How Do I Book a Consultation With My Migration Lawyers?

How does the consultation request form work?

The consultation request form works by collecting the key facts of the partner visa matter before anyone speaks to the client. The form asks where the applicant and sponsor live, what visas they hold, whether they are married or de facto, and whether there is a refusal, a request from the Department or a deadline. My Migration Lawyers reads the request, confirms the consultation by email and tells the client what documents to have ready. The firm explains what a first meeting covers in our article on the immigration lawyer consultation.

Is a consultation with My Migration Lawyers paid?

A consultation with My Migration Lawyers is a paid consultation, and the fee is confirmed when the booking is made. Charging for the first meeting allows the firm to give real advice on the couple's circumstances rather than a general sales conversation. The fee for the consultation is separate from any fixed fee for later work, which is agreed in writing only if the client decides to go ahead.

What should I prepare before a partner visa consultation?

Before a partner visa consultation, the applicant should gather passports, any refusal or Department letter, and a short timeline of the relationship. A timeline with the dates the couple met, started living together, married or registered the relationship is the single most useful document. Couples who have already lodged should have the ImmiAccount details available, because the firm may need to see what was submitted. Our partner visa checklist shows the kind of evidence the Department later expects.

Can I book a consultation if I live outside Sydney or overseas?

A consultation can be booked from anywhere, because My Migration Lawyers holds consultations by video. Sponsors in other states and applicants overseas take part in the same way as clients in Sydney, and both partners can join the call from different countries. The firm works by video and email for clients across Australia and overseas, so distance from the office at Level 1, 60 Martin Place, Sydney is not a barrier. Our page for partner visa lawyers explains the services offered after the consultation.

What happens if I have an urgent deadline?

A client with an urgent deadline should say so clearly in the consultation request form, including the date on any letter from the Department or the Administrative Review Tribunal. Deadlines to respond to a request for information, a natural justice letter or a refusal are short and strictly applied. The firm reads the request with the deadline in mind, and our article on urgent immigration lawyer advice explains which situations cannot wait. Couples with a refusal can also read about the firm's partner visa refusal work before the consultation.

What does My Migration Lawyers do after the consultation?

After the consultation, My Migration Lawyers sets out the advice given and, if the client wants the firm to act, sends a written costs agreement with a fixed fee and a clear scope of work before any work starts. Nothing is lodged and no further charge is incurred until the client has signed that agreement. The firm is led by Principal Lawyer Weiwei Zhang, and clients who want to compare options can read our guide to fixed fee immigration lawyers before deciding.