code for immigration advisors

[hesaw]

Hello,

Just have a small query and its mainly to do with a code of conduct for immigration advisors.

My wife wanted to sponsor her mother to come to the UK and went to an immigration advisor. He took bank statements, payslips etc and had her fill in and sign a template letter confirming sponsoring of mother etc. For this he charged her £280.

A week later we got a rejection letter saying my mother in law had not explained how she was funding herself (her husband works and they have joint bank account) The immigration advisor did not write a covering letter on behalf of my mother in law to explain anything. Once we got the rejection letter the immigration advisor said it was a simple issue to resolve and said we should make another application which we did and submitted it.

For this he wants a payment of £550 (exc VAt). He didn't discuss prices for the 2nd application nor did he mention that because her initial application was rejected he would charge more for the 2nd application as it involved more work - to be fair he did write a detailed covering letter.

My wife assumed it would be the same price not atleast because in the 1st application he didn't write a covering letter to explain anything.

Is there a code of conduct that advisors need to follow? Am I being unreasonable or is this standard practice?

[noajthan]

Of course there is no guarantee of visa success with or without help of an advisor.

Only use OISC-registered advisor.

Contact OISC for support if any queries/concerns or cause for complaint.

[Casa]

There is a code of conduct for OISC registered Immigration Advisors.

Edit: Pipped at the post by noajthan

[hesaw]

He is OISC registered. My concern isn't with the visa's refusal but more he is trying to charge double his standard fee for making an application without having first agreed this with us.

[Casa]

This may help your case:
From the OISC Code of Conduct
Client care letter
33. Having agreed to act for the client, and prior to undertaking substantive work, an adviser
must explain to the client in a client care letter the following:
a. details of the services and the individual adviser's responsibilities as agreed with the
client. These details must make clear what instructions were taken, what advice was given
and what action was agreed upon with the client;
b. all terms and conditions of engagement, including that the OISC may examine the file;
c. confirmation of the costs estimated or agreed;
d. information regarding any additional costs likely to be incurred or for which the client
may become liable (e.g. disbursements);
e. details of the person dealing with the case, including their location and telephone contact
number; and
f. details of the adviser's complaint-handling procedures.5
A copy of the client care letter must be retained in the client's file. Advisers must ensure, as far as
reasonably practicable, that this copy is signed and dated by the client.


https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/s ... ndards.pdf

[hesaw]

Thanks -