I want to get some advice whether I should contact an immigration lawyer or not because it seems like a stressful decision.
Basically, I have enough points to change from a Professor visa to an HSP visa. I had a call to the immigration services, and the documents needed feels a bit complicated in my case, i.e., I want to claim employment years in my field, and papers that I have published. For the latter, the kind of proof needed was not really well explained by the assistant.
I would try to submit my documents myself, but if I manage to collect it this week, the process takes two months, and a rejection happens, I will have one month left on my current visa, and I don't know what happens in that situation. Knowing what happens in my situation would help me mitigate the stress, and basically decide whether it's better to hire someone or do it myself.
Because I will be here for 1 year in October, and I have 80 points an alternative would be to extend my current professor visa, and then just the permanent residence process after October, which I would definitely prefer to do with an immigration lawyer.
I recognise some of this would be best to be discussed with an immigration lawyer but the lawyer will have an incentive to convince me to take the service, so I want also a bit more independent advice.
Any advice is appreciated.
by boomkin94