Immigration Consultants
 What
is an Immigration Consultant?
Immigration consultants are not the same as immigration lawyers. An immigration
consultant may be an expert in the field of immigration but without a law degree
or any similar education. Many jobs within the immigration field require formal
education, but not immigration consultants. 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. Canada has taken a step further to
eliminate the bogus immigration consultants in the industry and require all
“immigration consultants” to be member of the Canadian Society of Immigration
Consultants ("CSIC") if they want to do business 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, it may be recommended
in some cases to obtain help, even for a simple filing as a returned application
will only add weeks to the filing process. An immigration consultant will most
likely be better at helping with simple filings in comparison to complex cases
that require in-depth knowledge of the justice system.
The immigration language consists of a particular set of words that for most
people is something that is only heard in movies or seen on TV. Whether an
immigration consultant or immigration lawyer uses the same vocabulary during
consultation, it will probably mean the same to the individual. However, an
immigration lawyer is more likely to know what he or she is explaining in
comparison to an immigration consultant who may know the language but not the
meaning of it.
Immigration attorneys are famous for charging 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
dollar, the individual may be likely to go with the cheaper option 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, immigration
consultants that know what to do can save you a lot of time and money.
When choosing an immigration consultant, keep in mind the following:
- Can you see testimonials?
- Can you speak to a former clients?
- Do you know the 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 a cheaper option,
but keep in mind that he/she may not be an expert in the field just because
he/she knows immigration terms and procedures.
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