How Can Immigration Lawyers Help Nigerian Citizens Acquire Irish Visas?

What is an Immigration Lawyer, and What Do They Do?

An immigration lawyer is a legal expert specialising in immigration, visa, asylum, and nationality laws. They can assist foreign nationals in moving to another country to visit, study, work, do business, or settle. Our lawyers can simplify complex immigration laws, assist with applications, check documents and ensure the best possible outcome for each unique situation.

At Immigration Advice Service, we offer support for the visa application process by assessing your eligibility, preparing your supporting documents, and submitting the application on your behalf. Contact us today so we can start your journey from Nigeria to Ireland.

Nigerian Emigration

For Nigerian emigration matters, please call +44 (0) 3316300929 or +2342013438882

Other Immigration and Emigration Matters

For immigration/emigration to/from other countries, please call:

US –  +1 844 290 6312

Ireland –  (+353) 061 518 025

UK –  (+44) 333 4149244

Immigration Services Offered by Lawyers

An immigration lawyer can perform many duties, including:

Immigration Advice: Moving to a new country as a Nigerian can be a daunting and confusing process. An immigration lawyer can help you make a stress-free application. Your journey with an immigration lawyer begins with a consultation.

During the consultation process, you can outline your immigration goals to your lawyer. The lawyer advises you on which route to take to achieve your goal. This early guidance and involvement of an immigration expert helps avoid mistakes during the application process.

Visa Application: An immigration lawyer can help you apply for a visa. A lawyer ensures you include all relevant information in your application to make it difficult to refuse. This expertise comes from years of practical experience.

Document Checks: Your documentation is the foundation of your visa application. If you do not ensure your documentation is correct, you may be denied a visa, wasting effort and resources. A lawyer’s role is to guide you on documents to prove your eligibility. After you provide these documents, they check to ensure they fit the purpose.

They also check if your identity documents, like your ECOWAS passport, national identity card, and passport photographs, are valid. Your civil documents, like birth, marriage, and divorce certificates, may need to be certified and authenticated before use. An immigration lawyer can facilitate this process and save time on the application process.

Eligibility Assessment: The work of an immigration lawyer is to assess if you meet the eligibility requirements. They can give you tips on meeting the criteria or advise you to take another route for which you are more qualified.

Qualifications Required for Immigration Lawyers

For anyone to be qualified to be your immigration lawyer or adviser, they have to meet the requirements below:

• They must have a law degree, at least an undergraduate one, but many lawyers also have postgraduate degrees
• They must have passed the legal practice course in their country of practice, such as the Bar Exams
• They must have the right to practice in Nigeria and Ireland
• They should have certifications in immigration courses like labour migration, refugee studies, human trafficking, etc.
• They must be registered as practising immigration lawyers in Nigeria and Ireland

Why Might Nigerian Citizens Need an Immigration Lawyer for Irish Visas?

Nigerian citizens may require the assistance of an immigration lawyer when applying for Irish visas. Here are some of the ways they can help:

Legal Compliance

Applying for an Irish visa is a complex legal process that requires expertise to handle successfully. For example, getting an employment permit in Ireland has multiple stages. You may miss some vital steps required for a successful application. An expert immigration lawyer can effectively guide you through these stages.

Your immigration lawyer can help you comply with the law as it applies to your immigration to Ireland. This helps you act accordingly and avoid breaking laws that could lead to a cancelled visa, deportation, ban, or inability to switch visas or settle.

Proving ties to Nigeria

A common mistake, especially when applying for Irish tourist visas, is not including proof of ties to your home country. If you make this mistake, there is a high chance your application will be refused because you have not convinced the Irish immigration officials that you have no plans to overstay. The guidance of an immigration lawyer will help you avoid some of these pitfalls.

Avoiding Delays

If your visa wait time has extended beyond reasonable time without any information from the Irish Embassy, your immigration advisor can determine the reason for the delay and ensure your application is being handled as it should be.

Transparency on Visa Options

If you are unsure of what visa to apply for, an immigration lawyer is an expert who can provide clarity on which immigration route to take. After analysing your immigration goal, your lawyer can then map out an immigration plan that can help you reach your goal.

Saving Time and Resources

Getting a visa refusal can be disheartening. It means all the efforts, time, and resources invested in the visa application process have amounted to nothing. Reapplying may be an option, but it will take time and resources again. This fear has discouraged many people from applying for visas. But this should not deter you. You can save time by enlisting the services of an immigration solicitor. With their expertise you can submit an application of the highest standard.

Supporting You If You’re Unlawfully Detained

You may encounter unlawful detention while moving to another country. Access to legal help in this case is vital. It is the responsibility of your immigration solicitor to ensure that you are not being detained unlawfully or treated unfairly during your detention.

What Other Guidance Can Immigration Lawyers Offer to Help Nigerian Citizens Acquire Irish Visas?

Sometimes, you may have a request for support with a specific issue. Here are some additional support services immigration lawyers can offer to help Nigerians acquire Irish visas:

Interview Preparation

A face-to-face interview is usually not required when applying for an Irish visa, but you may be invited if the Embassy wants to clarify your application. Your lawyer can get you ready for your interview. They will work with you to ensure your confidence is high, your documents are complete, and that you have tailored answers that fit the questions you’ll be asked. They can also prepare you by conducting mock interviews to ensure you’re well-prepared.

Family Reunion Services

Immigration attorneys can guide you through applying for family reunification visas. You can bring your dependent children, spouse or partner to Ireland with their assistance. If you hold a Critical Skills Employment Permit (CSEP), are a doctor with Stamp 1H or are studying for a PhD in Ireland, your immigration lawyer can help you apply for dependent visas alongside your application for immediate reunification. If they hold other employment permits aside from the CSEP, you may have to work in Ireland for at least a year before they can join you in Ireland.

Visa Application Resubmission

If you have previously made an application that was refused, it is vital to seek the assistance of an immigration expert when reapplying. They offer clarity on what went wrong in your initial application and guide you on how to improve the standard of your application before reapplying. This reduces your chances of another rejection. They can help meet the visa criteria for your preferred option or redirect you to apply for an alternative visa.

Visa Rejection Appeal

An immigration lawyer can contest an unfavourable visa decision if they notice something is wrong and you have a case. With their help, you can get an administrative review and have your application assessed by a different or a more senior immigration official. You can also appeal the refusal in court. Their expertise in Irish immigration laws will be used to defend you at the Tribunal.

Concierge Services

At IAS, our experienced lawyers are experts in Nigerian and Irish immigration laws, licenced to practice in both countries. We can offer you full support in your immigration journey. Our concierge service can easily assist with moving your family and belongings from Nigeria to Ireland. They can help you find a school for your children, set up accommodation before arrival, and ensure you quickly settle in Ireland. Call +2342013438882, message us online, or visit our office at 42 Saka Tinubu Way, Victoria Island, Lagos.

How Can an Immigration Lawyer Improve My Chances of Getting an Irish Visa as a Nigerian Citizen?

An immigration lawyer can improve your chances of getting an Irish visa in the following ways:

Tailored Support for Your Situation: You may need an immigration service tailored to suit your needs. After consultation, an expert immigration lawyer can offer advice that suits your immigration needs. Following your lawyer’s advice gives you the best chance for visa approval.

Keeping You Updated: An immigration consultant is always updated with the latest visa application rules. When making a visa application, the immigration lawyer ensures that your application complies with current regulations.

Strategic Application Plan: If you are applying for a complex visa type like the STEP or family reunification visa, you must be strategic. The immigration counsellor will guide you in developing a plan to meet your goal. The evaluation committee sits quarterly to make decisions on STEP Visa applications.

If you submit your application after they have met for the quarter, your application will be considered for the next quarter. This can lead to frustration due to the long processing time. An experienced lawyer can advise you when to submit your application and reduce wait times.

High-Quality Application: For your application to be approved, it must meet the highest standards set by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) rules. An immigration lawyer ensures you do not submit a sub-standard application. They can review your application, scrutinise your documents and ensure everything is in order before sending it.

Is It Necessary to Hire an Immigration Lawyer to Apply for an Irish Visa, or Can I Do It on My Own?

It is beneficial to hire an immigration lawyer when applying for an Irish visa. Here are some of the reasons why you should hire an immigration lawyer instead of doing it yourself:

Saving Time and Money

An immigration lawyer saves you time and money by ensuring your visa application is error-free and has a high chance of approval.

Stress-free

Applying for a visa can be challenging due to the long process involved. An immigration lawyer can guide you in gathering supporting documents and submitting the application on your behalf. This can relieve you of stress.

Access to a Wide Range of Services

Using an immigration lawyer gives you access to a wide range of services. You can get advice on what to do before your current Irish visa expires, get legal assistance if you face any issues in Ireland, and enjoy concierge services that make your migration to Ireland stress-free.

Liaising with Relevant Officials

An expert immigration consultant can liaise with relevant immigration officials to discover why there are delays in processing time.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire an Immigration Lawyer for an Irish Visa Application, and Is It Worth the Investment?

Immigration lawyers can determine a fee structure differently: they can charge per hour or with a flat fee.

The factors that determine legal costs are:

• The type of visa: Tourist and study visas are often straightforward, with shorter processing times. Business, employment, and family reunification can take more time, which can increase the legal fees
• The complexity of your case: If you have applied for a visa to enter Ireland and were denied, it may cost you more to get an immigration lawyer to contest the decision in court or ask for an administrative review
• Location and experience of lawyers: You’ll usually find more experienced lawyers in major cities, and it may cost more to enlist their services. However, more experienced lawyers offer a higher chance of success in handling your application
• Extra costs: Your lawyer may charge you for extra services like translation, certification, and authentication of documents or expedited services

Immigration Advice Service offers affordable immigration services. We have a transparent fee structure without hidden charges. Our fees depend on the type of service that you need. After booking your consultation, you have 3 days to ask any questions and get an answer without a charge. We have five packages:

• Advice Package: If you need guidance concerning any immigration issue, you can book a meeting with any of our immigration caseworkers for an advice session
• Document and Application Checking: We assess your documents and application to ensure everything is correct before you submit your application
• Application Package: This package provides comprehensive support. Our lawyers will advise you, help you gather supporting documents, and submit an application on your behalf
• Fast Track Application Package: To submit your application as fast as possible, sign up for the fast track package, and your application could be submitted within 24 hours
• Appeal Package: This package gives you access to our expert lawyers, who can improve your chances of winning an appeal in case of a visa refusal

For a quote on our services, call +2342013438882, message us online, or visit our office at 42 Saka Tinubu Way, Victoria Island, Lagos.

What Should I Look for When Choosing an Immigration Lawyer to Help with My Irish Visa Application?

Before choosing a lawyer who can represent you when applying for an Irish visa, you can look out for these:

Certifications: You can check that your lawyer is certified to practice in Nigeria and Ireland. IAS lawyers are accredited to practice in Nigeria and Ireland.

Experience: When searching for an immigration lawyer, your best and safest option is to choose an experienced lawyer. IAS lawyers offer the experience and expertise required to handle complex immigration cases. It is inadvisable to enlist the services of an immigration lawyer with little experience, especially for complex visa applications like employment permits, business visas, and family visas.

Transparent Fee Structure: Knowing how much you’ll be charged for an immigration service from the onset helps you make better financial decisions and not start what you may not be able to finish. It is a red flag if an immigration lawyer adds to your fees as your application goes on. An expert immigration lawyer should be clear about their pricing structure. Always ask for this at the beginning of every consultation.

Communication: Your lawyer must be easily accessible and possess strong communication skills. They should be patient and explain complex immigration concepts to you simply. The immigration specialist must be responsive when you have a question or concern. It is also their duty to update you on the progress of your application. Checking how fast a lawyer responds when you reach out is vital. If they are slow in responding, you’ll likely have communication issues.

Testimonials: One way to assess the expertise of an immigration lawyer is by reading testimonials and client reviews. You can use reviews on Google and other independent review sources. If the feedback from other clients is positive, that is evidence that the immigration lawyer is reliable and has a high success rate.

How Can an Immigration Lawyer Help If My Previous Irish Visa Application Was Denied?

If your visa application was denied, there are options for you. With the help of an immigration lawyer, you can:

• Reapply with the guidance of your immigration lawyer. Note the issues that affected the previous application and ensure they are corrected in the new application
• Seek an administrative review. Your lawyer can ask the Embassy to assign a different or a more senior official to review the decision made on your application
• Appeal the decision before a tribunal. Your lawyer will represent you in court if they believe your application was handled unfairly

Note that you may not be able to apply for an administrative review or appeal a decision in court for certain visas due to the rules of the Embassy. This is why you need to enlist the services of an immigration lawyer to increase your chances of getting visa approval on the first try.

How Can IAS Help?

IAS is available to assist if you want to visit Ireland and then return to Nigeria or seek a more permanent route. We offer immigration support for Nigerians who want to apply for study visas, tourist visas, business visas, corporate immigration, family reunification, and Irish citizenship.

We have a track record of success in Irish immigration support, with many Nigerians succeeding with us in obtaining visas on the first attempt. You can check our website for testimonials and other online sources for reviews of our expert immigration solicitors.

Our services include:

• Eligibility assessment
• Document checks
• Visa applications
• Follow-ups during unprecedented delays
• Visa extensions and renewal
• Appeal and administrative review applications
• Concierge services
• Bespoke advice tailored to your needs

We know that applying for a visa can be daunting, but we are committed to satisfying your expectations and delivering a positive outcome.

For more information on the Ireland visa fee and other services we offer, call +2342013438882, message us online, or visit our office at 42 Saka Tinubu Way, Victoria Island, Lagos.