When You Should Consider Hiring An Immigration Attorney

Think you don’t need an immigration attorney and plan on migrating to a new country on your own? You might want to be a bit more realistic about the trials, frustrations, and difficulties you have ahead of you. Immigration is no easy task, even for those who meet all of the requirements. If money is stopping you, then you definitely have not done your research. Failing to hire a legal professional can result in rejected applications and unnecessary fees, as well as many hours wasted. Here are several situations where hiring an attorney can do you a great service.

Fiancé Visa

If you have been with your partner for a year or more, or you are planning on getting married in the near future, you may be able to enter a country and receive a fiancé or partner visa. Many countries even allow you to enter on this visa even if you have no intention to formalize your union through marriage. There are also countries that allow same-sex partners to immigrate together. The catch with many of these visas is that you have to have an entire year of solid evidence that you were in fact engaged in an exclusive relationship. This can be difficult if you were living apart for periods of time, traveled, or simply chose to keep finances and bills separate. An immigration attorney can help you compile the necessary paperwork and evidence, building an argument in your favor if you are missing bits and pieces or there were extenuating circumstances.

Skilled Worker

So there is a country in need of your skills. You have several years of experience, university education, and enough funds to cover you until you secure a job. Sounds easy? Once you start piecing together the required documents, you’ll likely run into some unforeseen snags. Maybe your degree is unrelated to your occupation, or the government might not recognize the training you have undergone. You’ll also likely be waiting months (if you’re lucky) but more often years before your application is even reviewed. A qualified immigration attorney can speed up the process and help you get everything in its proper order.

Student

Getting a student visa is fairly straightforward. As long as you have the funds and meet the entry requirements into your educational program of choice, there is little standing in your way. The troublesome part comes after graduation. Many students aren’t prepared to return home and have often built a life for themselves in their new country. An immigration attorney can help you explore all possible migration pathways so you don’t have to give up the life that you have become accustomed to.

Marriage Visa

Get married, bring the new wife home, happiness ensues—not so fast. Many governments have caught wise to the multitude of marriage fraud that is around; so much so that even legitimate partnerships risk scrutiny and even rejection. Even if you think it is a sure bet and you have a real marriage, an immigration attorney can provide the extra security you need.