HOW CAN I BECOME AN IMMIGRATION LAWYER IN INDIA? 

Immigration is the branch of law that deals with determining who should be allowed to enter the country and keeps track of them to make sure that they abide by the laws of the Nation. 

From who should be allowed to enter the country, what purpose for this entry is valid enough, how long they can stay, the conditions for them to seek employment in this country, and the proceedings if they intend to seek Citizenship in this country, all fall under immigration law. 

Immigration law intends to keep a comprehensive check on the immigration of people from outside the country, to make sure that there is no terrorist penetration from another country due to political tensions, to prevent cross-border trafficking of women, children, and drugs, and to generally be able to control the security and population of the country. 

Every country, including India, has adopted specific measures to ensure that immigrants do not overrun the country. Some of these measures that immigration law is responsible for are Visas, Customs, and security checks at entry points and passports. And if you are wondering how to become an immigration lawyer, you have come to the right place! 

AN INSIGHT TO THE JOB OF IMMIGRATION LAWYER- 

• An immigration lawyer is responsible for various issues they handle on behalf of their clients. This includes their proceedings to obtain Citizenship in India, defend their clients from being deported, help their clients acquire immigrant or resident visas, and many other things related to the legal formalities of immigration. 

• Immigrant lawyers not only deal with who is eligible to be an immigrant or a citizen, but they also play a significant part in the execution of the laws that keep track of these immigrants and make sure that they do not abide by illegal means of living, resort to criminal activities, or pose a threat to the safety of the country. 

• As an immigration lawyer, you can be employed in law firms and can either practice independently or you can, much like other fields of law, partner with the law firm. Some lawyers even chose to work as government employees. 

• In a country like India, the opportunities are endless and are ever-expanding. An immigration lawyer, as mentioned earlier, can work with private companies, with the Central government of India, or can even associate with non-profit organizations. 

• They are often contacted to assist with the job of policymaking at the employer association. They also extend their services to the Embassy to work with the immigration bureau. 

• With the rise in people seeking employment and educational opportunities overseas, the job opportunities for immigration lawyers have gone up considerably. 

However, the job of an immigration lawyer is not easy. An individual needs to be extremely educated in the field of immigration law and also need to stay updated about the immigration policies of other countries. 

THE SKILLS THAT WILL MAKE YOU AN EXCELLENT IMMIGRATION LAWYER-

1. Strong verbal and written communication skills- An immigration lawyer constantly communicates to clients from dynamic backgrounds, government officials, employees, and employers from different parts of the world, etc. For this, they have to have an excellent command of their communication skills and must know how to draft these communications in a profound legal manner. 

2. Detail-oriented- Immigration is one of the most sensitive areas of the law. To deal with it, an individual must have a keen eye for knowledge. They must know thoroughly about the legal procedures, the loopholes in the system that can be taken advantage of, deportation laws, citizenship laws, and many others. They must have the ability to pay attention to even minor details, or the consequences can be jarring. 

3. Judgments, rationality, and compassion – The combination of these three qualities is what makes an excellent immigration lawyer. An immigration lawyer must be compassionate and empathetic, and they are usually dealing with desperate people seeking shelter in a country or people on the verge of deportation. This means that an immigration lawyer needs to know how to deal with people in sensitive scenarios. At the same time, immigration law is linked to the prevention of terrorism, cross-border criminal activities, or even people seeking residence for reasons invalid to Indian law. An immigration lawyer must be empathetic but immune to manipulations. 

THE JOB PROFILES WHERE AN IMMIGRATION LAWYER CAN BE EMPLOYED - 

• Administrative Law Judge

• Corporate Lawyer

• Conveyancing Lawyer

• Real Estate Lawyer

• Legal Advisor

• Law Clerk

• Law Professor

EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATION TO BECOME AN IMMIGRATION LAWYER IN INDIA?

To become an immigration lawyer in India, a candidate must have the following educational qualification. 

• The candidate must have completed a graduate-level degree in law.

• A certificate in immigration law is recommended to gain expertise in the field. 

• Students who have a Juris Doctor degree are also eligible for the role. 

BEST COLLEGES IN INDIA TO STUDY IMMIGRATION LAW-

1. National Law School on India, Bangalore 

2. National Law University, Delhi

3. Government Law College, Mumbai

4. Gujarat National Law University, Gandhi Nagar 

5. Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Patiala

6. NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad 

7. Rizvi Law College, Mumbai

8. Law College, Dhanbad 

As mentioned earlier, the number of job vacancies and areas to explore for an immigration lawyer in India is expanding. The job profiles that an immigration lawyer can be employed in are as follows –

1. Immigration Lawyer

2. Law Clerk

3. Legal Advisor

4. Administrative Law Judge

5. Conveyance Lawyer 

6. Law Professor 

7. Corporate Lawyer 

As an immigration lawyer, an individual can choose to work as an attorney or as a consultant, both of which are jobs with many opportunities. 

As an attorney, an individual takes up the cases of their clients' cases and appears for their defense in the court in need. They need a license to practice. In contrast, immigration consultants are not really lawyers. They are not attorneys. Their job is to consult clients and give them the information they need to take care of their immigration procedures like visa applications, passport applications or complications, etc. A consultant is eligible to represent a client but cannot advocate for them in court. 

As we already mentioned, individuals inclined to the law must definitely explore this section of law as abundant opportunities are opening up in the area.