Citizen's Advice "Qualified" to Give Immigration Advice?

Wondering if Citizen's Advice would be on the up and up when it comes to knowing the correct advice to give someone about immigration and visas and which one to apply for based on circumstances, etc? I've recently chatted with someone in a parenting forum who says she was given advice by them, but I've told her I am worried they could have possibly given her the wrong advice as to what visa to apply for.

I've strongly encouraged her to come here and explain her situation so the seasoned UKY'ers may be able to help explain better and at least steer her in the right direction if she was given wrong advice. She didn't even know about ILR being scrapped next year.

I do hope she comes and can get it cleared up because as a fellow expat I know we all get confused enough when we're well-informed even.

Anyway, still wondering about the validity of immigration advice from citizen's advice though? Anyone up on this?

CAB's do have OISC registered advisers on staff but I'm not sure if EVERY CAB has one. The OISC maintains lists of the CAB's that have registered advisers here: http://www.oisc.gov.uk/people_seeking_immigration_advice/list_of_immigration_advisers/

Weby...sending you a PM.

Anyway, still wondering about the validity of immigration advice from citizen's advice though? Anyone up on this?

I'm tracking it with great interest.   

The issue with CAB's is not the *quality* of advice, but rather the *USEFULNESS* of the advice. 

If you travel across town and then wait in the waiting room and then finally see the person, and then what they do is print off some pages from UKBA's site and tell you to see a lawyer if it doesn't make sense.

For sure not each and every CAB in the UK will slag you off, some are quite good.  But I have to go with central tendancies.  And central tendancies inform us that what they mostly do is print out some pages and send you on your way, and they refrain from dealing with your specific situation to avoid problems with the regulator.  Not useful.

Anybody want to comment otherwise?

That was my experience in the autumn of last year when we went to ask some questions about my ILR application.  It seemed that all the CAB woman did was went to the UKBA site, something I could have done on my own.

Thing with CAB on most topics - they are under-resourced: financially, staff-wise, skill-wise.  There are certainly some very good CAB advisors and it tends to be better about some things than others.  But without more ££££, they simply aren't equipped to offer a topnotch service, consistently, across the board.  It's pick-n-mix.

What about Community Legal Advice?

http://www.communitylegaladvice.org.uk/gateway/immigration.jsp

Don't know if they are on the OISC register.

Thing with CAB on most topics - they are under-resourced: financially, staff-wise, skill-wise.  There are certainly some very good CAB advisors and it tends to be better about some things than others.  But without more ££££, they simply aren't equipped to offer a topnotch service, consistently, across the board.  It's pick-n-mix.

Agree. 

I went to my local CAB this summer to ask some questions. (as it turns out, after doing my own research and asking here, pretty simple straight forward questions). They were rubbish. Come to find out, CAB are only able to give out level 1 immigration advice. Another words, do a little reading on line, an you are more knowledgeable about UK immigration than they are. Going to them was an utter waste of my time.

They are under the constant threat from the regulator, OISC, of having their license revoked if they are caught giving any sort of advice other than what can be printed out from the UKBA site. 

The OISC worries that since CAB's are free, they attract the sort of people who are 'less desirable' than others, hence it is not in their interest to be too overly helpful.

I have raised this before with ILPA.  To no avail, but I have at least raised it.