Immigration lawyers are extremely beneficial especially if you have zero knowledge about the immigration procedure. They can help you out with completing your UK visa forms, providing accurate advice and keeping you informed about any current changes affecting your application. Contingent upon their proficiency level, some of them are even able to represent you personally at an Asylum and Immigration Tribunal.
There’s no denying the fact that visa under any circumstances can be a stressful and lengthy process, particularly where there is a lot of formalities and paperwork involved. Hiring the right immigration lawyer can relieve stress and generally signifies the difference between an approved and a refused application.
What to Look for Before Hiring the Right Immigration Lawyer for Your Visa?
Professional Credentials
One of the most important factors you must consider before hiring the right immigration lawyer for your visa is to check whether they have the right set of professional accreditations or certificates to offer you advice.
It is said to be a criminal offence in the UK if a person or a firm offers immigration advice without being certified by the OISC or the SRA. Make sure you do some research beforehand and know about different levels of OISC certification before you finalise a law firm to handle your UK visa requirements.
Ask for Referrals
Another important thing you should do before hiring an immigration lawyer for your visa is to check for recommendations. You can ask from friends, colleagues and other family members who have already gone through this process to provide genuine opinion. In addition to that, you can also check different online forums to see what other clients have said about your chosen firm.
Fee
Make sure you setup an initial meeting with the lawyer to evaluate whether you’re eligible for a particular visa type. If the lawyer can work with you on your visa application, they should be clear about their fee and services right from the beginning. Try to look for the lawyer who charges a fixed sum of money against his or her services instead of hourly charges as you’ll not be able to get a clear idea about the total service cost until the end of the entire process.
Be Cautious of Promises
Every applicant requires a unique set of requirements which may influence their chances of success. Keep in mind the UK immigration law is quite complicated and no one can actually guarantee 100% success unless the applicant’s application is complete and devoid of errors. Look for a lawyer who is ready to handle your application on an individual basis and leaves no stone unturned to review your documents and history to provide you with accurate advice.
Expertise
Experience is yet another crucial factor that sets amateur lawyers apart from professional and well-informed solicitors. Make sure you check how long the lawyer has been practicing or how long the firm has been around to identify how experienced they are.
If a firm has just started out, there’s obviously no way you could determine its previous performance. While you may find proficient new immigration lawyers as well, it is one thing you should bear in mind when narrowing down your hunt for a good immigration lawyer.
Communication
As mentioned earlier, the UK visa immigration process isn’t as easy as it may sound. Communication is the key when preparing UK visa application. That is why it’s important that you hire an immigration lawyer who is trustworthy and someone with whom you feel comfortable talking to. In addition to that, you must be able to get in touch with your hired advisor or firm when need be.
There you have it. Following these simple tips will help you save lots of money and time. The best bit? You’ll feel more assured about your UK visa application process. Good Luck!