People who live far from the office, work fixed hours or are still abroad often give up on asking a lawyer for advice, believing they would have to attend in person anyway. In most immigration matters that is not the case: the first examination of the situation, the reading of the documents and the indication of the steps to take can all be done remotely.
This guide explains how to request an appointment and how a remote consultation works, what is worth preparing and what the limits are. It is a practical guide: it does not address the merits of individual procedures, which always require an examination of the specific case.
When a remote consultation is possible
It suits situations in which the lawyer's work consists of reading documents, checking requirements and setting out the way forward. That includes, among others:
- the first examination of an application for a residence permit or its renewal;
- checking the conditions for family reunification;
- analysing a refusal already received, to assess the deadlines and the scope for challenging it;
- establishing the requirements for citizenship;
- guidance on international protection and questions about the state of an ongoing procedure.
When attending in person is necessary
It should be said just as plainly that distance is not always workable. As a rule you have to meet in person, or at least plan to do so later on, when a power of attorney must be signed, when documents have to be examined in the original, when the matter is complex and calls for a thorough discussion, and of course for anything conducted before an authority.
The firm is based in Agrigento and receives clients by appointment; it also assists people resident in other provinces, and in those cases the remote arrangement is agreed case by case according to the type of matter.
If you do not speak Italian yet
For many people the language barrier is the greater obstacle: greater than distance. The site is available in several languages — including English, French, Spanish, Arabic and Bengali — and you choose from the language menu at the top of every page.
The conversation with the firm can take place in your own language too: messages written in the chat are translated automatically in both directions, so you do not have to search for the words in Italian and you receive the reply in the language you wrote in.
One necessary clarification. Automatic translation is there to make the conversation possible: it is not a sworn translation and it does not replace the work of a translator. Legal instruments, official documents and any text intended for an authority require a certified translation where one is prescribed. At delicate points the firm restates what it has understood and asks for confirmation, precisely to avoid misunderstandings.
How to request an appointment
The request is made from the dedicated page of the site and has four steps.
- The type of consultation. You choose between a meeting at the office, a remote discussion and a written opinion. If you do not know which category your situation falls into, you can say so: there is a box for that.
- A description of the case. A few lines are enough and you can write them in your own language. They serve to understand what the matter is about and to prepare for the meeting.
- The day and time. The calendar shows only the slots that are actually available. At certain times of the year no slots are published: in that case you leave your request and the firm will propose a date.
- Your contact details. A name and a telephone number are needed in order to get back to you; an email address is optional and is used to receive notifications.
A request is not yet a confirmed appointment: the firm reviews it and either confirms it or proposes a different time, which you can accept or decline with one tap.
If filling in a form is difficult
Not everyone is comfortable with writing and not everyone has an email address. That is why there is a second, shorter route: you give only your name and a telephone number, tap the picture matching the type of consultation and send. There is no date to choose: the firm will call you back to agree one.
The case number
When you send the request you are given a case number, made of a few letters and digits, which appears in the conversation and is also sent by email. It is worth writing it down or photographing it.
It is what lets you find the conversation again. If you change phone, clear your browser data or use a borrowed device, you can reopen your case by entering that number together with your own telephone number. Two pieces of information are asked for rather than one because the conversation contains personal information and the code, on its own, could be read by anybody.
What to prepare before the meeting
A well-prepared discussion takes less time and yields more. Where they are available, it helps to have to hand:
- your passport or identity document;
- your residence permit, even if expired, and any receipt for the renewal application;
- the decisions already received, refusals in particular, with the date of service: the deadlines run from that date, and it is the single most important piece of information;
- documents relating to work or family, if the matter concerns them;
- any correspondence with the Questura or the Prefettura.
Photographs of documents taken with a phone are enough for a first examination, provided the whole page is legible.
Confidentiality
Whatever is written in the conversation is covered by professional secrecy. Technically, each conversation can be reached only by someone holding the personal link or the case number paired with the telephone given; the site publishes no list of the requests received. How the data is handled is described in the site's privacy notice.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to be in Italy already to ask for a consultation?
No. Many questions come precisely from people who have yet to arrive or are temporarily abroad.
Can I write in my own language?
Yes. Messages are translated in both directions; for documents, the clarifications given above apply.
How long before I get a reply?
Requests are reviewed on working days. The conversation stays open: there is no need to stay connected and wait.
I have lost the link to the conversation.
It reopens with the case number and the telephone number given at first contact.
Is a remote consultation worth as much as one in person?
For examination and guidance, yes. When the matter requires signing instruments or examining originals, meeting in person remains necessary.
This text is for information only and does not replace an examination of the specific case, which requires assessing the documents and the particular circumstances. For advice you can request an appointment from the dedicated page of the site.