Immigration Consultants
 What
is an Immigration Consultant?
An immigration
consultant is often considered to be an expert in the field of immigration but without a law degree
or any similar education. Thus, an immigration consultant is not the same
as an immigration attorney. Many jobs within the immigration field require formal
education, but not immigration consultants. While some immigration consultants
can prove to be very knowledgeable and trustworthy, literally anyone can call themselves
an immigration consultant. There are no formal regulations for the immigration
consultant profession in the United States. The problem is that individuals in
need of immigration help may not know the difference between an immigration
lawyer and an immigration consultant. In response to bogus "immigration
consultants," Canada requires all
professional immigration consultants to be a member of the Canadian Society of Immigration
Consultants ("CSIC") if they want to be affiliated with the Canadian government.
Many immigration applications that need to be submitted to the
USCIS or U.S. Department of State can be done by the
individual him/herself. However, in many cases it is recommended
to obtain help with immigration applications,
as a simple filing error can significantly delay the filing process and may even
compromise one's immigration status. An immigration consultant can assist with
filing immigration forms and the application process. However, sometimes
immigration cases are complex and require in-depth knowledge of the justice system.
The immigration language consists of a particular set of words and jargon that for most
people is difficult to understand. An immigration lawyer is more likely to
understand the complexities of immigration law and immigration jargon, as
compared to an immigration consultant. However, immigration
attorneys generally charge high consultation
fees, which is something immigration
consultants benefit from. If an individual needs help with a specific issue and
the price between a lawyer and a consultant is hundreds or even thousands of
dollars, the individual may be more likely and chose the
consultant. Consultants can promote their immigration services the same way as
immigration lawyers do but benefit from the overall high price level in the
industry.
While it is easy to argue that it is better to let an immigration lawyer handle
your file despite the higher consultation and handling fees, knowledgeable
immigration consultants can save you a lot of time and money. In seeking
assistance filling out immigration forms and applications, another option exists
besides an immigration consultant or an immigration attorney.
Immigration guides
are available which provide detailed application instructions. These guides can
prove to be very helpful and are a lot less expensive than both an immigration
attorney and an immigration consultant.
When choosing an immigration consultant, keep in mind the following:
- Can you see testimonials?
- Can you speak to a former clients?
- Do you know all the fees upfront?
- Will there will be any additional fees along the way?
- Do you know how long the process will take?
- Can the immigration consultant handle your case? If not, can he/she
refer you to an immigration attorney?
Choosing an immigration consultant will in most cases be cheaper than hiring
an immigration attorney,
but it is important to keep in mind that they might not be a true expert in the field just because
they know immigration terms and procedures.
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