudly serve clients across England & Wales, covering all major cities, including:
Bangor, Cardiff, Newport, St Asaph, St Davids, Swansea, Wrexham, Bath, Birmingham, Bradford, Brighton & Hove, Bristol, Cambridge, Canterbury, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Chester, Chichester, Colchester, Coventry, Derby, Doncaster, Durham, Ely, Exeter, Gloucester, Hereford, Kingston-upon-Hull, Lancaster, Leeds, Leicester, Lichfield, Lincoln, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Milton Keynes, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Norwich, Nottingham, Oxford, Peterborough, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Preston, Ripon, Salford, Salisbury, Sheffield, Southampton, Southend-on-Sea, St Albans, Stoke on Trent, Sunderland, Truro, Wakefield, Wells, Westminster, Winchester, Wolverhampton, Worcester, York.
We provide legal assistance for individuals detained in the following UK Detention Centres:
The outcome of your immigration case is critical to your future. Choosing the right legal partner is essential. Here is why clients across London and the UK entrust their cases to GreatWest Law Solicitors.
Our solicitors possess extensive experience across the full spectrum of immigration law — from straightforward visa applications to complex appeals and judicial reviews. We understand Home Office procedures, common refusal reasons, and the evidential standards required to succeed. Every case is handled by a qualified solicitor, not delegated to unregulated advisers.
We are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) with registration no: 8011092 and bound by strict professional standards. Every matter is treated with confidentiality, integrity, and respect. We act with sensitivity in all immigration and asylum matters, ensuring that every client — regardless of background or circumstances — receives fair, lawful, and professional representation.
We operate a clear and transparent fee structure with fixed-fee options for most immigration applications. All costs are explained in writing before work begins. We also offer flexible payment plans where appropriate. Our communication is prompt and accessible — clients can reach us by phone, email, or secure video consultation regardless of location.
Should your application be refused or delayed, we provide expert representation before the Immigration Tribunal and higher courts. We prepare written grounds of appeal, witness statements, and legal arguments that comply with procedural and evidential rules. Our advocacy is firm, professional, and based on legal merit rather than formality.
Our clients receive straightforward, practical advice. We explain complex legal issues in plain English and keep you updated at every stage. You will work directly with an experienced solicitor who understands the importance of efficiency, responsiveness, and accuracy. We meet deadlines without compromising attention to detail.
Our approach is proactive, not reactive. We identify potential issues at an early stage — such as gaps in residence, financial requirements, or overstays — and resolve them before submission. This strategic preparation significantly increases success rates and reduces delays or refusals.
We recognise that no two immigration cases are alike. Whether you are an individual applicant, a family reuniting in the UK, or an employer seeking to sponsor overseas workers, our advice is carefully tailored to your goals, background, and eligibility. We prepare applications meticulously, ensuring every supporting document and statement aligns with the relevant Immigration Rules and policy guidance.
Our clients value our integrity, transparency, and results-driven service. We build lasting relationships through reliability and clear communication. Much of our work comes from repeat clients and referrals, a reflection of our commitment to professional excellence and trust-based representation.
Detention must be lawful, used sparingly, and for the shortest time necessary, typically to effect removal or establish identity. The detention must be based on a statutory power and align with Home Office policy. We challenge detention by asserting that it is ultra vires (beyond the legal power), the Home Office has failed to review the case properly, or the detention has become unlawful due to an unreasonable delay in the removal or decision process
Bail is applied for either to the Secretary of State (Home Office) or to the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber). Success is greatly increased by demonstrating: a fixed, suitable address to reside at; the presence of one or more Financial Condition Supporters (Sureties); and a low risk of absconding or reoffending. We build a robust application with clear evidence of compliance and community ties.
Yes. Legal Aid is generally available (and often not means-tested for the detention element of the work) for individuals in immigration detention, particularly for bail applications. Access to legal representation is critical in detention cases, and we can advise on your eligibility and funding options immediately.
The right of appeal is now highly restricted. It primarily applies to decisions that: refuse a Protection Claim (Asylum/Humanitarian Protection); refuse a Human Rights Claim (e.g., under Article 8, the right to family/private life); or revoke Protection Status or British Citizenship. Decisions on standard entry clearance visas (like Visit or Work visas) often do not carry an appeal right.
Our role is to build a winning case. This involves: drafting the detailed Grounds of Appeal; collating and submitting a comprehensive Appeal Bundle with supporting evidence; preparing and finalising witness statements (including those of the appellant and family members); drafting a Skeleton Argument outlining the legal position; and providing advocacy and representation at the tribunal hearing.
If the FTT refuses the appeal, the next step is to apply for permission to appeal to the Upper Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber). This is not a re-hearing of the facts; it must demonstrate that the FTT Judge made an ‘Error of Law’ (e.g., misapplied a legal rule, failed to give adequate reasons, or incorrectly assessed the evidence).
Administrative Removal is for individuals who have breached immigration rules (e.g., overstayers, illegal entrants). A Deportation Order is generally issued against a Foreign National Offender (FNO) convicted of a criminal offence with a sentence of 12 months or more, or where their presence is deemed not conducive to the public good. Deportation has more severe future consequences.
Challenges are almost always based on Human Rights grounds, specifically:
JR is a public law remedy used as a last resort to challenge the legality of the decision-making process, not the facts of the case itself. It is used when there is no right of appeal, or when the Home Office has acted: illegally, irrationally, or with procedural impropriety (e.g., failing to consider key evidence or delaying a decision unreasonably).
They must contact a solicitor immediately. Notices of removal or appeal refusals have strict time limits (often 14 calendar days for an in-country appeal). Failing to act promptly can result in losing the right to challenge the decision or the client’s physical removal from the UK. We advise clients to send us the decision letter and all associated documents without delay.
