Shabana Bukhari 
In this blog readers will have an understanding on how to find a trusted immigration advisor in Bristol who can provide expert guidance and assistance throughout your immigration journey.
What is the difference between a legal advisor and a solicitor?
A legal advisor and solicitor are two different titles which must be classified before proceeding to talking about the benefits of the former:
The main difference between these two titles is the way that they are regulated. For instance, solicitors in England and Wales are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) who safeguard the high ethical standards of the legal profession. You can check whether the immigration solicitor you are researching is a member of the SRA by browsing their ‘Solicitors Register’ here: SRA | Solicitors Register | Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Whereas advisors are be regulated by the OISC (Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner). Follow this link to the OISC website: home.oisc.gov.uk/adviser_finder/finder.aspx.
However, despite the different ways of being regulated the two titles in fact perform very similar duties within immigration law. They both advise clients and have extensive experience in legal document preparation. Many times, legal advisors can be more affordable than solicitors due to the difference in qualification which can be a benefit for many clients which want the same high quality customer service but many times at a lower price band.
Why should I use an immigration advisor?
You should use and seek the advice of a Trusted Immigration Advisor in Bristol if you have no prior experience for making UK immigration applications. A trusted advisor will be well adapted to working with any type of client, be it an employer, spouse, overseas worker or international student. They will have a grasp on what is the best route for you and as immigration law is extremely fastest changing, they will have knowledge of all the latest developments in that area. Meaning that the application you initially thought was best for you may not actually be the quickest or offer the best solution.
Also, if your case is complex and requires an appeal to the immigration tribunal it is important to seek an immigration advisor’s advice. This is because it is pertinent you have someone on your behalf to prepare evidence bundles and represent you.
Moreover, advisors will translate complex legal terms concisely making it easily digestible for their clients who may either have no knowledge of immigration law or where English is not their native language.
Finally, a trusted immigration advisor in Bristol will ensure that your application is completed on time and as they have lots of experience in legal document preparation to the UKVI’s preferences. They will ensure that it is to their standard. Those with little to no legal experience will not know what must be included in applications and the way in which they must be laid out. Making it harder to predict the success of applications and sometime leading to refusals which cost the applicant both time and money.
Therefore, it is recommended that as an applicant you seek legal advice from an immigration adviser in Bristol.
But what makes an immigration advisor in Bristol trusted?
Discovering Trust: What Makes a Trusted Immigration Advisor in Bristol?
A trusted immigration advisor in Bristol will be reliable in the way they constantly achieve high success rates for clients. Hence client satisfaction is key when deciding if a specific immigration advisor in Bristol is trusted. You can decide on this by reading online reviews, hearing word of mouth and ensuring they meet professional standards.
Online reviews:
Online reviews are one of the best ways to figure out if an immigration advisor in Bristol is trusted. There are many reviewing platforms which allow previous customers to rate advisors and rate them out of five stars. For instance, browse Henleaze Law’s rating on Google Reviews and Trustindex: https://www.trustindex.io/reviews/henleazelaw.co.uk. As a team we have achieved the full five out of five stars across these platforms.
Within each review you will be able to read about what previous clients have applied for and in some cases, this may be the same application as you are wishing to make. Grasp their experience and success rate quickly. In some cases, they may even recommend members of the team which they worked with and were suitably impressed by.
Word of mouth:
Discovering the trustworthiness of a Trusted Immigration Advisor in Bristol can be as simple as listening to the firsthand accounts of friends, family, neighbors, or work colleagues. The benefit to this method is that you are hearing first hand someone who you trust experience.
Professional standards:
Finally, it is important when judging on trustworthiness that professional standards are met by the immigration advisor. As discussed above they should be accredited by the OISC (Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner). Follow this link to the OISC website: home.oisc.gov.uk/adviser_finder/finder.aspx where you can type in any immigration advisor in Bristol and see if they are registered.
For instance, Henleaze Law’s registration number is F201900071.
FAQs About Trusted Immigration Advisor in Bristol
What are the key indicators of a Trusted Immigration Advisor in Bristol?
You will know that a Bristol immigration advisor is trusted by following the tips above and importantly reading online reviews or hearing reviews from friends or colleagues. However, also ensure that beyond this they are trusted professionally which can be ensured by searching for whether they are accredited by the OISC.
Will my case be successful with a trusted Bristol immigration advisor?
This is highly dependable as the UKVI makes the final decision on your application which an immigration advisor no matter how trusted has no control over. But by ensuring that the advisor you are entrusting is experienced by doing your research online and reading reviews. Their legal advice and expertise have various benefits, such as minimising the risk of rejection and therefore increasing your chances of success compared to acting independently.
Should I be worried if the Bristol immigration advisor has some bad reviews from previous customers?
It depends how many bad reviews they receive and if they are followed up with an explanation. Firstly, the Bristol immigration firm should on average have a high number of stars and so if they rank very poorly with customers this will reflect in the stars they receive. This suggests the firm may not have the best success rate with their customers. However, be wary as nowadays some of the reviews may be fake and so verify them by reading the short caption explaining why a certain previous customer has rated the firm poorly.
What is professional accreditation?
This is assigned to companies showing that they have been approved by a professional body and so the service they provide is trusted and reliable.
Can I work with a Trusted Immigration Advisor in Bristol if I’m currently residing outside the UK?
This depends but nowadays most immigration solicitors in Bristol have adapted to communicating remotely with their clients, such as on the phone. Before booking an appointment with an immigration advisor ask if they use remote forms of communication.
What are the OISC and SRA?
These are regulating bodies for immigration advisors and solicitors. They ensure that high ethical standards are maintained throughout the legal profession.
Is the information that I share with my immigration advisor private and confidential?
Absolutely. This principle stands as a cornerstone of ethical legal practice and is diligently upheld by every reputable and trusted immigration advisor. Those affiliated with the OISC must adhere to this principle, or they could jeopardize their registration as a Trusted Immigration Advisor in Bristol.
Can all immigration advisors in Bristol help with visa applications?
Yes, immigration solicitors will help you with these applications, such as Spouse, Skilled worker, and other visas. They can advise you on what evidence to provide for the strongest application, as well as handling the application process on behalf of you.
What types of applications can immigration lawyers in Bristol help me with?
Immigration lawyers based in Bristol can help you with many different types of applications. These include varying types of visas, such as UK Skilled Worker visas or Spouse visas. They will assess your eligibility and give advice on which visa is best suited for your needs. Lawyers will also take over the application process for you, simplifying it and helping you complete it.
However, there are many other applications other than visas which they can help with, such as applications for British citizenship, work permits, appeals and seeking asylum in the UK.
Summary
Are you looking for a trusted immigration advisor in Bristol? Then look no further than our expert team at Henleaze Law. We can help you with a vast array of applications, such as Visa, British citizenship, and asylum. Our team also specialises in appeals following a Home Office refusal.
Located in the heart of Bristol, at the bottom of Park Street and across from Bristol City Council our office is extremely easy to access. There is bus transport right outside the front of our office. However, we can also contact you remotely by phone or email if you reside overseas or too far to travel to our Bristol office.
Please contact our expert team of immigration lawyers at Henleaze Law on 0117 908 4625 for legal assistance on UK Visas, British citizenship applications, appeals and other immigration matters.
