Shabana Bukhari 
In today’s blog readers will learn how to find an experienced criminal immigration lawyer near your location to handle your case.
What applications can a criminal immigration lawyer handle?
The applications which criminal immigration lawyers can handle are vast and varied. Within immigration law, criminal law becomes relevant during completing applications, such as entry clearance or leave to remain in the UK. The Home Office as part of your application will expect you to disclose any criminal convictions to see if you meet suitability requirements.
Criminal conviction sometimes leads to your case or application being rejected by the Home Office and so it is key that you seek advice on whether your application is likely to be refused if you have any criminal convictions. For instance, your application will be refused if you come under any of the following:
- You have been convicted of a criminal offence which held a penalty of a custodial sentence lasting 12 months of more, whether overseas in the UK.
- You are a persistent offender.
- You have committed a criminal or other offence which resulted in “serious harm”.
What happens if I fail to disclose criminal convictions?
If an applicant fails to disclose any criminal convictions and the Home Office become aware of such omissions. The result will be an allegation of deception which leads to a re-entry ban into the UK lasting for ten years.
How to locate a criminal immigration lawyer near me?
Locating a criminal immigration lawyer in your area starts with using your internet browser or by word of mouth to select a handful of law firms in your area. On the internet you can see the distance the firms are away from your home address and the varying modes of transport you can take to visit them in person. Ensure that you check that they offer services in both criminal and immigration law.
Once you have selected relevant law firms which are closest to your location, you can further research into whether they are trusted. The most accessible way of going about this is to read google reviews. This will give an accurate indication of the level of service they provide and whether their team is compiled of trusted individuals. In some reviews, specific names of lawyers are used, and many clients will discuss how positive their experience was under their guidance.
FAQs about Criminal Immigration Lawyer Near Me
What applications can a criminal immigration lawyer handle?
Criminal immigration lawyers can handle a vast array of applications which cover entry clearance, visas and leave to remain in the UK to name a few. Any applications which under suitability grounds require applicants to disclose of any criminal convictions, criminal immigration lawyers can advise you on.
Why may my application be refused?
Your application may be refused because either you have been convicted of a criminal offence which held a penalty of a custodial sentence lasting 12 months of more, you are a persistent offender, or you have committed a criminal or other offence which resulted in serious harm.
Why do I need to disclose any criminal convictions?
You must disclose any criminal convictions for the Home Office to determine whether you meet the suitability requirements under the application you wish to make.
What happens if I fail to disclose criminal convictions?
If you fail to disclose any criminal convictions and the Home Office become aware of such omissions. The result will be an allegation of deception which leads to a re-entry ban into the UK lasting for ten years.
How do I know that a lawyer is trusted?
You will know that a Bristol lawyer 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 SRA.
Will my case be successful with a trusted lawyer?
This is highly dependable as the UKVI makes the final decision on your application which a lawyer 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 lawyer 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 immigration law 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.
Summary
In this blog readers have gained an understanding into what criminal immigration cases cover and how to locate a lawyer near your location that specialises in this area.
Please contact our expert team of immigration lawyers at Henleaze Law on 0117 908 4607 for legal assistance with criminal immigration enquiries and how you may be affected by these grounds for application refusal. We will tailor our advice to you and ensure a quick and successful process.
