Why use an Immigration Lawyer
 

I downloaded all the relevant PNP forms and checklist last night and I was shocked at how few pages it all consisted of.

I am just wondering why people would need and immigration lawyer to help them?!

It seems pretty straight forward to me.

Is this just because I am looking at PNP as opposed to going through the points system. These Immigration Lawyers must know what they can get away with saying etc. and the right way to say it to give people more of a chance of getting in.

Just like an accountant is 'creative' with a companies books.

OR

Have I missed a 900 page application form somewhere

Re: Why use an Immigration Lawyer
 

There are lots of discussions on here about using a professional immigration firm.
For the most past it depends on how confident and competent the applicant is in preparing their case and filling in the forms correctly.

It is a personal choice. Those who managed without will suggest doing it yourself. Then there are the proponents of going the professional help route.

I did my own and am a proponent of DIY. However it took many months, lots of research, gathering information, several visits to Canada and finally preparing the application.

Re: Why use an Immigration Lawyer
 

Probably because most applications are not straight-forward, and there are a lot of documents and evidence you need to gather aside from just writing and signing the form.

A lot of people would like a specialist fighting their corner with them. For example, imagine something is wrong with your plumbing. You might find it really simple to put right, but I would be calling an expert.

To each their own...

Re: Why use an Immigration Lawyer
 

Everyone one I have heard about who has used "an expert" has had to gather all the documents and eveidence themselves.

Our immigration lawyer caused far more trouble and delay than she was worth.

With hindsight, I would only use one if there was something complicated about my case. We are rather boring and straight forward. I had no real problems submitting our applications by myself after I sacked the lawyer, and was successful.

Re: Why use an Immigration Lawyer
 

Peace of mind

Because not all cases are straightforward for medical, criminal, background reasons

Because there are many different immigration classes, not all straighforward

Because they are not as confident as you and dont want to risk a mistake

Because someone else will pay for it (like an employer) so why not.

Because a few of the people who think its easy to do it themselves do make a mistake or ommision on the forms, never having done them before, and end up wasting time on corrections and clarifications, or are just outright rejected.



There, thats just a few reasons I could think of in a few seconds. Personally I agree with you, for my money I would do it myself, but I can see why some people would hire a consultant. My employer did, so I'm not going to complain about the services offered, it was certainly smooth and painless for me to get here.

Re: Why use an Immigration Lawyer
 

Or what you think is common sense/straightforward/obvious may not be considered common sense/straightforward/obvious by officials.

An experienced Immigration Lawyer would, perhaps, know that inflexibility ruled over common sense and advise the client appropriately.

Then when CIC make mistakes and the applicant acts upon their misinformation and the CIC admits the errors but does nothing to correct them - resulting in a near 3 year wait instead of 6 months for a 'straightforward' Spousal/PR situation and a second application to get the correct action - one assumes the lawyer might have more success in getting them to correct their mistakes rather than the need for the duplicate application and more fees and inconvenience resulting.

Re: Why use an Immigration Lawyer
 

Seeing as I am a gobal terrorist, an ebola virus carrier and have a really bad credit rating. I think I'd better get a Immigration specialist. :thumbsup:
Sound advice from you all, I am a pretty boring straight forward person too and I can't imagine there would be anything in my history to stop the process.

What's a bit of haemoraging between trans atlantic cousins!!!

Re: Why use an Immigration Lawyer
 

My approach to emigrating made my lawyer shudder, wince and turn pale. He did offer sound advice and had access to border immigration officials that I'd never have been able to have communication with. I wouldn't be here without his assitance.

Of course he was a blood sucking leech when it came to fees, but it's the end result that counts :)

Re: Why use an Immigration Lawyer
 

Hi Chrisymer

We chose to go for a laywer because

- we wanted to be sure of not cocking anything up
- we have had peace of mind throughout
- someone on hand to answer queries (hadn't found this site site then) and talk us through the whole process
- am certain that it has saved us time researching & reading

Given the excellent service we have experienced, it has been well worth about £1k of our hard earned pounds and on balance with all of the other crap we spend our money on, i would happily have paid more if necessary - a very sound investment in our future.

In hindsight, we certainly could have done it ourselves but am happy with the decision we took.

Whatever you decide to do, it's well worth it! :thumbsup:

Kelly

Re: Why use an Immigration Lawyer
 

Wow!

Leeds Leeds Leeds.

Where about's in Leeds are you?

Maybe PNP is a little different, my prospective employer has got somebody from the UK before and knows the script so fingers crossed. He will guide us through.

Whistler for chrimbo 08

YYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEHHHHHHAAAAAAAAA!

Re: Why use an Immigration Lawyer
 

We were living in the lovely Woodhouse before we moved to Vancouver.

We're off to Whistler for the weekend (am leavign work at 3pm!)

I would recommend one of the interior ski resorts for Christmas 2008



Anyways....back to the topic.......

Both myself and mac_dub had very bad experiences with so called "experts" - both very reputable. #31

I can't remember about mac_dub but my company was paying for my immigratiion lawyer, and using the same fancy law firm that does our corporate law.

Basically she was going to make me do all the leg work (eventually - when she got round to looking at my file), was being paid a hell of a lot to just tell me which forms to fill in, and if I had listened to her we would have been without WP when our previous ones expired, because she was leaving everything to the last minute.

I don't put blind faith in people no matter how much of an "expert" they are, so kept tabs on her and realised that we were running out of time, sacked her and ended up doing everything myself. She said our only option was to do LMO WP and SW PR. Whereas we are just waiting for our passports back on BC PNP - a hell of a lot quicker. She never even gave me BC PNP as an option, and when I raised it with here - only cos of my own research she said I wouldn't be eligable.

So hiring a lawyer / consultant / expert isn't going to always be the best for you, and DON'T TRUST THEIR EVERY WORD IF YOU DO - which I can't stress high enough.

Re: Why use an Immigration Lawyer
 

As far as I see it, there are two very good reasons to hire a consultant / lawyer

1) Piece of mind / saved time of working things out for yourself
2) Complicated case

The trouble is, there are many consultants / firms out there who just don't do a good job.

I did PR application myself, but the company I work for hired a lawyer to help with LMO and temp work permit. He did an okay job, but gave me some bad advice for PR application (told me I couldn't get application fast tracked, and knew little about PNP). Fortunately I ignored him, and went with advice posted on here (mainly by Andrew Miller).

A good consultant should save you time & worry, but a bad one is going to double your stress!

Re: Why use an Immigration Lawyer
 

Good advice, my prospective employer said PNP is the way to go.

And how glad you must be to leave the burglary captial of the UK. How long scince you have been gone. or am I mistaken and there is a woodhouse in BC (I am sure there probably is).

Interior for christmas I take you mean nearer Vancouver due to cost and business?

or, do you mean, don't be so naive you wont be here by then go to nevis and enjoy the mud!

I am suitably jealous but I am going to Nevis next week to cheer myself up (We have snow!!!!). I makes me laugh, a 6 hour drive for mediocre riding and 1.5 hours to whistler. Rats!!!

Even Mountain Biking in the UK is pretty piss poor, more XC than you can shake a shitty stick at.

and thats swearing

I need to get my ass over there ASAP!

Enjoy

Re: Why use an Immigration Lawyer
 

Hi , I agree with you , we are having an awful time with an immigration company here in england.
We chose them naievely as we wanted to beleive what they promised and if you see my other post you will see we have medical complications and they claim to have 100% success rate to date even when people have previously been refused, so we went along with them also promising a guaranteed job placement and almost a year on , no job no visa and no money back , we are hopping mad , dont want to bite the hand that feeds , they are saying now after we have paid his profession is oversaturated over there yet we paid for them to place him over there in an alleged occupations under pressure ,its a huge issue for us they are tantamount to useless all they have done is cause us heartache and distress and inthe long term we have had to supply all detaisl they allegedly did a canadian Cv then got my oh to do it himself , and got us to send their team job links!!!!! be aware be very aware , i wish we were.

Re: Why use an Immigration Lawyer
 

We're a stones throw from the Carneige stadium in good ole Headingley. Have lived in Leeds for 5 years and really like it, and will also really like to leave it in April!!

There are people with good & bad experiences of both self/lawyer methods. Don't know if we were just lucky with our company, we didn't do any research on them at all but as I've said, absolutely no complaints from me and given time again, I would make the same decision.

Kelly