Notes

Immigration Lawyers - WHAT EXACTLY ARE They Best for?
When I checked my inbox this morning I found a very important email from an organization of immigration professionals which I belong to.

Actually, this email is indeed 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 truth is that this email makes me feel just like I'm a silent partner in a bit of a deception being perpetrated on the general public by CIC. Let me explain.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada clearly takes great public pride in the quantity of information and resources it offers to the public through its website and call centre. CIC boasts that "All of the forms and information that you need to apply for 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 help me apply?" is really a "no."

The 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 quicker if you hire a representative? CIC advises that "If you choose to hire a representative, your application will never be given special attention by the immigration officer."

Is this really true? Is all the information you need really on the market? Do you need a lawyer? Would it make any difference should you 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?

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

Nevertheless, you "all the information you need" is not really out there and, yes, oftentimes an attorney or consultant's involvement can spell the difference between success, delay, or abject failure.

The information 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 services. It is not in their mandate to take action. Instead, they provide "general information 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 what you 'should' do when met with obstacles or strategic decisions to make.

Also, in the event that you encounter a problem that needs to be escalated, which is not unusual, you will discover precious little information on the CIC website concerning where to 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 each and every Canadian visa post overseas and the names and email addresses of the immigration program managers at all 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 do not receive a timely reply. It offers instructions on how best to direct communications associated with 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 general public. CIC's failure to publicise this information does 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 in making an overburdened and under-resourced program function at all (or even function well).

Sharing this information with the public would result in an avalanche of correspondence being directed at senior officials who are spread out so thinly that they could never get any other 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 leading of the line. Also, an officer won't approve an applicant who is not qualified just because they're represented. However, it is also true that an honest and experienced representative won't clog up the machine by submitting a credit card applicatoin that simply won't fly.

Furthermore, professionals who focus on this area know the procedure and learn how to avoid errors that cause delays. They learn how to sift through mounds of convoluted facts and properly and convincingly document and present the salient ones so that you can establish the basis for the approval of the application quickly and efficiently.

CIC doesn't like to acknowledge the positive role lawyers and consultants play to make its bureaucracy work with the public. It is loath to see us as partners in delivering the immigration plan it is given annually by Canada's immigration minister of your day.
Homepage: https://www.usimmigrationlawyerlondon.co.uk