People generally hesitate to contact an immigration solicitor. Most of the time, they have very little knowledge of what questions to ask an immigration lawyer and how a consultation call goes. However, UK immigration is complex, and anything can go wrong with your application. So hiring an immigration solicitor is more than necessary when you want to navigate the UK visa process. It usually involves preparing complicated paperwork, satisfying strict visa conditions, and dealing with any complex legal issues. You want to be as prepared as possible, including hiring the best immigration lawyer to represent your case.
Still, sometimes, it feels difficult to pick up the phone and get on call with a solicitor. But this can be easy if you know exactly what questions to ask an immigration lawyer. In this guide, we will look at all the practical questions you should ask your immigration solicitor.
8 Key Questions to Ask an Immigration Lawyer
During the consultation call, having the right questions to ask an immigration lawyer can give you clarity on whether the lawyer has the right experience and a successful track record to handle your case at a professional level. So, when you do talk to a lawyer, ask the following eight questions to help you decide if you want to hire them to represent you.
1. What Experience Do You Have with My Type of Visa Case?
UK immigration law is a varied system. Most lawyers have experience dealing with particular types of applications. You need to know if the UK visa lawyer has good experience in handling your type of visa application. So, you should ask your lawyer about their specific expertise and see how closely it aligns with your immigration needs. Enquire about how many cases like yours they handled and what are their success rates. The more details and numbers you learn, the more informed you will be when you make the decision to hire them. If their speciality isn’t directly matched to your needs, that is a red flag. The bottom line is they should have long experience in guiding the exact visa type that you want to apply.
2. Are You Accredited or Regulated by a Recognised Body?
When you are choosing an immigration lawyer or a law firm, It’s important that they are regulated by Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) or Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC). To practice immigration law in the UK, every solicitor or firm needs to be accredited by either of these. This ensures that all the solicitors will remain up to date with the ever-changing system of UK immigration law. It is a criminal offence for anyone to offer legal advice and guidance on any immigration application without being regulated.
So, if you are talking to unregulated advisors, it is possible that they might lack the necessary expertise and legal permission to actually guide your application. You can verify and confirm their credentials through official sources.
3. What are Your Success Rates and Case Studies?
As part of your process of choosing an immigration lawyer or a firm, you must find out their success rate. Even though you can’t guarantee results in immigration cases, knowing their track record will demonstrate their level of competence. This will give you more confidence to make a decision.
You can try and find the information on their website or by reading their client reviews on Google or Trustpilot. Alternatively, you can ask them for their success rate within the same application as yours. Another great evidence of a firm’s competence is their case studies. Ask them if they have a case study on anyone in a similar situation. A good case study will contain the client’s video testimonial and how the firm guided them from the immigration lawyer consultation call to the final application approval.
4. What are the Total Fees, and are There Any Hidden Costs?
As you will be paying for the services the solicitor offers you, do not hesitate to ask directly about their total list of charges. You must be informed about the full costs involved, such as application fees, document review costs, legal fees, and any other expenses that are part of their legal support. There are two types of price models in the current legal services. One is a fixed fee package, which is paying a certain amount to get assistance with your immigration application until approval. The second is a traditional model in which they charge you by the hour.
Before you officially hire the solicitor, there should be complete transparency in the pricing to avoid surprise costs being asked from you in the future. This will establish trust between you and the immigration adviser before you start taking money out of your pocket.
5. How Will You Communicate with Me Throughout the Process?
Regular contact from your solicitor will keep you informed about the progress of your application. Since immigration cases often come with strict deadlines, it is essential to ask your immigration lawyer about their communication channels and how frequently they will update you. Find out who your primary contact will be and how they will communicate with you, whether via email, phone call, or in-person meeting.
Many law firms assign a new case to a legal associate who is already dealing with several other cases. So remember that you are not just looking for an experienced immigration lawyer; they also need to be available when you need them. You have to choose a solicitor who is going to dedicate time to personally prioritise your case and keep you updated until your application is successful.
6. Can You Outline the Process and Expected Timelines?
Results are never guaranteed with immigration applications. So, everybody deserves an unbiased and realistic assessment of their case. An honest and knowledgeable solicitor will outline all the possible complications in your specific immigration and what their plan is to address them. This is one of the most important questions to ask an immigration lawyer. They should be able to freely discuss both the positives and negatives of your situation and how likely you will achieve your immigration goals.
Also, the expectations are not always about the final results. Some cases are quick, while other applications can take much longer. An experienced immigration solicitor should also brief you on the expected timeline and any potential delays. This will build trust in the partnership without fake promises.
7. What Happens if My Visa is Refused?
One of the crucial questions to ask an immigration lawyer is — What if my visa got refused? This question will open the dialogue to talk about their contingency plan on how they deal with a visa refusal. You must know if they also provide legal support in case of a visa refusal or if it is out of their hands. It is best to go with someone who will continue to support you through the refusal.
An ideal UK visa lawyer will advise and guide you through the next best steps to take. Ask if they can support you through the process of appealing a visa refusal. First, they should help review the refusal notice, identify what kind of application errors are made, and figure out solid grounds to represent your case in an appeal. However, before you can trust them with your appeal, you must see how successful they are in winning the appeals and achieving visa approvals. An impressive track record can assure your confidence in hiring them.
8. Are There Any Alternative Visa Options I Should Consider?
The best immigration lawyer should look past your initial requirement. They need to assess your case in-depth, including your professional background, current situation, and your ideal immigration objectives. This way, you have the chance to explore alternate visa routes based on eligibility that might be more suitable for your needs. Ask plenty of questions until you are fully aware of all the visa options available to you.
An immigration expert may suggest a visa that is more appropriate to your circumstances than the one you are planning to apply for. This makes it one of the crucial questions to ask an immigration lawyer. Because you never know. There might be a much quicker and more suitable route for you.
Get Answers to Your Important Questions Before Hiring a Solicitor
Use the initial consultation to ask all the questions that concern you, along with the above eight key questions to ask an immigration lawyer. Just remember, after the call, you should feel very confident to trust your lawyer to handle your application and know that you can pick up the phone at any time and speak to them. It is all about how dedicated they are willing to be to deliver their promises and work hard to achieve your immigration goals With 15+ years of experience as a leader and pioneer in this field, UK immigration law is our sole focus here at A Y & J Solicitors. Our team of specialists provide legal assistance on all visa and immigration matters. If you need legal representation or advice about your visa application, reach out to us for expert guidance. Book a call with us to schedule your immigration lawyer consultation now.
