The forms for western countries are designed for the layman. It does not require any special skills for most skilled migrants. The country's website will guide you thru including qualifying points.
In some cases where the person has structural issues such as previous minor convictions an agent may be necessary for the tribunal submissions.
The issues are just organising the documents that you already have and information that you need to collect. Both of which do not require an agent. Agents generally give the impression that it is hardwork and complicated.
Here is a simple process and its starts with mental conviction. That you need to complete the process within 90 days and have a hard stop with a date.
1) Download the application and fill in the easy and readily available information. Guess what you achieved the 2 biggest hurdles - one downloading the form and two finding out that 90% of the information is readily available.
2) Now that 90% of your form has been completed, spend 2 days researching the web of the country's immigration dept and finetune the visa category that best fits your profile.
3) The 3rd step is the hardest for most - collating the original documents and finding a lawyer to attest to it. Just pick up the phone book, look for Commissioners of Oath, and call. The receptionist should be able to quote you the price. Now you have completed 95% of the requirement.
4) Last step - go personally and submit the documents.
Most people spend months finding the right agent.
I know a Head of Cash Management of a major bank in Sydney who did it in one weekend and spent Monday at the lawyers before submitting it. If he went thru an agent, the wayang and drama would have taken 1 months to give the impression that its hard work.
If you don't qualify, you might want to use an agent. I have come across chaps that would not qualify but have crossed. I have no idea why and these chaps have no idea why. It might be a gamble or money well spent.
WHATEVER IT IS AGENT OR OMO - PICK A DATE 3 MONTHS DOWN THE ROAD AS A HARDSTOP AND GET THAT APPLICATION IN. Don't come out with cockamayme arguements like family discussion, discussion with in laws, assess racial discrimination, glass ceilings, singapore safe to walk after midnight, which city to move to, school for the kids. For heaven's sake, it s a 1st world country.Get the application in, get the approval and you have 3 to 5 years to decide if your mother in law has more say than you.
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