Terms of Service

1. About Oliveira Associates

Oliveira Associates is a law firm specializing in UK immigration law, regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and the Law Society. We provide expert immigration advice and representation in accordance with professional standards and legal obligations.

2. Scope of Services

We offer the following immigration legal services:

• Visa applications (work, student, visitor, family visas)
• British citizenship and nationality applications
• Asylum and humanitarian protection claims
• Immigration appeals and administrative reviews
• Fee waiver assistance
• Document preparation and review
• General immigration advice and consultations

The specific services we provide to you will be set out in our client engagement letter. Services are subject to availability and our assessment of whether we can assist with your particular immigration matter.

3. Client Engagement

Our formal engagement begins when you accept our terms of engagement and pay any required retainer or initial fee. We will provide you with a written engagement letter outlining the scope of work, fees, responsibilities, and terms specific to your case. You should review this letter carefully and raise any questions before signing.

4. Client Responsibilities

As our client, you agree to:

• Provide accurate, complete, and truthful information
• Respond promptly to requests for documents or information
• Attend scheduled meetings and consultations
• Notify us immediately of any changes to your circumstances
• Pay fees and expenses as agreed in your engagement letter
• Comply with UK immigration laws and Home Office requirements
• Keep us informed of changes to your contact information

Failure to fulfill these responsibilities may affect our ability to represent you effectively and may result in delays, additional costs, or case termination.

5. Fees and Payment

Our fees will be set out in your engagement letter and may be charged on a fixed-fee basis, hourly rate, or other agreed structure. Payment terms, including retainer requirements and billing schedules, will be specified in your engagement letter. Late payments may incur interest charges. Home Office fees, translation costs, and other third-party expenses are payable by you in addition to our professional fees.

We reserve the right to withhold services or documents if fees remain unpaid, subject to our professional obligations and applicable law.

6. No Guarantee of Success

While we will provide expert advice and representation, we cannot guarantee the success of any immigration application or appeal. Immigration decisions are made by the UK Home Office and tribunals, which exercise independent discretion. We will inform you of the likely prospects of success based on our professional assessment, but outcomes cannot be guaranteed.

7. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law and subject to our professional obligations, our liability to you for any loss or damage arising from our services is limited to the amount of fees paid by you for the specific service in question. We will not be liable for indirect, consequential, or special damages, including loss of opportunity, emotional distress, or immigration status consequences beyond our control.

This limitation does not apply to liability for death, personal injury, fraud, or any other liability that cannot be excluded by law. We maintain professional indemnity insurance as required by the SRA.

8. Confidentiality

We are bound by strict professional duties of confidentiality. All information you provide to us will be kept confidential and will only be disclosed as necessary to provide our services, comply with legal obligations, or with your consent. Please refer to our Privacy Policy for detailed information on how we handle your personal data.

9. Termination of Services

Either party may terminate the engagement in accordance with the terms set out in the engagement letter. If you terminate our services, you remain responsible for fees incurred up to the termination date and any work reasonably necessary to conclude our involvement. We may terminate our services if you breach these Terms, fail to pay fees, provide false information, or if continuing the engagement would breach our professional obligations.

10. Intellectual Property

All content on our website, including text, graphics, logos, and materials we create in the course of representing you (such as legal submissions and advice), remain our intellectual property unless otherwise agreed. You may use our work product solely for the purpose of your immigration case and may not reproduce or distribute it without our permission.

11. Website Use and Disclaimers

Our website provides general information about our services and UK immigration law. This information is not legal advice and should not be relied upon as such. Immigration laws change frequently, and individual circumstances vary. You should not make decisions based solely on website content without seeking personalized legal advice.

While we strive to keep website information accurate and up-to-date, we make no warranties regarding completeness, accuracy, or suitability for any purpose. We are not responsible for third-party content or external links.

12. Data Protection

We process your personal data in accordance with UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018. Please see our Privacy Policy for full details on how we collect, use, store, and protect your information.

13. Complaints Procedure

If you are unhappy with our services, please contact us immediately so we can address your concerns. We have a formal complaints procedure in accordance with SRA requirements. If we cannot resolve your complaint internally, you may refer the matter to the Legal Ombudsman or the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

14. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms and any engagement between us are governed by the laws of England and Wales. Any disputes will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

15. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements, or services. Updated Terms will be posted on our website with a new "Last Updated" date. Significant changes affecting existing clients will be communicated directly.

16. Contact Information

If you have questions about these Terms or our services, please contact us: