Northgate Immigration Law

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about our services.

Can the chat assistant tell me whether I qualify?

No. The assistant is not a lawyer and does not give legal or immigration advice, assess eligibility or predict outcomes. What it does is take your details — nationality, current visa, education, work history, family and target country — and book you with a lawyer who can advise. Anything you are told about eligibility comes from a lawyer in the consultation, not from chat.

What does the first consultation cost?

AED 900 for a 60-minute consultation with a registered immigration lawyer, in person in Al Bateen or by video call. You leave with a written summary of the routes open to you and an indicative timeline. If you retain us within thirty days the fee is credited in full against your engagement.

Which countries and case types do you handle?

Canada (Express Entry, Provincial Nominee, family sponsorship, study permits), the United Kingdom (Skilled Worker, Global Talent, Innovator Founder, spouse and settlement), the United States (EB-1A, EB-2 NIW, EB-5, E-2, L-1) and selected European residence-by-investment programmes in Portugal, Greece and Spain. We also advise on UAE Golden Visa applications.

What documents should I have ready?

For the first consultation, bring your passport, current UAE residence visa and Emirates ID, degree certificates, and a CV covering the last ten years. Once you engage us we issue a case-specific checklist, which typically adds police clearance certificates, attested education documents, language test results and proof of funds.

How long do cases usually take?

Canadian Express Entry runs about six to twelve months from profile to landing once an invitation is issued, UK Skilled Worker three to eight weeks after the Certificate of Sponsorship, and US EB-2 NIW twelve to twenty-four months depending on your country of birth. These are processing ranges published by the authorities, not promises — your lawyer will give you a realistic timeline for your own file.

How are your legal fees structured?

We quote fixed professional fees per matter after the consultation, so you know the total before signing. A Canadian Express Entry file is typically AED 18,000 to AED 26,000, a UK Skilled Worker application AED 12,000 to AED 16,000, and an EB-2 NIW petition AED 45,000 upward. Government filing fees, translation and attestation costs are separate and billed at cost.

Are you actually regulated?

Yes. Our Canadian files are handled by an RCIC in good standing with the CICC, our UK work by a solicitor regulated by the SRA, and our US petitions by an attorney admitted in New York. The Abu Dhabi office is licensed by the Department of Economic Development. We will name the responsible practitioner for your matter in the engagement letter.

Can you guarantee my visa will be approved?

No firm can, and any firm that does is worth walking away from. Decisions rest with the immigration authority of the destination country. What we commit to is an accurate assessment, a properly evidenced application and honest advice about your prospects before you spend money.

What happens after I send my details in chat?

Your enquiry lands with our intake team along with the details you gave, and a paralegal reviews it before your appointment so the lawyer is not starting cold. You receive a confirmation email with the time, the fee and a short document list. If your matter is outside what we handle, we tell you within one working day rather than booking you anyway.