Learn immigration law: OISC Level 1

Our small group ‘Learn immigration law: OISC Level 1’ course is perfect for those wanting to learn immigration law for the first time. You do not need any prior experience and you do not need previous legal training. It is aimed at those who are new to immigration law.

Why should you take this course?

If you want to give yourself the best possible chance of passing the OISC level 1 exams, this is the way to do it. If you work or volunteer for a charity or NGO and want to get a better handle on the system as a whole, the course is perfect for you. If you are already a lawyer but want to transition into doing more immigration work… you get the picture.

The OISC considers Free Movement to be a well-established professional training provider. It accepts our courses as evidence of training completed which applicants can use in support of their application for registration with the OISC.

The course costs £600 + VAT for Free Movement members, and £700 + VAT for non-members. Non-members can of course sign up as members, starting at just £24 per month plus VAT.

What will you get if you sign up?

Our approach blends guided learning, self-study, a structured course and small group workshops across four weeks. This offers a much better and more relaxed learning environment than a compacted crammer course. It gives you the chance to think about what you are learning and digest the material you cover. We offer you the best opportunity to really understand how immigration law works and to pass the OISC level 1 exams.

Our courses are led by qualified solicitors with extensive experience in immigration and asylum law practice. As well as genuinely expert tuition, you will get: 

• Eight small group workshops (maximum of 10 trainees) spread over four weeks
• Access to our best-in-class online materials and course eBook 
• Additional materials reinforcing key learning points
• An opportunity to discuss scenarios based on real life immigration problems similar to the questions you will face in the OISC level 1 exam
• A certificate of completion

Course syllabus

Workshop 1: Introduction to immigration law 

We begin by outlining how immigration advice and services are regulated in the UK, along with the duties and ethics of immigration advisers. We then look at the key aspects of UK immigration control, focusing on common visa routes and learning terms such as “no recourse to public funds.” You will practice navigating the Immigration Rules and learn how to make, switch, extend and vary an application, as well as what happens if an application is not submitted in time.

Workshop 2: Family members

Next, we delve into Appendix FM and Appendix FM-SE of the Immigration Rules, focusing on the requirements for family members of British citizens, settled residents and those with pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme. We will also cover the rules for dependent family members of migrants and highlight the routes that do not allow migrants to bring family members to the UK.

Workshop 3: Working and studying in the UK

Next, we cover the work visa routes, including specialised migrant visa categories such as Global Talent and Innovator Founder, the options for sponsored workers, temporary work categories and other work routes such as UK Ancestry and the Youth Mobility Scheme.

We will conclude this workshop by looking at examples of people applying for Student and Graduate visas.

Workshop 4: Asylum and protection

No UK immigration course is complete without an introduction to refugee law. We will be exploring the definition of a refugee, cessation, exclusion, and revocation of refugee status, as well as humanitarian protection and relevant articles of the European Convention on Human Rights. Key topics include the asylum process, asylum support, bail conditions and refugee family reunion.

Workshop 5: EU Settlement Scheme

This workshop addresses Appendix EU, the application process and the types of status that will be granted to people under the EU Settlement Scheme. We will discuss how to evidence that the requirements such as “continuous residence” have been met, and what happens to those who missed the deadline to apply to the scheme. We will also discuss the status of non-EU family members and the process for family members joining their EU national sponsors in the UK.

Workshop 6: Visitors, long residence and returning residents

In this workshop we will be discussing visa and non-visa nationals. We will be advising a client on the merits of their visitor visa application, and the evidence that they can provide to demonstrate they are a “genuine” visitor.

We will then move onto applications made under the 10-year residence route, and meeting the “continuous residence” and “lawful residence” requirements, along with guidance on forms, fees and supporting documents for these applications.

Workshop 7: British nationality law

We will cover how British nationality is obtained, including the distinction between being British by descent and British otherwise than by descent. We will explore the key sources of nationality law, focusing on important sections of the British Nationality Act 1981 and the requirements that need to be met to register and naturalise as British. We will cover the procedure for making an application, including fees and supporting documents, as well as how British citizenship can be lost.

Workshop 8: Refusals, remedies, detention and deportation

We round off the course by exploring the reasons that an application might be refused, such as where there has been deception, criminal offending or other past misconduct. We will look at the appeals process, as well as the other remedies available including administrative review, reconsideration requests and judicial review.

We will also cover who may be subject to immigration detention and how to vary bail conditions. We will conclude the workshop by looking at the difference between deportation and administrative removal.

What do we expect from you?

• Come prepared: the course is spread over four weeks, but there is a lot to cover. You will need to study our online materials between workshops, totalling around 20 hours of self-study. 
• Join punctually: our schedule is tight, and we want to make the most of every moment. Please join each workshop promptly to ensure we start on time.
• Mute your microphone: to create a distraction-free environment, please mute your microphone when you are not speaking. This helps minimise background noise, ensuring a smoother experience for everyone.
• Cameras on: this is a highly interactive course! Keeping your camera on during our workshops fosters lively discussions and strengthens our sense of connection. Remember, we are in this together for four weeks!
• Participate: your engagement and active participation is key to extracting the maximum benefit from this course. Do not hesitate to share your thoughts, questions and insights during discussions and group work. 

Before signing up, have a read of our explainer: ‘How to become an OISC adviser‘.