The process of immigrating to a new country can be an extremely overwhelming and life-altering decision, one that comes with no shortage of challenges and legal complexities. The immigration process, with all its intricacies, involves many procedures, government paperwork and legal requirements. In order to properly navigate the immigration process and maximize your overall chances of approval, consider enlisting the assistance of an experienced immigration attorney.
In this article, Best Lawyers explores how individuals can make the most of their legal partnership with an immigration attorney, increasing their chances of experiencing a successful immigration process.
Should You Use an Immigration Lawyer?
Hiring an experienced and well-versed immigration lawyer is no decision to be taken lightly since it can significantly impact an individual’s personal immigration journey. Although it is not a mandatory part of the immigration process, an attorney who specializes in immigration law can offer invaluable knowledge and key insights into the ever-changing landscape of immigration laws and regulations.
While an experienced immigration lawyer can provide personalized legal guidance, they can also assist in streamlining an otherwise complex application process and increasing an individual’s likelihood of success, offering advice on how to sidestep all potential pitfalls. Despite these benefits, the decision to hire an immigration lawyer depends on a number of different factors, including the overall complexity of the case and an individual’s financial budget for legal services. But ultimately, utilizing the expertise of an immigration lawyer can help ensure peace of mind and strengthen a client’s chances of a smooth, successful immigration experience.
What Is the Difference Between an Immigration Lawyer and Immigration Consultant?
Before hiring legal counsel, individuals should know the key differences between an immigration lawyer and an immigration consultant. Though they possess similar qualifications and knowledge of the immigration process, the main differences lie in the scope of services they can provide to a client. For example, a licensed immigration lawyer is a professional who is legally authorized to provide immigration advice, can represent clients in various types of court proceedings as well as advocate on their behalf.
Conversely, an immigration consultant typically hasn’t completed law school, received any legal certifications or is considered a licensed attorney. Regardless, immigration consultants are still quite well-versed in educating clients about current immigration processes and regulations. While immigration consultants are not legally authorized to provide advice or represent clients in court, they can assist with filling out immigration forms, gathering necessary documentation and traversing through all administrative aspects of immigration.
Can a Lawyer Speed up the Immigration Process?
As previously stated, while hiring an immigration attorney can help streamline the overall legal process, they, unfortunately, cannot further expedite the time it takes for government officials and federal authorities to process an individual’s documentation. Despite this, it is still highly recommended that individuals currently navigating the intricate nature of immigration law for the first time enlist the expertise of a seasoned immigration lawyer. From ensuring all paperwork is submitted correctly and in a timely fashion to choosing the ideal type of visa and immigration pathway for their client to pursue, the assistance an immigration attorney is prepared to provide can be instrumental in the overall success of an individual’s journey and cannot be understated.
