Notes

Immigration Lawyers - What Are They Best for?
When I checked my inbox today I found a very important email from an organization of immigration professionals which I belong to.

Actually, this email is so crucial to my ability to practice immigration law that I forwarded it to all or any of my staff, saved it inside our firm's electronic address book, and printed it for inclusion in the binder that sits on my desk right by my telephone.

Yet, the simple truth is that this email makes me feel like I am a silent partner in a bit of a deception being perpetrated on the public by CIC. Let me explain.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada clearly takes great public pride in the quantity of information and resources it provides to the public through its website and call centre. CIC boasts that "All the forms and information that you need to obtain a visa are for sale to free on this website."

Therefore, it's no wonder that in the website's FAQ, the answer to the question: "Do I need an immigration representative to greatly help me apply?" is really a "no."

The general public is told that "THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT of Canada treats everyone equally, if they work with a representative or not."

Will your case be processed more quickly in the event that you hire a representative? CIC advises that "If you opt to hire a representative, your application will never be given special attention by the immigration officer."

Is immigration solicitors cambridge ? Is everything you need really out there? Do you need a lawyer? Would it make a difference for those who have one? Put another way: are those who are using lawyers and consultants to take care of their immigration applications just throwing away their money?

I hate answering these questions since doing other people's immigration work is how I make my living. People would be justified in being sceptical about my answers to these questions.

But the truth is "all the information you need" is not really on the market and, yes, in many cases an attorney or consultant's involvement can spell the difference between success, delay, or abject failure.

The info at cic.gc.ca is general in nature and cannot possibly contemplate the infinite factual scenarios that applicants might present when applying. Furthermore, the agents at the decision centre cannot and don't provide callers with legal advice. It is simply not in their mandate to take action. Instead, they provide "general info on the CIC lines of business... provide case specific information, and accept orders for CIC publications and application kits."

In other words, they can not tell you everything you 'should' do when confronted with obstacles or strategic decisions to make.

Also, in the event that you encounter a problem that needs to be escalated, which is not uncommon, you will see precious little info on the CIC website concerning where you can direct your complaint or question.

Not with immigration professionals.

The email I received this morning can be an update of CIC's protocol on how immigration professionals should direct their queries. The correspondence provides the email address for every Canadian visa post overseas and the names and email addresses of the immigration program managers at each of those offices. It tells us how, also to whom, to direct case-specific enquiries to the Case Management Branch in Ottawa and when and how to follow up if we usually do not receive a timely reply. It offers instructions on how to direct communications relating to quality of service complaints, situations involving possible misconduct or malfeasance of immigration officers, procedures, operational and selection policy, and processing times and levels.

To my knowledge, this information is not distributed to members of the public. CIC's failure to publicise this information will not reflect preferential treatment for individuals who are represented. Instead, it is simply an acknowledgement that immigration professionals do, and also have always, played an essential role to make an overburdened and under-resourced program function at all (or even function well).

Sharing this information with the general public would bring about an avalanche of correspondence being directed at senior officials that are spread out so thinly that they could never get any work done.

It really is true that, except in exceptional and deserving cases, hiring a lawyer or consultant can't get a credit card applicatoin moved from the trunk of the line to the front of the line. Also, an officer will not approve an applicant who is not qualified just because they're represented. However, additionally it is true that an honest and experienced representative won't clog up the system by submitting a credit card applicatoin that simply won't fly.

Furthermore, professionals who focus on this area know the procedure and discover how to avoid errors that cause delays. They learn how to dig through mounds of convoluted facts and properly and convincingly document and present the salient ones in order to establish the foundation for the approval of the application form quickly and efficiently.

CIC doesn't like to acknowledge the positive role lawyers and consultants play to make its bureaucracy work for the public. It really is loath to see us as partners in delivering the immigration plan it is given annually by Canada's immigration minister of the day.
Here's my website: https://cambridge.ukimmigrationlawyersuk.co.uk