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Do I Need a Lawyer for Immigration?

By Michael Niren March 26, 2010 (Updated April 21, 2021) 5 min. read
Should I hire an immigration lawyer?

Value of an Immigration Lawyer 2021

Often we are asked this question: “Do I need an immigration lawyer?” So we asked the CEO and founder of VisaPlace, Michael Niren to answer this question for us. Below you can find his answer to why someone would need to hire an immigration lawyer.

The typical scenario runs like this:  Someone comes into our office or calls us and describes their situation. It could be a Visa refusal or they want to sponsor their mother from overseas or apply for a work permit. After listening to their story, we will then try to spot any legal issues that may be relevant to their case and provide some general guidelines as to what may be involved in resolving their problem. These consultations are not designed to provide specific legal advice but rather to give people an idea about what is involved in their situation.

After listening to my general overview, the person will usually ask two follow-up questions:

1. How long will it take with an immigration lawyer?

2. How much will an immigration lawyer cost?

Both perfectly reasonable questions. The answer to the first, will of course depend on the nature of the case. Some visa applications take a number of months and some number of days. The answer to the second will of course varies depending on the nature and complexity of the case.

At this point, the person hopefully has a solid understanding of their situation and what is involved in resolving it. And now for the “biggy”. The question that often is asked with some fear and trepidation: “But Sir do I really need an immigration lawyer”? they say.

The answer to this question is trickier than you would think and you may be surprised by what I always say in response.

My reply is a flat…… “No”.

“No, you do not need a lawyer for your immigration matter”, I say.  I love watching their shocked faces. I let a few seconds pass to absorb the news. The person, looking like a deer in headlights, will then often and sheepishly ask “Well, why not?. I don’t need a lawyer?” To which my reply is always: “Sir or Madam, your case can be filed, argued, and processed without a lawyer or representative and therefore you don’t need an immigration lawyer”. There are no rules or regulations requiring people to have representatives handle their Immigration and Visa applications. Any application can be filed or a hearing can be conduct without legal counsel.

I then go on to tell them the following, often to their relief: “Although you don’t need a lawyer, you definitely should have one. Immigration law is very complex and there are many aspects to a case that require professional assistance despite what you may read or see online. I then add that “many cases we handle are refused applications or failed hearings and appeals from people without lawyers. Such cases are much harder to resolve and more costly. It is always better to get it right the first time.  Therefore there is a big difference between needing a lawyer and should you have one.”

The person is back to looking shocked again. Trying to explain the proper role of a lawyer in immigration matters is not easy. For some reason I can’t figure out, people have this perception that immigration applications are just about filling out some forms, paying a fee, and sending them in. If it were only that simple!

The meeting is now coming to a close and I am prepared for the final and, in the minds of many, the most important inquiry: “But if I hire an immigration lawyer, are there guarantees that my case will be successful?” And once again, my answer is, you guessed it, a flat……”No”.

“No, there are no guarantees when it comes to immigration and visa matters”, I reply.  Like in life, any request you make for any benefit whether it’s a loan from a bank or a raise at work, can be denied. Immigration law is no exception. Most people are receptive to this explanation as they can see how life and immigration law have something in common.

But some dig in their heels,  look at me with suspicion and contempt and ask: “If there are no guarantees, then why to hire an immigration lawyer?” Prepared for this one, I simply say “Because we can help you. We can vastly improve the chances that your case will succeed. We can make sure that your file is treated properly by the authorities and if it isn’t we will litigate if need be. Our role is to be your representative for your case. You pay us to do just that: help you with your case.  And remember, it is the government who pays an immigration officer to decide the outcome of your case, not you,  not me”

A bond of understanding slowly forms between us. Sometimes it’s acknowledged by a smile. I’m feeling good that I have shed some light on the world of immigration law for this person. And I hope that the person I have enlightened regardless of whether we will be retained feels good too.

Why You Don’t Need to Hire an “Immigration Lawyer Near Me”

Immigration lawyers do not need to live near you to successfully handle your case. Most legal consultations and casework are not done in person, they are done online. You can meet with an immigration lawyer virtually and describe your case without needing to meet the lawyer in person. This allows you to search for the best immigration lawyer on the internet! You are no longer confined to a local immigration lawyer but now open to every single one across the world. Here at VisaPlace, we connect you with an immigration lawyer that will accurately and successfully help you throughout your entire immigration process. Your assigned immigration lawyer will communicate every step of your case to keep you in the loop on how your case is doing. You no longer need an immigration lawyer near you when most immigration lawyers are already helping people from around the world!

How Do I Find an Immigration Lawyer Near Me?

VisaPlace can work with you no matter where you are. All our cases are handled by competent and experienced immigration professionals who are affiliated with VisaPlace. These professionals consist of lawyers, licensed paralegals, and consultants who work for VisaPlace Legal an award-winning immigration firm that adheres to the highest standards of client service.

Ready for the next step? Book your 1 on 1 consultation now or call us at 1-855-546-5408.

Have a Question related to your Immigration Needs?

Click here to fill out the FREE Immigration Assessment form below and get a response within 24 hours to see if you’re eligible.

The assessment form should take approximately 5-7 minutes to complete. We will get back to you within one business day to let you know if we are able to help.

kara turnquest Avatar

kara turnquest

VisaPlace. If you need reliable efficient knowledgeable help with resolving you immigration issues VisaPlace is your solution. From your initial call you are placed at ease, the level of professionalism is par none! The time agreed for your consultation is promptly met by an attorney. The entire team works together to keep you informed as your individual matter progresses to a resolution. I am grateful for the assistance which they gave me!

Belinda Maraj Avatar

Belinda Maraj

Our experience with the team at VisaPlace has been absolutely amazing. Special thank you to Nadia Bakhtiari whom we had the pleasure of partnering with. Nadia was attentive, empathetic, knowledgeable, professional, friendly and accessible. She provided guidance and kept us in the loop every step of the way. We were so impressed with the professionalism and exceptional client experience from VisaPlace that we partnered with them for both our PR application and our citizenship application. Thank you VisaPlace and thank you Nadia!

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betty klassen

We were switched legal teams 3 times within our time there.( This was not our doing) We weren’t impressed at all with the service almost all the way through our experience. Our review would have been 1 star. The response time was awful. To get in contact with our attorney was so difficult. And not thorough. Almost at the end, when we were almost ready to file, we got switched again, but this time, we are thankful. The attorney we got then was Andrew Diamond. He is fantastic and the reason for the 5 star rating. This is his rating. He was phenomenal. Absolutely amazing and prompt with response time and very knowledgeable, thorough and so helpful. We couldn’t have asked for better. Thank you Andrew for all you did for us!

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Arash Sorkhabi

I’m satisfied with the expertise and professionalism with which my case was managed and handled. I wanted to take this opportunity to thank the firm for its support. Although it has been a long process time due to Covid, Nadia has always been one of the first people to guide me step by step through the path during this stressful and unprecedented time. I strongly recommend VisaPlace to anyone seeking legal counsel.

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Sarb walia

I am thrilled to share that , We have just got our Permanent residence status under humanitarian and compassionate category. It was great experience to get professional service from visaplace. All team members very knowledgeable, hard worker, polite and professional. Special thanks to Yasmeen Ali, who always guide me through out processs. Its not easy task to get positive output in HM Category. I am highly recommend visaplace for any kind of immigration needs.

Shannon Wilde Avatar

Shannon Wilde

Applying for my E2 Visa was so overwhelming for me. As soon as I engaged VisaPlace all that worry and stress was gone. They guided me through the entire process and set me up for success! I would 100% recommend using them for any of your Visa Needs.

Julia Rood Avatar

Julia Rood

I reached out to VisaPlace kind of on a whim, knowing that I needed to apply for permanent residency in order to stay with my spouse and our two cats. They were immediately and incredibly responsive, and almost instantly made me feel that I was dealing with professionals who cared about my case.

I reached out to them August last year, and today got the confirmation that my permanent residency has been approved. The people I worked with in VisaPlace stuck with me through the whole process, answering any questions and assuaging any fears that I had about the process, my application, or what I needed to do. Even when my anxiety made me snappy (I apologized immediately!) they handled my case and me with professionalism and compassion. Immigration is a stressful, scary process. I wanted professionals who knew the ins-and-outs so that I had the best chance of being able to come to Canada.

And now, I get to stay in Canada with my partner of nearly 10 years, and I couldn’t be happier. I would absolutely recommend this service to anyone who wants immigration help! A big thank you, especially, to Alejandra and Nadia for handling my case. I’m so lucky to have had your help!