You can find help with a UK family visa application from regulated immigration advisers, solicitors, barristers, and Home Office assisted digital support for online forms.¹²
If you need support with a UK family visa application, there are formal options for both legal advice and practical form-filling help. The right service depends on whether you need regulated immigration advice or only help completing the online application.¹
Where can you get regulated immigration advice?
You can use the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA) Adviser Finder to find a registered immigration adviser near you.¹ All immigration advisers must be registered with the IAA or be members of an approved professional body.¹
Immigration advisers can help with most immigration matters, including filling in the right forms and representing you at a tribunal.¹ They do not make immigration decisions.¹
Can a solicitor or barrister help with a family visa?
Yes. You can find solicitors who give immigration advice through the Law Society in England and Wales, the Law Society of Scotland, or the Law Society of Northern Ireland.¹ A solicitor can manage your case and find a barrister.¹
If you are managing your own case but want legal advice or advocacy, you can find a barrister through the Bar Council’s Direct Access scheme in England and Wales, the Faculty of Advocates in Scotland, or the Bar of Northern Ireland.¹
What practical help is available with the online form?
If you are applying in the UK and do not feel confident using a computer or mobile device, or do not have internet access, you can get help completing the online visa application form.² This service is only available if you are applying in the UK.²
The assisted digital support service can help you complete the online form, but it cannot provide immigration advice or tell you what evidence to include.
What should you check before using help?
Before you use any immigration adviser, check that they are registered and that they charge a fee.¹ You can also complain about an immigration adviser if you think you have had a bad service.¹
You cannot get your money back just because an adviser is not regulated.¹ You can also check lists of banned or suspended immigration advisers before you choose someone.¹
Help options at a glance
| Type of help | What they can do | How to find them |
|---|---|---|
| Registered immigration adviser | Help with forms, most immigration matters, and tribunal representation.¹ | IAA Adviser Finder or approved professional bodies.¹ |
| Solicitor | Manage your case and provide immigration advice.¹ | The Law Society for your part of the UK.¹ |
| Barrister | Provide advice and advocacy if you are handling your own case.¹ | Bar Council Direct Access, Faculty of Advocates, or Bar of Northern Ireland.¹ |
| Assisted digital support | Help complete the online visa application form in the UK.² | Home Office assisted digital support service.² |
Can I get help filling in a UK family visa application online?+
Yes. If you are applying in the UK and do not feel confident using a computer or mobile device, or do not have internet access, you can get help completing the online form.²
Who can give legal advice on a UK family visa application?+
Registered immigration advisers, solicitors and some barristers can give legal immigration advice.¹
Where do I find a registered immigration adviser?+
Use the Immigration Advice Authority Adviser Finder to search for a registered adviser near you.¹
Can assisted digital support tell me what evidence I need?+
No. Assisted digital support can help with the online form, but it cannot give immigration advice or tell you what evidence to include.
Can I complain about an immigration adviser?+
Yes. You can complain if you think you have received poor service from an immigration adviser.¹
Should I check if an immigration adviser is regulated before using them?+
Yes. You should check that the adviser is registered and whether they charge a fee before you use them.¹
Use SSorted to keep your paperwork and timelines in one place before you speak to an adviser or submit an application.
Start organising your UK family visa documents with SSorted
Sources
- gov.uk — Accredited immigration advisers
- Self — best family visa immigration advisers in the uk
Last reviewed August 2026