Greetings!
I am about to graduate from University, so I will be switching from student to the humanities visa. My company hired an immigration lawyer (since it’s their first time dealing with visa sponsorship) who would complete the procedure for us. From what I understand, when the applicant applies on their own, they are required to present the original residence card and passport and they would get some sort of stamp on the residence card showing that the application is being processed. Is it the same when an immigration lawyer applies on your behalf? Are you required to give them your original residence card and passport? The thing is that I was only asked to send digital copies and was not asked to give them the original, so I’m getting a bit worried. Actually, I was not ask to sign anything, nor present any original documents (transcript, the certificate of expected graduation and such), I only sent digital copies of everything. (I was wondering whether the lawyer might be planning to apply online, in which case I assume that original documents/signatures are not required at the time of application).
Another thing is that, when I checked with my employer about a week ago, I found out that my application had not been submitted yet at that time (not sure if something changed in the meantime) even though I’m graduating this week and am expected to join the company at the end of the month (it seems that my company only sent their the documents they were supposed to provide last week). I googled the lawyer they hired and he seems to be legit (registered on Immigration Lawyer Association website), but a part of me can’t help but worry. So I just wanted to check what the change of status procedure is like when it comes to your old residence card and the passport, with or without a lawyer (but especially the latter). Also, does hiring an immigration lawyer usually speed up the process a bit? (He, apparently, told my company that it’s a fast and easy process.) Should I be worried? I ‘m planning to write to my employer again today, but I thought that asking people here might be a good idea, too.
2 comments
>Are you required to give them your original residence card and passport?
What did your lawyer say? The last time I did this through a lawyer (admittedly 2005) I sent the originals. I was told to make a photocopy of my passport/card and keep those with me in case I needed them.
>The thing is that I was only asked to send digital copies and was not asked to give them the original, so I’m getting a bit worried.
The lawyer knows what they’re doing.
>Actually, I was not ask to sign anything, nor present any original documents (transcript, the certificate of expected graduation and such), I only sent digital copies of everything. (I was wondering whether the lawyer might be planning to apply online, in which case I assume that original documents/signatures are not required at the time of application).
Or, they might be preparing the paperwork and will ask you sign and send them the originals when they’re ready to submit it since you sort of need them (the originals).
I used an immigration lawyer to handle my PR application after I became eligible for it. I don’t remember the details but I was basically put in a pending status while my application was in process. It took about four months from the time I applied until it was approved.