Visa Planner vs an immigration lawyer
A lawyer gives you legal advice on your case and can represent you. Visa Planner gives you an ordered, dated checklist built from official sources, so you can file a straightforward application yourself. They solve different problems, and some people use both.
Side by side
| Visa Planner | an immigration lawyer | |
|---|---|---|
| What you get | Your visa options, then every step and document in order, with due dates worked back from your move date. | Advice on your specific case, document review, and representation if needed. |
| Legal advice | No. We organise official requirements and link the source for each one. | Yes. That is the core of the service. |
| Who does the paperwork | You, with reminders before each deadline. | Shared, or mostly the lawyer, depending on the engagement. |
| Cost model | A fixed one-time price per route, or a monthly subscription for every route. | Usually fees for the engagement or by the hour; ask for a written quote. |
| Best for | Standard routes where you meet the requirements and want to stay organised. | Refusals, appeals, criminal records, past overstays, unusual employment, or high-stakes cases. |
Choose an immigration lawyer if…
- You have been refused a visa before, or need to appeal a decision.
- Your history includes a criminal record, an overstay, or a deportation.
- Your case does not fit the published requirements neatly, such as self-sponsorship or complex family situations.
- You want someone accountable for the application on your behalf.
Choose Visa Planner if…
- You meet the published requirements and mostly need to know what to do, in what order, and by when.
- You want every requirement linked to its official source so you can check it yourself.
- You are still comparing destinations and want to see which routes fit before paying for advice.
See which visas fit you
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Find my visa optionsFrequently asked questions
- Do I need an immigration lawyer to apply for a work visa?
- Not usually. Most work, study and residence visas are designed to be filed by the applicant or their employer. A lawyer is worth it when your case has a complication: a past refusal, a criminal record, an overstay, or circumstances the published rules don't cover.
- Can I use Visa Planner and a lawyer together?
- Yes. Some people use the plan to gather documents on time and keep track of deadlines, and a lawyer to review the finished application or handle a tricky part of it.
- Does Visa Planner give legal advice?
- No. We organise publicly available information into an ordered checklist and link the official government source for every requirement. For advice on your own case, consult a licensed immigration lawyer or registered adviser.
Also compare: Visa Planner vs doing it yourself