Cambodia Expats Online: Forum | News | Information | Blog

Would you pay an immigration specialist to handle your partner's visa to the 'West'?

Some would not even consider moving back to
the 'West' (Austrailia, Europe, Canada, the U.K. or the U.S.)....

I've got a lot of distain for the solicitors. Also I've heard from a handful of people who have bad experiences with them. The majority will take your money and give you poor representation.

If you want a job doing well then do it yourself is certainly true, but you have to know that the onus is on the applicant/appellant to provide all the evidence. So hundreds of hours of research and implementation. This can impact your full time job and home life.

Phnom Penh Pal wrote: ↑Tue Jul 13, 2021 8:09 pm Would you pay an immigration specialist to handle your partner's visa to the 'West'?

Some would not even consider moving back to
the 'West' (Austrailia, Europe, Canada, the U.K. or the U.S.)....

I've got a lot of distain for the solicitors. Also I've heard from a handful of people who have bad experiences with them. The majority will take your money and give you poor representation.

If you want a job doing well then do it yourself is certainly true, but you have to know that the onus is on the applicant/appellant to provide all the evidence. So hundreds of hours of research and implementation. This can impact your full time job and home life.

If you're asking if you can then yes

They can go to the ministries and what not
All you and your partner have to do is your embassy visits, it's actually quite "cheap" all things considered. I believe a fixer charges 850-1200, just make sure you and your partner ace the interviews.

I actually hired a lawyer on the western side to gather and file the paperwork. He made a list of needed materials, and sent the briefcase worth to USCIS to start the process rolling.

I think the amount of ‘evidence’ amassed made the embassy staffer’s eyes bleed.

The entire process basically determines 1) can you support her 2) is she in a committed relationship with you 3) chance that things will fall apart and she will end up on the dole.

IMHO, the embassy interview is usually a pre-determined outcome based on the paperwork submitted.

Basically, if they’ve already decided to grant the visa, the interview will be a breeze. If they’ve already decided to reject, the interview will be like the live shrimp Khmer throw on the BBQ.

Good luck!

Had a friend visit in Canada in 2019. He hired a so-called immigration specialist in PP who put together a crap submission for him. The application was refused. We had a Canadian immigration lawyer in Canada prepare a submission which covered all the points that a visa officer would be looking at when it came to approval or refusal. The application was approved but a lot of time was wasted.

Most applications come to grief when applicants use Canadian or foreign rip-off immigration consultants who don't know what they are doing. I don't have a lot of love for lawyers, but a good immigration lawyer is worth the fee providing it is not too egregious.

Most important consideration to the visa officer for a temporary visa is ties to home country: job, family, real property, money in the home country, relationship to Canadian partner. Foremost in the visa officer's mind is whether the applicant has sufficient ties to the home country and evidence that they can maintain themselves and effect their departure at the end of the temporary stay. Of course, they will look closely at the relationship to the Canadian (western) partner to determine if it is one that is genuine or one of convenience.

I suspect that the same considerations would apply to the US or any other western country. Good luck.

If your partner is a significant one : marry it, and move on the fast line, green lights included.
If it's not, then why would you bring your own sandwich at the restaurant ?

I guess it depends on what type of visa you are applying for? and the Country you wish for her to visit or live as every country would have different criteria for
different visa types.

In Australia it can be difficult even for a visitor visa, You basically have to prove that there are more reasons for the visitor to return to their home country than to overstay the visa. For example, A child to return to, A career or job to return to with payslips to prove (a letter from employer approving her leave also helps), A property in her name, enrolment in a educational institution, extended family etc... And proof that she has saved funds for the trip by herself through income earned (not cash gifted into her account by boyfriend) or if she has no savings or job a letter of support from her partner guaranteeing that he will support her financially and provide accomodation during her stay and that he will ensure that all conditions of the visa are met.

This letter of support will add weight to her application, but it is only as good as the persons credentials who is providing it.
A reputable visa agent is worth the money I believe, as in Australia if you DIY your application and don't check all the boxes/answer all required criteria and provide suitable evidences of the relationship your large Government visa fee is not refunded if the application fails.

I think paul2d hit the nail on the head.

The immigration experts will be located in the target western country. They know exactly what the visa authorities are looking for in that country, probably much better than any Phnom Penh immigration advisor.

Much of the visa decision making is based on the submitted documents. Not so much on the interview.

Just my 10 Riel worth of opinion.

Yes it is all about documents. Some of the visa specialists in Thailand are very good (or at least they were before Covid). They know exactly how the system works in all the major destination countries. And they offer a guarantee, no visa no pay. I have used them and imho they are better and cheaper than any lawyer in the US, UK, Australia etc. Need to be sure you get a good one of course.

If going to the UK its simple enough to do the whole process yourself. Just take time to read and re-read all the instructions and ensure you have copies of everything exactly as they ask, after that its pretty straight forward, especially for a visitor visa. As others have said the relationship needs to be genuine with history, if you met her in a bar on 136 last month, best of luck to ya.

Short answer - no. If you meet criteria, you can get the visa and if not, you can't. You'll still have to answer all the questions and submit all the documentation so the solicitor or lawyer is left with little to do besides admin. Save your money and fill in the forms yourself.