That would certainly be advisable, even if you only have your chances/options assessed before starting the process, but is not compulsory. It's like hiring a customs agent to import goods, having a tax consultant or accountant do your tax return, or even you could sue someone to court yourself but most people ask a lawyer to do it. Hiring an immigration consultant is the same.

You have a choice to file the application by yourself or hire an immigration consultant to file it for you. There are definite advantages to hire an immigration consultant. An immigration consultant can: save your time and headache by filling out your applications and helping you to gather supporting documents be on top of immigration regulation changes that might affect your application selection, process and timeline.

You may find that there are numerous "Immigration Consultants" who offer their services for immigration. Often, but not always, the fees that they charge are low, making these services appear attractive if you require immigration help but are concerned with the amount of money involved. However, you should be warned that immigration consultants are not licensed immigration attorneys, and are not authorized to provide legal immigration advice.

There are reputable local lawyers that Blaney Homes have close associations with and are happy to provide independent advice.

The advantage of having an immigration consultant in Canada is that you can register a complaint against an immigration consultant through The Better Business Bureau of Canada . The Better Business Bureau is a private, nonprofit, self regulatory organization dedicated to promoting fairness and honesty in the marketplace. This option may not be available if you decide to hire an immigration consultant outside of Canada.

Local Law 31 outlines requirements for immigration service providers. To file a complaint or to request copies of the Immigrant Service Provider Law Guide, which is available in 11 languages, call 311 or visit the Department of Consumer Affairs Web site. Complaints can be filed anonymously, and in the language of the caller.

It is important that you as customer are directly dealing with a consultant who is qualified in Australian immigration law and is registered in Australia with MARA. Your consultant should be competent and have answers to the questions you are seeking help with. Ask for references of their existing and past customers. Ensure that they communicate well enough in English to communicate with authorities effectively on your behalf.

Whether you need an immigration lawyer to handle your immigration matter is difficult to assess without being an experienced immigration lawyer. Generally, it is best to contact an immigration lawyer to explain your circumstances, and determine how much it would cost to have the lawyer help you. If you truly cannot afford a lawyer, most lawyers will refer you to a bar association or other nonprofit agency that can assist you for free or for a reduced rate based on your income.

Because of the complexity of immigration law it is often difficult for laypersons to determine which visa /permit might be best for their particular situation. For example, one type of status might be faster to obtain but might prevent you from bringing relatives. A lawyer can actually save you time and money by looking at your needs and ensuring your chosen immigration status is right for your situation. A lawyer can also make sure your application is as complete and thorough as possible.

Ans:- [Muralidhar Rangaswamy, RANGASWAMY@plh.af.mil] [Modified by rskhanna@immigration.com] The best method is through word of mouth. Ask your friends and acquaintances first. Please treat this as my $0.02 worth on the subject of picking an immigration lawyer. While there is no hard and fast rule on determining whether an immigration lawyer is good or not, the following points would be worthwhile considering in the selection process.

When seeking advice or representation in your immigration matters, you should find a lawyer or law firm that practices immigration law. Immigration law constantly changes. Similarly, the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services branch frequently change the paperwork, forms, procedures, and costs for services. Therefore, you need up-to-date information to make the process as easy and risk free as possible.

Whether lawyer or consultant, engage the services of an immigration professional with the skills for effective practice with respect to immigration. In Canada the Immigration Practitioner Certificate Program available in Ontario (Seneca College) and British Columbia (University of British Columbia) provides immigration professionals with the required knowledge and ethical standards in the practice of immigration to protect the public, clients, and the immigration delivery system.

You are not obliged to hire a representative for immigration and refugee matters. However hiring a consultant will ensure your documents are properly prepared in accordance with applicable immigration law. Hiring a consultant will cost you money but it saves time, gives you peace of mind, you will be able to submit an error-free application and avoid delays and possible rejection.

Temporary visiting visas of 1 month are granted to most nationalities on arrival in Thailand . Foreigners can also apply for 1-year multi entry non-immigrant visas. On completion of three years consecutive non-immigration status foreigners can be eligible to apply for permanent residency.

Temporary Entry - Canadian Visa - FAQ Free Evaluation Newsletter Link to Us Recommend this Site Contact Us The Canadian government is currently issuing temporary employment authorization visas under an expedited process, to qualified professionals and skilled persons under the "Information Technology Workers Program".

Your immigration visa will state how long it will be valid for. Once issued, immigration visas cannot be extended which means you have to enter Canada before the expiry date on the visa. If you do not use the visa within its validity, then you must apply all over again for immigration to Canada.

Much the same as with the visa procedure. For most anyone arriving by air and westerners arriving by any means it's usually a matter of filling out a simple form and handing the unsmiling official your passport, waiting a minute or two, and getting it back with the stamp. With the rare exception, it's no money and no problem.

A visa represents permission from the State Department for the bearer to enter the United States in a particular category. In the past, visas were rubber-stamped on the passport page with multi-colored ink. The transition is nearly complete, however, to a machine-readable, label-type of visa, with a photograph of the bearer.