Tips: Submitting your UK Visa through an Agent

If you decide to use an independent travel agent, immigration consultant or Agent there are some general tips to ensure that you choose correctly:

Agents/consultants cannot guarantee that they will be able to get you a study or work visa.

No agent should guarantee that you will receive the visa without an interview or guarantee the outcome of your visa application.

If you do contact an agent and they make such claims be very careful and ensure that you receive everything in writing and check any contracts that they will have you sign before you sign it.

I have been working in the Immigration Industry since 2002 and have never made any guarantee of an outcome whether it be a Study/Work/Family or Visit Type Visa

The terms of service and fees associated with Immigration Consultants, Agents and Lawyers can obviously vary and it is extremely important for you to feel totally comfortable enough with your agent/lawyer/consultant to bring up any concerns before you enter into an agreement.

Always remember that the application for the Visa is YOUR application and the documents provided are your property, an agent may help you complete the necessary forms and guide you as to what documentation to submit with.

A large part of my duty as an Immigration Consultant is to inform potential visa applicants on their eligibility and the rules associated with the particular visa type.

Tips for choosing an Immigration Consultant/Firm.

Due to the complex nature of Immigration Laws, it is vital that you choose the correct consultant/firm/lawyer to represent you when making any application to the United Kingdom Border Agency. There are many Immigration Agents listed on the Internet and virtually wherever you are in the world it is possible to locate them and assess their ability and legitimacy, finding the correct representation could be the difference between a successful application and the nightmare of being refused. each country issue visas for a variety of different purposes and it is important to know that your representative is capable of fulfilling their commitment ot obtaining the correct visa for you. There are visas for students, visitors and people looking for work in a variety of capacities.

Please take into account a common misunderstanding when it comes to immigration law, just because a lawyer claims to be a Immigration Lawyer does not mean that they have specialized or even practiced in Immigration law, there are a number of cases of qualified "lawyers" that are advertising as Immigration Law Specialists but in truth have never specialized or even practiced any immigration law at all. In some countries there are regulatory bodies that can verify any immigration office/company registration and it is always a good idea to confirm with the authorities that your chosen representative is dully qualified and more importantly has no adverse case history with them.

While choosing the representative it is important that you feel comfortable to speak and relay any concerns to the agent.You may choose to meet with a number of options first on the phone and generally you should get a good feel for what they are offering and assess their payment structures carefully. Always take the time to ask as many relevant questions as possible and always ask for successful previous clients contact details as a referral. It is important that you feel okay to ask any questions you may have and you need to feel totally at ease with your consultant/company.