Questions to ask before you pay anyone to help with a US visa

Most people choosing an immigration consultancy are doing it for the first time, under time pressure, in a second language, and with a great deal riding on it. That combination is exactly what a bad operator relies on.

You do not need to become an expert to protect yourself. You need nine questions and the confidence to walk away from a bad answer.

1. Are you a law firm?

Consultancies and law firms do different work. A consultancy prepares and organises applications; a law firm can represent you before a court or a government agency. Neither is automatically the right choice — but an organisation that is vague about which one it is has told you something important.

A straight answer sounds like: "No, we are a consultancy. We prepare documents and organise your application. If your case needs legal representation, you need a lawyer, and we will say so."

2. What exactly will you do, and what will I do?

Ask for the split in writing. Who fills in the forms? Who gathers the evidence? Who books the appointment? Who attends the interview with you, if anyone can?

A warning sign: a package described only by its price and a tier name.

3. What does this cost, and what is not included?

Government fees are separate from anyone's service fee. You want both numbers, and you want to know what happens to the service fee if the application is refused.

4. What are my chances?

This is the most important question, because the shape of the answer matters more than its content.

Nobody outside the US government can tell you what will happen to your application. Eligibility depends on your circumstances, and decisions are made solely by consular officers and adjudicators. An honest adviser will tell you which parts of your case are strong, which are weak, and what would strengthen them — and will decline to give you a percentage.

A warning sign: any figure at all. A quoted approval rate, a promise, or a "you will definitely get this" is not confidence. It is a sales technique, and in some jurisdictions it is an offence.

5. What is the weakest part of my case?

Ask it directly. Anyone who has genuinely read your situation can answer immediately, and the answer will be uncomfortable. If you are told there are no weaknesses, either nobody has looked properly or you are being sold to.

6. What happens if my circumstances change?

Jobs fall through, relationships change, passports expire. Ask what happens to your application and your fee if something material changes halfway.

7. Who will actually be handling my file?

The person selling you the service is often not the person doing the work. Ask who that is, and how you reach them.

8. What do you need from me, and when?

A good adviser will already know. Vague answers here usually mean the work has not been thought through.

9. Can I see this in writing?

Every answer above should survive being written down. An organisation unwilling to put its scope, fees and refund terms in writing has explained why in the act of refusing.

If something has gone wrong

USCIS publishes guidance on recognising and reporting immigration services fraud, including what an unauthorised practitioner is and where to report one. It is worth reading before you pay anyone, not after.