Key stages in UK immigration applications

Key stages
Our lawyers provide strategic alternatives and procedural timing options right for the circumstances of each client, and although the majority of immigration applications follow three key stages, the timeframe for each will depend on the type of application, country where the application is being submitted, the type of service chosen and any specific complexities related to the matter.

Stage	Activity	Timeframe
Stage 1	Obtaining instructions, providing strategic advice and preparation of application.	Factoring in the needs of each client, the completion of stage 1 can take from a few days to a few weeks/months depending on the individual circumstances and the timings of the strategic plan agreed.
Stage 2	Submission of application, consideration and decision-making by the Home Office.	Home Office processing times can vary between 24 hours to more than six months, depending on the type of application, the availability of premium services, the country from which the application is made, and any case-specific complexities. For an indication of the most recent Home Office processing times please click here.
Stage 3	Post-decision advice.	Once an application has been decided we promptly provide post-decision advice, explaining the next steps.

*Some applications may have additional stages, for example applications under Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent), Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) and certain categories for sportspeople require prior endorsement. Applications under Tier 2, 4 and 5 require the sponsor to already hold a licence. Tier 2 (General) may be subject to additional steps, for example obtaining a Restricted Certificate of Sponsorship (RCoS) (allocated monthly) and running the 28-day Resident Labour Market Test (RLMT) prior to sponsoring the migrant.

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30 April 2025