Legal representatives' same-day service

This page explains the service available to legal representatives who wish to submit applications at public enquiry offices on behalf of clients.

Our public enquiry offices in the UK do not accept cash as payment for applications. You can pay by credit card, banker's draft or postal order.

The UK Border Agency is committed to delivering the highest standards in customer care. Our third-party representatives' same-day service gives a choice to customers who want to use the premium same-day service: they can submit their application in person, or employ a third-party representative to accompany them to their appointment and collect the application. The service is offered at no additional cost to either the customer or the representative.

Our public enquiry offices will only deal with straightforward applications which do not require further enquiries.

This is a concessionary service which is reviewed regularly. We reserve the right to reduce or remove the service at any time.

Who can use the service?

To be able to use the third-party representatives' same-day service, you must be registered with the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) or be exempt. See the OISC website for more information.

You must also provide evidence that you are qualified under the terms of Part V of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. You are qualified to provide immigration advice or services if you are:

• a member of a designated professional body, such as the Law Society or an equivalent in the European Economic Area, or acting under the supervision of a member;
• registered or exempted by the OISC, or acting under the supervision of such a person; or
• exempted by ministerial order, such as an employer providing advice only to your own staff or prospective staff.

The rules and standards for immigration advisers are set out on the OISC website.

What types of application can you make?

Premium service and super premium service

This describes the types of application that you can normally submit in person using the 'premium service' at our public enquiry office in Croydon in the UK. It also states the types of applications which cannot be accepted at the public enquiry office.

Applications, which cannot be accepted at the public enquiry office

Our public enquiry offices cannot consider your application if you are:

• a person who has been given discretionary leave to remain or humanitarian protection;
• a person with a poor immigration history;
• applying for permanent residence on the basis of 10 or 14 years' residence;
• a business person, innovator, sole representative or investor;
• a seaman;
• a Gurkha; or
• an elderly dependant.

Also, they cannot consider your application if:

• your case is complex; or
• your case is not covered by the Immigration Rules; or
• your sponsor is a staff member of the Home Office or the UK Border Agency. To protect the confidentiality of your sponsor and to prevent any possibility of corrupt behaviour, these applications must be made by post. You must send the application to the address on the application form, with a note stating that the sponsor is a serving member of staff at the Home Office or the UK Border Agency.

Further, they cannot accept applications for travel documents. These applications should be made by post. See Home Office travel documents for details.

Applications, which can be submitted at PEO

Applications for settlement or extension of stay

Public enquiry offices accept applications for permission to extend your stay (known as 'limited leave to remain') or to settle permanently (known as 'indefinite leave to remain') in the UK, in the categories below:

General

• husband, wife, civil partner, unmarried partner or same-sex partner - forms FLR(M), SET(M), FLR(O) and SET(O)
• children - forms FLR(O), SET(O) and SET(F) (only if the child entered the UK with the correct entry clearance)
• visitor - form FLR(O) (for medical visitors, academic visitors and parents accompanying children under 12 years of age who are receiving private education in the UK)
• transfer of conditions into a new passport forms NTL (for transferring indefinite leave to remain) and TOC (for transferring temporary permission to stay)

Points-based system

• Tier 1 (General) extension
• Tier 1 (Investor) Initial and extension (Under super premium service only, at PEO Croydon)
• Tier 2 (General)
• Tier 2 (Intra company transfer)
• Tier 2 (Minister of religion)
• Tier 2 (Sportsperson)
• Tier 4 (General)
• Tier 4 (Child)
• Tier 5 (Temporary worker - creative and sporting)
• Tier 5 (Temporary worker - charity worker)
• Tier 5 (Temporary worker - religious worker)
• Tier 5 (Temporary worker - government authorised exchange)
• Tier 5 (Temporary worker - international agreement)
• dependents of migrants under the points-based system - form PBS (Dependant)

Work outside the points-based system and settlement

• domestic worker in a private household - forms FLR(O) and SET(O)
• offshore worker - form FLR(O)
• work permit applications - form FLR(IED) and SET(O)
• Tier 1 (General) - SET(O)
• Tier 2 - SET(O)
• UK ancestry - forms FLR(O) and SET(O)

Medical studies

• postgraduate doctor or dentist - form FLR(O)
• Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board (PLAB) test - form FLR(O)
• clinical attachment - form FLR(O)

If you are unsure if a particular type of application would be acceptable at any PEO, you are encouraged to seek advice using the normal contact services for the authorised legal representatives before submission of application.

Booking an appointment

Each public enquiry office offers a representatives service, but due to the size and location of the individual public enquiry office the service can run differently. If you are a representative and you want to use the represenatative service at a public enquiry office other than Croydon, then please see the contact details below:

• Solihull: PEOSolihullReps@ukba.gsi.gov.uk
• Glasgow: GlasgowPEOEnquiries@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
• Liverpool: 0151 213 2937 (or email RApps.PEO-LIV@ind.homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk)
• Sheffield: 0870 606 7766

At the public enquiry office in Croydon, a representative can request to book appointments by emailing PEOCroydonRepsBio@UKBA.gsi.gov.uk between 09:00 and 17:00, Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays).

If a representative is seeking multiple appointments, they may submit multiple emails and appointments will be allocated in order of receipt of emails by the booking team. The booking team will usually respond to email requests within 5 working days of receipt.

A representative must never offer a confirmed appointment for sale. Any firm found doing so will immediately be prevented from using the service.

When you arrive at the public enquiry office

When you submit an application at a public enquiry office, you will be required to complete a third party consent form. Your client will sign a permission form for the third party to act on their behalf and collect any documents at the completion of the case. The consent form is also signed by the third party representative who must carry personal identification allowing the case to be placed in their custody.

All customers will be required to provide biometric information as part of their application, you must ensure that the client and their dependents, attend the biometric appointment. You must remain with the client throughout this process. When this is completed, the client can leave and you will continue with the presentation and collection of their application and documents.

After making payment, you will report to the desk for representatives and bulk users (representatives from embassies and large companies). You will be seen at your appointment time.

All cases must be collected on the same day. If you leave the building after submitting your applications, please ensure that you return before the closing time of the office as our doors are locked after this time. For information on opening hours, see the details for individual public enquiry offices.

We will communicate with you directly about any cases that we cannot complete on the same day. If you have used an agent or courier, we will contact you by phone, or inform your agent or courier.

We cannot consider a case over the phone because we cannot realistically discuss the merit of a case to any depth on the phone.

If you have any concerns or comments about the service, please use the email or phone number provided for the individual public enquiry offices.

Arrangements at Croydon public enquiry office

Every case submitted by a representative at Croydon should include an official letter from your firm. This letter must include the firm's official letterhead and be dated and signed. It must also include the applicant's name, nationality and date of birth, and the type of application that is being submitted.

Please arrive with photocopies of the supporting documentation for all applications. This will help our caseworkers to consider cases more quickly. Please ensure that the original documents are also included with the application, so that they can be compared with the photocopies. Photocopies do not need to be notarised or certified by a solicitor.

To reduce initial submission delays, please submit bankers' drafts as payment for applications as much as possible.

On your allocated day, after making payment you and your client will be seen at your appointment time.

When collecting an application it is the responsibility of the representative or courier to check that all documents submitted have been received. The public enquiry office will not take responsibility for the loss of any documents after the representative has accepted the returning application and left the public enquiry office.

The Croydon public enquiry office third-party representatives' booking service can only deal with strictly operational matters (such as the booking or cancellation of appointments). To contact the team, email PEOCroydonRepsBio@UKBA.gsi.gov.uk.