When it comes to immigration to Canada, it is a very complicated process for which you need all the assistance you can get. Canadian lawyers, whatever they specialize in, but mostly immigration are crucial for immigrants. 

However, this does not mean that you hire the first lawyer you meet, there are several things you need to consider before you officially start working with someone. Here are some of the important questions that you should ask for sure to your potential lawyers.

• Everyone involved in your case

You should be well aware that when you are applying for a residency visa for Canada, you will be allowed to sponsor some of your family members, such as your spouse, dependent child, parents and other close relatives. So whoever you will be needing to come with you, make sure you have all the information on parental sponsorships Canada laws and regulations. This means you need to ask questions as specific as possible to your lawyer, so they can let you know whether or not you will be allowed to sponsor that family member, and if there are other ways you should go about it.

• Asking them about their credentials

In order to become a qualified and practicing lawyer in Canada, you have to complete a 4-year law program, as well as a period of articling, the bar admission course and finally the bar exam. Moreover, the lawyer needs to have a license through which they will be permitted to practice in the province they are in. It is highly important your lawyer meets all these requirement, otherwise you could end up in serious legal problems if things are to go awry.

• How long have they been in the field? 

Ideally, you should hire a lawyer who has had at least 10 years of experience, and if you need someone specializing in immigration law in particular, all of these years should be spent practicing immigration law as well. If you come across someone who has less than 6 years of experience, then that right there is red flag which you need to avoid at all costs. And if the lawyer has been working with a law firm, you should also find out how long they have been working with the said firm. A law firm who has built a good reputation on cases regarding immigration law, should be ideal for you.

• Is your case a special one

Even though experience is key when it comes to hiring a lawyer, however, if your case is a special one you should explicitly ask the lawyer whether or not they have dealt with some thing like that in all of their years of practicing law. This is because they will be aware of exactly everything they need to do in order to strengthen your case. They will be prepared for everything, keeping any unexpected surprises at a minimum.