About us
The immigration advice service is a team of qualified lawyers who are proud to offer dedicated, professional and high-quality advice for any immigration issue. Talk to our immigration experts to learn more about our services and find out how we can help you get your desired result.
Call us on +44 (0)333 414 9244 for immediate help & assistance with your situation. We’re here to help you in person, via the phone or online.
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Who are the Immigration Advice Service?
The Immigration Advice Service (IAS) is a dedicated, experienced, and passionate team of UK and global immigration lawyers. We specialise in individual and business immigration cases.
Our team is qualified and accredited to a high-level, and permitted to work in multiple-jurisdictions worldwide. Whether you are looking for UK or overseas immigration solutions, our expert advisers, consultants and lawyers can help.
We cover immigration to and from North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceania, as well as assist with global mobility internationally. Our head office is in Manchester, United Kingdom and we have 13 global offices, as well as immigration consultants able to help in all corners of the world.
What You Get with IAS
- World-class advice and legal assistance when you need it
- Support in multiple global jurisdictions for mobile families, investors and businesses
- Qualified advisers and immigration lawyers based in the UK, Ireland, Spain, France, Germany, Portugal, the US, Canada, Nigeria, Australia and New Zealand.
- Multi-lingual team speaking English, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, Cantonese, Mandarin, Tamil, Hindi, and more.
- Qualified lawyers with LL.B, LPC, Bar Association memberships, IAA accreditations and more. You can read about our individual team credentials here
Our Values and our Mission
At IAS, we are extremely proud of our core set of values, which we adhere to at all times. In addition to the fantastic people we have working for us, the ideals that we hold dear are what truly set us apart from most other immigration law companies. Most importantly, we uphold the belief that everyone should be entitled to reliable, professional immigration, and asylum advice.
In addition to providing a high-quality legal service to our clients, we believe in making a real difference in the world around us. We are therefore committed to community and volunteering work, to providing a supportive work environment for our staff, creating opportunities for everyone irrespective of their gender, religious, racial, or social background. We are also keen to contribute to environmental protection goals by minimising our impact on the environment.
Trusted with 30,000 Successful Applications
We are proud of our numbers, with 30,000 successful applications to-date. But, what we are most proud of is what it means to those clients. We take immense pride in making people’s immigration goals, ideas or even inconceivable dreams come to reality. Whether it’s a business looking to expand or an individual with a complex issue – our patient, compassionate and experienced team can help.
People First Philosophy
We have always put people first, since our incorporation. Our early founders played a significant role in the former charity and have gone on to have distinguished careers, both as human rights advocates and global immigration specialists. That same ethos carries through the organization at all levels, where we offer the utmost care and diligence to our clients. That’s why we are proudly accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB)
Award-Winning Legal Firm
We have helped hundreds of businesses, and thousands of individuals. IAS has worked tirelessly as advisers, advocates and trusted partners to growing businesses, families and individuals in over 60 countries globally. In 2024 we were recognised by the UK Legal Awards as the International Immigration Law Firm of the Year and by Acquisition International as Business/Corporate Immigration Experts of the Year 2024. The Immigration Advice Service is a Lawzana verified immigration law firm attesting to our credibility as top immigration law firm.
Awards & Registrations
Thought Leaders in Immigration
Our team have been at the forefront of immigration since our incorporation. Our Managing Director was recognised for his outstanding leadership in SMES and commitment to equality when awarded IoD North West SME Director of the Year in 2020. He, and many of our team are regular media contributors, and have had their cases reported in the news. We have been featured in publications including Bloomberg, The New York Times, and The Financial Times.
Featured in
15 Years of IAS
A brief history
The Immigration Advice Service (IAS) was established in the same year that the nationality charity, the Immigration Advisory Service entered administration (2011). The firm was born, largely to continue the work the charity started.
IAS’ founding partners are still here today in our fifteenth anniversary year since incorporation as a private immigration firm. During those 15 special years, IAS has grown exponentially. We now have 13 global offices, 90+ employees and over 30,000 successful application to our name.
A National Charity – The Immigration Advisory Service
The former Immigration Advisory Service was a national charity that provided legal advice and representation under legal aid funding on UK asylum and immigration matters and was the largest organisation in its field. Changes to the legal aid contract that affected all providers, including taking immigration out of scope of funding, meant that the organisation was unable to continue in its existing form, leading to administration in 2011.
Restoring IAS
The Immigration Advice Service (IAS) as we know it today was established in the same year (2011) largely to continue the work of the former Immigration Advisory Service, with its immigration arm funded by private fee-paying clients who were no longer eligible for legal aid.
The Immigration Advice Service In 2013, the Immigration Advice Service secured a legal aid contract, enabling us once again to provide government-funded legal representation in asylum matters and other matters within the scope of the contract. Over the years, we have grown to provide immigration and emigration services to individuals and companies in various countries.
From Humble Beginnings
Starting out, IAS offered advice and support for individual and family visa applications, as well as some business services such as sponsor licence applications. From specialising only in a handful of routes in 2013, IAS now offers assistance for over 300 unique immigration situations for applications in jurisdictions around the world. We are proud to offer comprehensive global coverage for business and individuals to immigrate and relocate with ease.
Staying True to Our Roots
Through thousands of hours of pro-bono work and legal aid support, as well as paid services we have given a voice to those who need it most – to stay together with their families, to get the medical treatment they need, to see their daughters get married overseas, to visit their grandchildren, to write their own chapter. It has been a privilege to serve and protect the rights of individuals around the world. Here’s members of our team offering free legal advice in Sheffield.
“We help businesses grow and families secure residency”
Migration and mobility are operational assets but they’re also deeply personal, shaping where organisations build teams and where families build futures.
As regulation tightens, costs rise, and enforcement intensifies, outcomes increasingly depend on immigration strategy: plan early, evidence rigorously, and stay compliant. At IAS we tailor our services to your exact needs helping you make sense of an increasingly complex global system.
Ono Okeregha, Managing Director of IAS
Global Offices
IAS have expanded internationally, and serve people in jurisdictions around the world. No matter if you need immigration advice in-country or outside, our team can help you. Our global offices include premises in New York, Houston, Dublin, Limerick and Lagos.
We support global applicants with visas, settlement and nationality cases in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Europe, including the UK, France, Spain, Germany, Ireland, Portugal and Italy.
UK Offices
Founded in 2011, IAS first opened in Manchester, UK, in what is now the global head office. We have offices based in London, Manchester, and Birmingham, as well as in many other locations throughout the UK. We offer remote appointments wherever you are in the world.
Global Expertise – Local Experience
Each of our team has a vast amount of experience within the immigration sector in its local areas. Therefore, you can count on our expert knowledge and deep-rooted understanding of the cultural diversity in and around every community.
Support for Any Immigration Status
We can help you, no matter how complicated your immigration issue is. We aim to eliminate your stress and maximise your chances of a successful outcome with any application or appeal you make. We can either assist foreign nationals planning to work, study, or settle in the UK, or already settled applicants who hope for a non-European partner or family members to join you.
Wherever You Need Us
United Kingdom (UK)
- IAS is regulated by the IAA (Immigration Advice Authority), is a Specialist Quality Mark (SQM) legal firm and is a verified legal aid agency in the UK. IAS is Law Society accredited, and is certified by Qualitas Veritas to handle immigration compliance, sponsor duties and HR related functions. The IAS team has experienced IAA-accredited immigration advisers and lawyers, with high-level formal legal training (e.g., bachelor (LLB) and in many cases master of law (LLM) or equivalent) and deep Home Office process expertise. We are proud members of the Better Business Bureau (BBB accredited).
Global Services
- We can coordinate global mobility strategies, transfers, and end-to-end relocations wherever you are in the world. We have qualified consultants and lawyers experienced in APAC, EMEA, LATAM, MENA, NA/AMER, CIS and ANZ migration strategy.
Global Visitors
- Our team specialise in global visitor visa and Electronic Travel Authorization applications worldwide. We support businesses and individuals to enable free movement and travel to the countries they need to visit for reasons including: business, tourism, visiting family, medical treatment and events.
Ireland
- Experienced immigration lawyers in Ireland who have covered complex cases and immigration frameworks. Our team are qualified to a high-level, and members of our team have qualifications including Bachelor of Law (LLB), Master of Law (LLM) and Barrister at Law (BL), as well as formal training in Ireland immigration law including Aliens Acts, Citizenship Acts, International Protection Act 2015.
United States of America (USA)
- US immigration matters are delivered end-to-end through our US immigration team and trusted US-qualified attorneys. Your dedicated consultant leads case strategy and case management, coordinating document preparation, forms, submissions, and USCIS liaison, while our US-qualified attorneys provide legal review and advice aligned to USCIS requirements and process standards.
France
- We provide specialist support on French and EU immigration, drawing on experience across immigration law practice and mobility training, backed by advanced legal education. Immigration advisers have Bachelor and Postgraduate degrees including in International and EU Law. Other qualifications include LLM and global mobility management certifications.
Canada
- Canada routes supported by practitioners working within Canada’s regulated immigration framework, with strong capability across temporary residence and permanent residence planning. They have passed the ECE, completed articling and are registered with the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC).
Spain
- Spain-based legal support is covered by practitioners registered with professional bodies like the Barcelona Bar Association (ICAB), with specialist academic training in Spanish immigration law. IAS is a Member of the British Chamber of Commerce in Spain.
Germany
- Experienced advisers on German and EU immigration law, supporting German work and residence routes, with practical familiarity of local authority processes, employer documentation and compliance requirements.
Portugal
- Dedicated Portugal route support (including long-stay and residence categories) from qualified immigration advisers and lawyers in Portugal with jurisdiction-specific document and process expertise and end-to-end case coordination.
New Zealand
- NZ pathway support with jurisdiction-specific process knowledge and practical planning for families and employers, including documentation and application coordination.
Australia
- Full support for Australian immigration routes with experienced immigration consultants, with structured evidence preparation and compliance-led case strategy. Our team can support your relocation from beginning to end.
More Than Visas
Our team cover global mobility in full. We can advise and support applications for international visas, from family visas to visitor visas; work visas to investor visas. Beyond visas, we help people build long-term pathways. Our specialist immigration consultants build a plan that works for you, whether it’s the quickest possible route to settlement, citizenship or a second passport, or the most cost-effective way to hire an international employee.
What You Need When You Need It
- Immigration advice
- Visa applications
- Nationality, citizenship and second passports
- Urgent and fast-track cases
- Refusals, appeals, tribunals & legal representation
- Sponsor license applications & worker petitions
- Global Business Mobility
- Compliance and auditing
- HR & Right to Work training
- Relocation Assistance
End-to-End Immigration & Relocation Services
While we have top immigration advisers who specialise in visa applications, we also have specialists in residence, citizenship and nationality cases; corporate immigration strategy and compliance, as well as legal representation for complex needs. Beyond that, we have consultants who can tie together your plan, coordinating all your immigration needs with a relocation plan that works for you.
Tax, Relocation & Multi-Jurisdictional-Planning
We can support you beyond applications. Our team facilitate and coordinate global moves, and with local, regional and internationally partners, we can help you with everything you require from selling your house to moving home, pet relocations, school-finding, dual-taxation agreements and tax planning, and much more. At IAS you get one dedicated specialist as a point of contact to facilitate all your needs.
Trusted Advisors Around the World
Whether you’re moving to one location or managing a multi-country plan, we’ll match you with specialists who can cover your jurisdictions, keep your casework consistent, and make the process feel manageable. Our specialist immigration advisers comprise highly qualified legal professionals including lawyers and senior caseworkers working across the UK, core European markets, North America, Asia, Africa and Oceania. We support clients from all continents including Africa and Latin America.
We provide regulated, practical immigration advice in multiple jurisdictions and we cover end-to-end solutions including strategy, eligibility checks, document preparation, application drafting and submission support, Home Office/authority liaison, as well as appeal and review support. We can support you wherever you go, with visiting, residence-planning and mobility worldwide.
Our Cancellation and Refund Policy
Our aim is to be recognized as the leading provider of immigration advice and representation in the UK. For this reason, we are dedicated to providing excellence and quality, exceeding our client’s expectations in all the services we provide.
We do our best to accommodate our clients’ needs. This includes giving you the possibility to cancel our services if you are unhappy with them or if you do not wish to continue to receive our advice.
You can get in touch with our team of experts to learn more about our Cancellation and Refund Policy.
If you wish to contact us with your feedback or to make a complaint, our team will be happy to hear from you.
