(02) 7232 1470

Get in touch
Knowledge Hub
Posted in:

Is an immigration lawyer worth it?

Wondering whether or not you should work with an immigration lawyer? Here’s how working with a professional can affect your immigration case.

Written by Con Paxinos (MARN 1460971), Director at PAX Law

Con Paxinos is a leading expert in the migration industry with 11 years of experience and is the former Vice President and South Australian State President of the Migration Institute of Australia, and Chair of the Migration Institute Temporary Visa Program Advisory Panel. 

Con has been awarded the Leading Adviser Award (2022), the ThreeBestRated® Award (2020–2025) and the Fellow of the Migration Institute of Australia – an award bestowed on those practitioners who have made significant contributions to the migration profession, recognising their contributions to the Institute, profession and society generally, and their good standing and ethics.

When an immigration lawyer is worth it for your migration needs

“Working with an immigration lawyer is worth it if you’re seeking expert advice to help you to understand your options, navigate the complex and constantly changing requirements of the Australian migration system, and want to prepare an accurate, decision-ready visa application complete with strong supporting evidence,” says Con Paxinos, Director at PAX Law.

An immigration lawyer’s help is especially worthwhile if your situation involves issues that risk your visa status in Australia – for example, if you have had a visa application refused or a visa cancelled, or if you are preparing a visa application with added complexities, like a character or health issue.

PAX Law specialises in complex cases

PAX immigration lawyers can assist with a wide range of matters across Australia’s migration system. Our work includes managing visa and citizenship applications for our clients, responding to refusals or cancellations, including in complex or high‑risk situations.

Cases we commonly see include:

  • Visa applications – preparing and lodging all types of visa applications, including partner, skilled, employer sponsored, student and visitor visas
  • Visa refusals and cancellations – preparing responses to the Department of Home Affairs, and advising on options after a negative decision
  • Administrative Review Tribunal matters – representing clients in merits review hearings and preparing detailed submissions with supporting arguments and strong evidence
  • Ministerial Intervention requests – managing applications for Ministerial Intervention to the Immigration Minister
  • Character and health issues – assessing and advising on cases involving character and health issues, including applying for waivers
  • Visa status issues – working with applicants who have overstayed their visa/are unlawfully in Australia
  • Compliance matters – assisting sponsoring employers to understand their compliance obligations and advising on work rights
  • Citizenship applications and refusals – assisting clients to apply for Australian citizenship and represent them in cases of refusal

An immigration lawyer can speed up the process

Although seeking expert advice and representation by an immigration lawyer does not guarantee a successful result or faster visa processing times, using an immigration lawyer can speed up the process overall.

This is because:

  • Immigration lawyers will lodge a complete and accurate application, with all required supporting documents provided at the time of lodgement, and provide detailed explanations for potential issues, saving the DOHA from needing to request further information or documents from the applicant, and avoiding extended processing delays. 
  • Immigration lawyers can anticipate risks and tackle them head-on. When handling immigration applications yourself, you risk missing important requirements or not fully understanding how to demonstrate that you meet the relevant criteria, simply because you are not trained in this highly complex area of the law.
  • Immigration lawyers are better at avoiding unnecessary mistakes, which reduces delays and additional costs, as well as other complications to your visa status, like a refusal or cancellation.

Other important reasons working with an immigration lawyer is worth it

  • Immigration lawyers have a comprehensive and full understanding of the law – and how to apply it in terms of your case.
  • Immigration lawyers can identify risks early and tackle them head-on, preventing small issues from blowing up into something bigger.
  • Immigration lawyers can easily identify issues, inconsistencies and weaknesses in your case.
  • Immigration lawyers have the skills and experience to present arguments and evidence that clearly address all the relevant criteria.
  • Immigration lawyers will manage all communications with the DOHA, reducing stress for you and making sure that all deadlines, requests for further information, and procedural requirements are handled correctly.
  • An immigration lawyer will give you peace of mind that you are in the safe hands of an expert. Dealing with migration law can be overwhelming and complex; immigration lawyers are there to be your advocate.

Why it’s worth working with a PAX Law immigration lawyer

Your PAX Law immigration lawyer has an expert understanding of the law and how to apply it in real cases. As leaders and renowned experts in Australian immigration law, PAX Law founders Mario and Con have guided over a thousand clients through a wide range of immigration challenges and are ready to use their experience to help you achieve your migration goals.

Contact us

About the author

Con Paxinos is a dedicated immigration expert who has helped hundreds of clients with their visa applications.

Con is recognised as a leader in the immigration advice industry and is dedicated to improving Australia’s immigration systems. He’s served on a number of boards and advisory panels for immigration, including as Chair of the Migration Institute Temporary Visa Program Advisory Panel (2024), National Vice President of the Migration Institute (2021 – 2023), and as member of the South Australian Ministerial Advisory Council for the Minister for Innovation and Skills (2020 – 2022), and has provided testimony to the Commonwealth Joint Standing Committee on Migration on four occasions across 2019 – 2023.

As well as providing industry advice, Con shares his expertise by delivering keynotes at conferences and professional development seminars, and providing training and education on immigration law and policy.

Passionate about his work, Con serves as an immigration consultant with a breadth of experience and knowledge about Australia’s immigration system, specialising in employer-sponsored work visas and corporate immigration services, providing employers with advice about using the immigration system to improve workforce outcomes and solve skill shortages.