Expert immigration advice at an uncertain time

Expert Immigration Advice for Complex UK Cases

Paul Turner is a specialist immigration barrister with 20+ years of experience, offering clear advice, strategic case preparation, and representation at every level including higher courts.

ABOUT THE IMMIGRATION BARRISTER

Specialist immigrationbarrister support

Paul Turner is a specialist direct access immigration barrister with over 20 years of experience, authorised by the Bar Standards Board to provide advice, litigation support, and representation.

OUR SERVICES

Trusted immigration servicesfor individuals & businesses

From personal visa routes to employer sponsorship and business immigration, receive practical legal advice and representation at every stage.

Indefinite Leave to Remain

Our team is experienced at helping migrants secure Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in the UK and can support you in the application process to ensure a successful result. Individuals who have held the same type of British visa for 5 years or more are eligible to apply for ILR, although in certain circumstances you may be eligible after just 3 years. Indefinite Leave to Remain enables migrants from outside of the UK to stay in the UK without restrictions and is the first step to take before applying for full British citizenship or naturalisation. Almost all other British visa routes are eligible to apply for ILR after meeting certain other requirements, including those who have been on Tier 1 Visas, Tier 2 Work Visas, and Spouse Visas. The conditions that you need to meet to qualify for ILR are as follows: You have held the same type of British visa for 5 years or more Proof that you meet the B1 levels of English You must pass the Life in the UK test No criminal record and you cannot have breached the immigration laws during your stay in the UK You cannot have spent more than 180 days outside of the UK within any year of living in the UK The requirements can vary so it’s best to speak to an Immigration Lawyer to determine if you’re eligible to apply and what you will need to include with your ILR application.

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British Citizenship Naturalisation

You can apply to become a British citizen through naturalisation if you meet the relevant criteria which have been set out in the British Nationality Act 1981. This is the most common approach to become a British citizen. This application is decided and granted by the Secretary of State for the Home Office. The main requirements for naturalisation involve meeting the residence requirement, settled status requirement, good character requirements and the English language test and Life in the UK test requirements. Naturalisation after holding settlement for 12 months: You are eligible to apply to naturalise as a British citizen under Section 6(1) of the British Nationality Act 1981, provided you meet the following requirements: You are aged 18 or over You are of good character i.e., do not have a serious or recent criminal record, or any adverse immigration history You are of sound mind You intend to make the UK your permanent home You have passed a Life in the UK test You have met the knowledge of English language test requirements You have met the residence requirements In addition, the following residence requirement must usually apply: You have lived in the UK for at least 5 years prior to your application You have not spent more than 450 days outside the UK in those 5 years You have not spent more than 90 days outside the UK in the last 12 months You had Settlement (also known as indefinite leave to remain/ILR) for the last 12 months; if you are not an EEA citizen You had Settled Status under the EU Settlement Scheme (also known as indefinite leave to remain) for the last 12 months; if you are an EEA citizen or eligible to apply to the scheme. Naturalisation as the spouse of a British citizen A person who is married to a British citizen will be eligible to naturalise as a British citizen under Section 6(2) of the British Nationality Act 1981. If you are married to a British citizen, you will be subject to all of the above requirements however the only difference is: You do not have to wait 12 months from obtaining ILR to apply for naturalisation. You are only subject to 3 years residence requirement i.e. should not have spent more then 270 days outside the UK in the last 3 years. All other requirements apply. When sending your application, a biometrics appointment will be mandatory to attend. After applying, a decision will usually be made in 6 months, depending on the application some may take longer. Once you have received your certificate of British Citizenship, you must send your biometrics residence permit back to the Home Office. The UK allows dual nationality for its citizens however, some countries may not. In which case they can revoke your citizenship once you have become British therefore, it is imperative for you to contact your embassy before you decide to apply for naturalisation.

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Skilled Worker Visa

Skilled Worker Visa The Skilled Worker Visa enables qualified overseas professionals to live and work in the UK for an approved employer. Whether you have received a job offer from a UK business or an employer is looking to sponsor international talent, obtaining the correct visa is an essential step towards working and building your future in the UK. Our experienced immigration lawyers provide practical, tailored advice throughout the application process. We work closely with both individuals and employers to ensure applications are accurate, fully documented, and submitted in accordance with the latest UK immigration requirements. Who Can Apply? You may be eligible for a Skilled Worker Visa if you: Have a genuine job offer from a UK employer licensed to sponsor overseas workers. Have been assigned a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS). Meet the required salary threshold or qualify under an eligible salary exception. Are applying for a role that meets the relevant skill level. Can demonstrate the required level of English language proficiency, where applicable. Our Skilled Worker Visa Services We provide comprehensive legal support at every stage of your application, including: Assessing your eligibility before applying. Reviewing your employment offer and sponsorship documents. Preparing and submitting Skilled Worker Visa applications. Advising on dependent partner and children's visa applications. Supporting visa extensions and changes of employment. Assisting with settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain) applications when eligible. Providing guidance to employers on sponsorship compliance and immigration requirements. Supporting Employers We also advise UK businesses that employ overseas workers. Our team can assist employers with sponsor licence applications, compliance obligations, assigning Certificates of Sponsorship, and maintaining ongoing compliance with UK immigration rules. Why Choose Our Immigration Lawyers? UK immigration rules are subject to frequent changes, and even minor errors can lead to delays or refusals. Our legal team provides clear, practical advice tailored to your individual circumstances, ensuring your application is prepared with care and attention to detail. From your initial consultation through to your visa decision, we are committed to making the process as straightforward and stress-free as possible. Speak to Our Team If you are planning to work in the UK or require advice regarding a Skilled Worker Visa, contact our immigration lawyers today. We will assess your circumstances, explain your options, and provide expert legal guidance to help you achieve a successful outcome.

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OUR TEAM

Meet your specialistimmigration barrister

20+ years

Paul Turner

Director & Senior immigration advisor

Paul Turner is one of the UK’s leading barristers with over 20 years’ experience practising in Immigration and Human Rights.

He has a wide range of experience in all aspects of Immigration law and can assist with any and all immigration problems.

He is authorised by the BSB to act as a litigator, meaning that he can take responsibility for your case from start to finish. He is a highly effective and user-friendly advocate who has a proven track record in getting success for his clients.

He has been involved with the successful Highly Skilled Migrants group and their challenge to the Tier 1 tax refusals, and has a large client base who were victims of the TOEIC (English Language test) scandal which has wrecked thousands of lives through largely unfounded allegations about his clients’ ability to speak English. He is currently acting on a test case in this matter and, put shortly, is at the cutting edge of the biggest issues affecting people’s immigration problems.

Paul also provides highly personalised advice and guidance to high net worth individuals on a range of sensitive matters including nationality, residency, data protection, and privacy. Paul’s experience and breadth of knowledge mean that he is able to handle the most complex and sensitive issues.

He is the founder and head of Imperium Chambers, a boutique and specialist set of barristers providing excellent and personalised services. He has overseen Chambers’ reputation grow in the last few years and the team now includes many barristers who are experts in their field.

Paul believes the law is constantly changing and maintains a high-profile social media presence across a range of platforms to keep those who are interested in immigration or have a problem properly informed. He has his own YouTube channel and website which have regular updates on all matters immigration.

Paul has worked in a number of chambers, including the highly regarded Tooks Chambers under Michael Mansfield QC. He has closely followed the changes in immigration law, its complexity and by working solely for migrants, he has been able to concentrate on challenging the government’s hostile environment to those who wish to remain in the UK.

Until fairly recently, it was necessary to use a solicitor as it was not possible to approach a barrister directly. After the law changed, it is now possible for the public to approach barristers directly and Paul was one of the first specialist immigration barristers to embrace the opportunities that this provided. Having worked in ever larger sets he had seen that the needs of the individual were often not being met or serviced as well as they could be.

To this end, Paul became qualified to take instructions directly from the public along with solicitors with whom he has and does work closely at every stage in a case from providing advice in conferences to appearing in the Supreme Court. He is also licensed to litigate as well as merely deal with the public and this means he can much of what a solicitor can do, often at a fraction of the price and with the benefit of direct contact and involvement.

Having established a vibrant direct access practice he realised that there was a need for a small but focussed set of barristers that shared his goals and to this end he formed and is the head of Imperium Chambers. Imperium Chambers is formed of specialist and high-quality barristers who are able to deal directly with the public.

Paul also realised that while “legal London”, based around the Royal Courts of Justice, is the historic legal centre, he would be better able to serve the needs of the community by moving to Tooting, at 2 Selkirk Road, London SW17 0ES. This allows high-quality lawyers to directly serve clients in the community.

Paul is directly supported by a dedicated team who are able to answer any and all queries when he is not available himself.

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KP

Kim Pullinger

Immigration Lawyer

Kim Pullinger works closely with Paul Turner on all aspects of immigration law, as well as family and civil matters. He enjoys interacting with clients as well as conducting legal research on complex and emerging issues.

He regularly works on a wide range of visa and settlement applications, asylum cases, and appeals in the First-tier and Upper Tribunal, as well as the higher courts.

2020 BPTC LLM, The University of Law
2019 GDL, The University of Law
2018 BA English and French, University of Southampton, Université Rennes II

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Waqar Ahmad

Immigration Consultant

Waqar Ahmad works closely with Mr Paul Turner on various immigration matters such as human rights, indefinite leave to remain and asylum. He assists Mr Turner in providing casework support and with the preparation of immigration appeals. He has recently assisted Mr Turner on a complex TOEIC matter which has resulted in the client being granted indefinite leave to remain.

2021 Bar Professional Training Course (City, University of London) – Very Competent
2019 LLB Law (City, University of London) – 2.1 Classification

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Nick Chuter

Senior Clerk

Nick Chuter joined Imperium Chambers in 2020 as our Senior Clerk.

He has been Clerking for over 15 years at some of London’s top Barristers Chambers, including Fountain Court, Devereux Chambers, and Doughty Street Chambers.

He is responsible for every aspect of the smooth running of Chambers including practice management, fees, staff management, recruitment, marketing, and business development

Nick has in-depth knowledge of all members of Chambers and their practices and is able to effectively assist both Solicitor and Direct Access clients.

He is a member of the Institute of Barristers’ Clerks and achieved a distinction in the BTEC Advanced Award in Chambers Administration.

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TESTIMONIALS

Expert legal strategytrusted outcomes

5.0

The Immigration Barrister guided us through our spouse visa application from start to finish. They explained every step clearly, kept us updated throughout, and our visa was approved without any issues. Highly professional, responsive and genuinely caring — we would recommend The Immigration Barrister to anyone.

SM

Sarah Mitchell

14 January 2026

5.0

The Immigration Barrister was a beacon of hope for my wife and me when my immigration process became too difficult for us to handle. Not only did they meticulously help us through every step of the process, their professionalism, patience and follow ups offered emotional support to both my wife and me. We are eternally grateful for their service and recommend The Immigration Barrister without reservation.

ME

Manuel Escamilla

3 August 2024

5.0

I am writing to thank The Immigration Barrister for their services as I found them excellent with my wife's Further Leave to Remain, Indefinite Leave to Remain and British Citizenship. I found them easy to contact if I had any questions or worries and their rates were very reasonable. I will be very happy to recommend The Immigration Barrister to anyone who asks.

MJ

M Jenkins

21 September 2024

5.0

The Immigration Barrister was a great help when it came to renewing my residency permit. They kept me up to date with everything that was going on and any correspondence with the Home Office. The service I received was great and much appreciated and their constant communication with me made me feel at ease. I will definitely be using The Immigration Barrister again when I have to renew my visa.

S.

S.C.

8 January 2025

5.0

The school were put in touch with The Immigration Barrister to help with the process involved in granting a Tier 2 (General) sponsorship for a member of staff. I cannot recommend them more highly in their approach. They were extremely professional, calm and patient! They went out of their way to explain the process step by step.

SM

Sarah P, HR Manager

19 March 2025

5.0

We were lucky to have found The Immigration Barrister. The team was very helpful with our immigration process and their efforts and professionalism helped us achieve our most important goal, which was being together and building a future as a family. We always felt they were at our side every step of the way.

RB

Rob and Quita B

2 May 2025

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

Watch our latest videoson immigration insights

Earned Settlement in the UK Explained | Deep Dive Series Ep. 1

False Identity, Asylum Refusals, British Citizenship Risk – Real UK Cases | Deep Dive Ep.2

Introducing My UK Immigration Deep Dive Series | What You Need to Know

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Answers to the questionsyou ask us most often

CONTACT US

Need specialist immigration advice?Speak to Paul Turner today

To discuss your immigration case, call +44 7930 353740. Or fill out the form below.