Immigration Solicitors

Migrants to the UK are being warned to beware of bogus immigration firms, after a 36-year-old woman from Moldavia pleaded guilty to eight charges of providing unregulated immigration advice.

Tatiana Balan – now based in London – used her Hendon-based firm Quickbook Taxation to obtain UK work and residence permits for migrants to the UK.

City of London Magistrates Court heard that, between January 2011 and September 2013, Balan made more than 400 applications for visas to the Home Office for nationals from Romania and Moldova.

In 2014, restrictions on nationals from Romania and Bulgaria working in the UK were lifted.

However, although Balan had not profited financially from her immigration service, she had been operating outside the law at the time of the visa applications.

The court fined Balan £2,000 with £2,430 in costs.

After the hearing, Immigration Services Commissioner, Suzanne McCarthy, said that people “must obey the law”.

“We have clear standards outlining what we expect in terms of the fitness and competence of regulated advisers. Balan chose to operate outside the law.

“I am delighted with the outcome of this case – and I hope it sends a clear message to other people considering providing immigration advice that they either act within the law or will find themselves in court,” she said.

Duncan Lewis Immigration Solicitors

Duncan Lewis immigration solicitors are a leading firm of UK immigration solicitors able to advise EU migrants and migrants from non-EU countries on UK immigration matters, including:

• Asylum and asylum appeals
• British citizenship
• Fast-track detention
• Housing Benefit
• Human Rights Act
• Illegal entry to the UK
• Right to work in the UK
• Student visas
• Visa overstays.

Duncan Lewis is also a leading firm of Legal Aid solicitors.

For expert legal advice on UK immigration law, call Duncan Lewis immigration solicitors on 020 7923 4020.