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Civil news: reminder for Immigration providers, reimbursement of client travel
The travel costs of a client for the purposes of attending their office to give instructions, are payable under the immigration contract.
When claiming travel costs, paragraphs 8.49 to 8.51 of the 2013 Standard Civil Contract (Immigration Specification), explicitly states that such costs are claimable where:
- at the time the matter is opened there is not a more local provider
- the client is in receipt of NASS support or is an Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Child (UASC) who is supported by Social Services
- the client is informed, prior to the attendance, that the reasonable costs of their travel on the cheapest available public transport are then claimable
This provision aids those clients who are required to make journeys outside of their locality to instruct their legal representative.
If providers encounter issues in applying this provision, they should contact their contract manager to discuss further.