A Full Range of UK Immigration Services
ZAM Law Associates offers advice across the complete spectrum of UK immigration law. Led by Zaheer Hussain — who holds an MA in Economics, LLB, LLM and LPC — our practice covers all immigration categories from entry clearance through to British citizenship. Our IAA registration (F200900190) authorises us to provide regulated immigration advice at the highest levels.
Whether you are applying for a visa for the first time, extending your existing leave, or taking the final steps towards settlement and citizenship, we provide clear, practical advice tailored to your specific circumstances. We do not offer generic checklists — every client receives individual, considered guidance.
Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)
Indefinite Leave to Remain (also known as settlement) is the status that allows you to live in the UK permanently without any time restriction. Once you have ILR, you are free to work, study and access public services on the same basis as a British citizen. Most applicants qualify after 5 years in a qualifying category (such as Skilled Worker, Family, or Long Residence), though some categories require 10 years. We prepare ILR applications meticulously, ensuring all absences are correctly calculated and all eligibility conditions are met.
Continuous Residence Requirement
One of the most common reasons for ILR refusals is excess absences from the UK. Most categories permit no more than 180 days' absence per rolling year within the qualifying period. We calculate your absences precisely using passport stamps and travel records and advise on how to manage your qualifying period. Where absences are close to or exceed the permitted limit, we advise on whether discretion may apply and how to present your case in the best possible way.
- 5-year routes: Skilled Worker, Family, Long Residence (5 years lawful), and others
- 10-year route: Long continuous lawful residence
- Maximum 180 days' absence per year in most categories
- Life in the UK Test and English language requirement for most routes
- No outstanding conditions, criminal convictions or deception matters
Leave to Remain Extensions
If your visa is coming to an end, you must apply to extend your leave before it expires. We handle extensions across all visa categories — Work, Family, Study, and more — and ensure your application is submitted on time with the correct supporting documents. We use the 3C Leave provisions to protect your right to stay while an extension is pending. Late applications, even by a single day, can have serious consequences for your immigration status and future ILR eligibility.
Long Residence (10-Year Route)
If you have lived continuously and lawfully in the UK for 10 years, you may be eligible for ILR on the long residence basis. This route is available to those who may not qualify via another route but have built their lives in the UK over an extended period. The long residence calculation can be complex — any gaps in lawful leave, overstaying, or significant absences can break continuity. We assess your residence history carefully and advise on whether this route is available to you.
Entry Clearance (Visa Applications from Abroad)
For those who wish to come to the UK from abroad, entry clearance (a UK visa) is required in most cases. We advise on the correct category, prepare the application, and guide applicants through the process — including biometrics and the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) application centre. Getting the category right from the start avoids costly delays, refusals, and the complications that follow from a refused entry clearance application.
Administrative Review
If your visa application is refused, you may have the right to request an Administrative Review within 14 days (for in-country decisions) or 28 days (for out-of-country decisions). An Administrative Review is not an appeal — it asks a different Home Office caseworker to check whether the original decision was wrong. We draft robust administrative review requests, identifying clear caseworking errors such as failure to apply the correct Immigration Rules, failure to consider material evidence, or arithmetical errors in calculating qualifying periods.