If you’re seeking immigration advice in the UK, it’s crucial to ensure the person advising you is properly regulated. Using an unregulated advisor can lead to costly mistakes, visa refusals, or even legal trouble. The Immigration Advice Authority (IAA) is the body responsible for regulating immigration advisors who are not solicitors or barristers. Here’s everything you need to know about verifying an IAA-regulated advisor before you trust them with your case.
What is the IAA?
The Immigration Advice Authority (IAA), formerly known as the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC), is an independent public body established under the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. Its primary role is to regulate immigration advisors in the UK who are not members of a legal professional body such as the Law Society or the Bar Council.
The IAA ensures that anyone providing immigration advice commercially is fit, competent, and honest. Operating without IAA authorisation – or outside the scope of your authorisation – is a criminal offence in the UK.
Why verifying your immigration advisor matters
Unregulated immigration advisors, sometimes called “ghost advisors,” operate illegally and can cause serious harm. Common risks include:
- Submitting incorrect or fraudulent applications on your behalf
- Charging excessive fees for services they are not qualified to provide
- Disappearing after taking your money
- Causing visa refusals that affect your immigration history long-term
Always verify an advisor’s credentials before sharing personal documents or paying any fees.
Understanding IAA regulation levels
The IAA authorises advisors at three levels, each with a different scope of work:
Level 1 – Advice and assistance Covers straightforward, non-contentious casework such as basic visa applications and asylum support.
Level 2 – Casework Covers more complex matters including administrative reviews, pre-appeal work, and preparing supporting documentation for onward legal processes.
Level 3 – Advocacy and tribunal representation The highest level of IAA regulation. Level 3 advisors are specifically authorised to provide full representation and advocacy before the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber). This is the most comprehensive level of regulated immigration advice available outside of solicitors and barristers.
Important clarification: Judicial Review (JR) is a high-level legal process that, beyond pre-action protocol assistance, generally falls within the domain of solicitors and barristers with full litigation rights. If your matter is likely to proceed to a full Judicial Review, you should seek advice from a regulated legal professional in addition to your IAA advisor.
How to verify an IAA-regulated immigration advisor
Use the checklist below before engaging any immigration advisor:
- Search the IAA register – Visit the official UK government website at GOV.UK or https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/immigration-advice-authority and use the “Find an immigration advisor” tool to confirm the advisor is listed
- Confirm active authorisation – Check that their status is current and active, not lapsed, suspended, or revoked
- Ask for their registration number – A legitimate advisor will provide this without hesitation; cross-reference it on the register
- Verify their authorisation level matches your needs – Level 1 for basic applications, Level 2 for casework and reviews, Level 3 for tribunal advocacy and complex cases
- Check the organisation is also authorised – Both the individual and their firm should appear on the register
- Review their sanctions history – The IAA publishes details of advisors who have been disciplined, suspended, or had authorisation revoked
Red flags to watch out for
Be cautious if an immigration advisor:
- Cannot provide a registration number or refuses to show credentials
- Is not listed on the IAA register
- Promises guaranteed visa success, guaranteed ETA approval, or guaranteed outcomes under the 2026 digital border compliance rules – no regulated advisor can lawfully make such guarantees
- Asks you to sign blank forms
- Requests cash-only payments with no receipts
- Operates without a clear business address or written contract
2026 warning: With the full rollout of the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system and the introduction of new Earned Settlement rules, a growing number of ghost advisors are falsely promising “guaranteed digital approval.” These claims are misleading and potentially fraudulent. No one can guarantee an ETA or visa outcome under the stricter 2026 compliance framework.
What to do if you suspect an unregulated advisor
If you believe someone is providing immigration advice without proper authorisation, you can report them directly to the IAA. Reports can be submitted via the official government website or by emailing the IAA at: complaints@immigrationadviceauthority.gov.uk, or u can report here.
The IAA has investigative and prosecutorial powers against individuals operating illegally.
Summary
Verifying an IAA-regulated immigration advisor before you proceed is a simple but vital step. Use the IAA’s official register on GOV.UK, confirm the advisor’s registration number, check their authorisation level matches your needs, and review any sanctions history. In 2026, with stricter digital border requirements and new settlement rules in force, working with a properly regulated and up-to-date advisor has never been more important.
About Lawsentis
At Lawsentis, we are an IAA-regulated immigration advisory firm, authorised at Level 3 – the highest level of regulation granted by the Immigration Advice Authority. This allows us to handle complex appeals, tribunal advocacy, and the latest 2026 digital visa compliance matters that Level 1 or Level 2 firms are not authorised to undertake.
We offer transparent, expert advice tailored to the new salary thresholds – including the general Skilled Worker threshold now settled at Β£41,700 – and the updated settlement routes introduced under the 2026 Statement of Changes. Whether you are navigating the new digital-first border requirements or pursuing a complex appeal, our team stays ahead of every regulatory development so you don’t have to.
π Contact us todayΒ
Whether you are applying for a visa, facing a refusal, or need representation at a tribunal, Lawsentis is here to guide you every step of the way. Speak to one of our Level 3 regulated advisors today for a consultation.