Immigration
Immigration law is a complex and ever-evolving area of law, regulating entry, stay, and departure from the UK. We provide comprehensive support for individuals and families navigating the UK immigration system. Whether you're visiting, reuniting with family, or seeking citizenship, our team is here to guide you through the process with expertise and care.
We guide clients through the UK’s immigration process with clarity and care. From Sponsorship Declarations to help bring family members to the UK, to Family Visas and Spouse Visa applications and extensions, we ensure every application is prepared with precision. We assist with Indefinite Leave to Remain applications for those settling permanently, and support clients with Nationality Applications to secure British citizenship.
Visit Visas
Visit visas allow individuals to travel temporarily to the UK for tourism, business, family visits, or medical treatment. Applicants must demonstrate an intention to return home, sufficient financial means to support their stay, and meet Home Office criteria. Common refusal reasons include insufficient documentation, lack of ties to the home country, or financial inconsistencies.
Eligibility typically applies to citizens of non-visa-exempt countries intending to stay for up to six months. Most decisions are made within 3 to 6 weeks following a biometric appointment. Costs generally include the visa fee and any associated legal services.
Spouse Visas
Spouse visas allow partners of British citizens or settled persons to live in the UK. Applicants must demonstrate a genuine, subsisting relationship, meet financial requirements and show proof of suitable accommodation.
Eligibility extends to married couples, civil partners, and those in long-term relationships (two years or more). Standard visa processing time is 8-12 weeks, with priority services reduces this.
Nationality
Becoming a British citizen through naturalisation or registration is a significant milestone that grants full rights in the UK. Naturalisation generally requires at least five years of lawful residence, one year of Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), and successful completion of the Life in the UK Test.
Children born in the UK or overseas may qualify for registration under specific conditions. Processing times for applications typically range from 3 to 6 months, with fees varying based on the type of application.
Litigation
Our litigation team helps individuals and businesses resolve disputes effectively and fairly. We manage Debt Recovery cases to help recover what’s owed, handle Flight Delay Claims for late and cancelled flights and pursue Discretionary Commission Agreement claims.
Flight Delay Claims
Flight delay and cancellation claims allow passengers to seek compensation when their travel plans are disrupted. Under UK and EU regulations, passengers may be entitled to fixed compensation for delays of three hours or more, cancellations, or denied boarding—provided certain conditions are met.
Claims can be made for flights departing from the UK or EU, as well as for arrivals into these regions on qualifying airlines. We handle the process from start to finish, from assessing eligibility to challenging airline refusals. Our goal is to secure fair compensation for the inconvenience, time lost, and knock-on effects to your travel plans.
Debt Recovery
Debt recovery involves taking legal steps to reclaim money owed by individuals or businesses. This could arise from unpaid invoices, loans, rent arrears, or other financial obligations. The law provides various remedies to help creditors recover outstanding debts, from pre-action letters to formal court proceedings.
If you are owed money, swift action can improve the chances of successful recovery. We act for both individuals and businesses, tailoring our approach to the amount owed and the debtor’s circumstances. Our team can negotiate repayment plans, obtain County Court Judgments (CCJs), and take enforcement action where necessary. We aim to resolve matters efficiently, balancing firmness with practicality to achieve the best outcome.
Mis-Sold Car Finance (Discretionary Commission Arrangements)
For many years, car finance agreements were sold under Discretionary Commission Arrangements (DCAs). These gave car dealers and brokers the power to set the interest rate offered to the customer. The higher the rate, the more commission they earned. Customers were rarely told about this arrangement, meaning many ended up paying far more than they should have without ever knowing why.
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has since stopped DCAs, recognising that they created an unfair conflict of interest. If you entered into a car finance agreement before January 2021, it is possible your agreement was affected. These cases are often considered mis-sold because commission payments were not disclosed, the true cost of borrowing was unclear, and agreements were made in the broker’s best interests rather than the customers.
If your agreement was mis-sold, you may be entitled to compensation. This can include a refund of the excess interest you paid, statutory interest on top, and in some cases a reduction of any outstanding balance if the finance is still running. Even if you have already repaid the agreement, you may still be able to bring a claim.
At Classis, we specialise in supporting clients with claims of this kind. Our litigation team will review your finance agreement(s), request disclosure of documents and commission details, and pursue redress through the lender, the Financial Ombudsman Service, or the courts where necessary.