Which Migration Law Firm Should I Use for My Partner Visa?

Should I use a law firm or a migration agent for my partner visa?

Both a law firm and a registered migration agent can lodge a partner visa application, and the choice depends on what the couple needs. Lawyers hold a practising certificate and are regulated by the legal profession bodies, while registered migration agents are regulated by the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority. A law firm may suit couples whose case could lead to a refusal, a Tribunal review or other legal proceedings. Our article on whether to use a partner visa migration agent or lawyer sets out the factual differences.

What should a migration law firm show me before I engage it?

Before a couple engages it, a migration law firm should show who its principal lawyer is, where it is located, what it advises the couple to do and why, and what the work will cost in a written costs agreement. The firm should also explain the risks in the case, not only the steps of the process. Our guide to choosing Australian migration lawyers lists the details to check.

Does the size of a migration law firm matter?

The size of a migration law firm matters less than whether the firm regularly handles partner visas and responds properly to deadlines. A smaller firm with a clear migration focus can give consistent attention to a matter, while a larger firm may offer more services in other areas of law. What matters for a partner visa is careful assessment, accurate evidence and prompt responses to the Department. Our article on immigration lawyer fees and choosing one discusses how couples weigh these points.

Should the firm be able to handle a refusal as well?

A firm chosen for a partner visa should be able to handle a refusal as well, because changing lawyers at the review stage costs time when the deadline is short and strictly applied. A firm that already knows the file can move straight to the review application and the evidence for the Administrative Review Tribunal. The firm's page on partner visa refusals explains this work, and our article on partner visa refused appeal options explains the choices.

Can I change firms if I am not happy?

A client can change firms at any time during a partner visa application without affecting its validity, the lodgement date or the charge already paid. The client notifies the Department that the earlier appointment has ended and the new firm lodges its own Form 956. Our article on how to change immigration lawyer in Australia explains the process.

Why might My Migration Lawyers suit your partner visa?

My Migration Lawyers may suit a couple whose partner visa needs careful legal assessment, whether because of visa history, an earlier refusal, time apart or a sponsorship issue, or simply because the couple wants the application prepared properly the first time. The firm is led by Principal Lawyer Weiwei Zhang, works by video and email across Australia and overseas, can consult in Mandarin and agrees a fixed fee in writing before work starts. Couples can read about the firm's partner visa lawyers and compare it against the criteria on this page.