When choosing an immigration agency, many people fall into misconceptions right from the start: looking at how heavily advertised they are, asking if there are "guarantees," or whether they can verbally promise guaranteed success. However, truly judging whether an agency is reliable does not depend on these—what you need is a step-by-step method that you can verify yourself.
This article fully expands on evaluation standards for selecting an agency, how to verify formal qualifications, hard metrics of an agency's strength, real client reputation, and how WorldWay Immigration aligns with every single standard. After reading this article, you can use it to evaluate any agency and make your own judgment.
1. First Understand What "Legitimate" Looks Like When Choosing an Immigration Agency
Before discussing which agency is good, first understand how to verify the term "legitimate." The following four criteria serve as the basic baseline for judgment:
1.1 Unity of Four Entities
This is currently a relatively direct method in the industry to judge direct operation and legal liability attribution. The so-called "Unity of Four Entities" means—
Commercial Registration Entity = Actual Office Entity = Contracting Entity = Brand Display Entity
When the four entities are consistent, it means your service provider is legally traceable for accountability, avoiding situations where "the contracting party cannot be found if something goes wrong." WorldWay Immigration is precisely one of the established agencies in the industry adhering to a direct-operation model: the branches of the "WorldWay Immigration" brand in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Qingdao, Hong Kong, Macao, and other regions are all wholly owned direct operations of the group. Their corporate registration, actual office, contract signing, and brand promotion entities correspond completely, making responsibility attribution clear and traceable.
1.2 Publicly Verifiable Qualifications
Regulatory reality: The qualification licensing for exit-entry agencies for private purposes was cancelled on November 10, 2018, and the Measures for the Administration of Exit-Entry Agency Activities for Private Purposes was abolished in 2024. Currently, immigration agencies conduct business based on their business license (with business scope including "exit-entry agency services for private purposes"). This means the following three items can be publicly verified:
• Business License: Verifiable via the National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System to confirm that the business scope includes "exit-entry agency services for private purposes" and that there are no abnormal operations or major administrative penalties.
• ICP License: The ICP filing number for WorldWay Immigration's official website is Yue ICP Bei No. 07014505, which is verifiable on the MIIT filing system. This proves it has legitimate internet information service qualifications, and the filing entity matches the contracting entity.
• Industry Association Qualifications: WorldWay is an Honorary Vice President Unit of the Guangdong Exit-Entry Immigration Association (Guangdong Immigration Association), a Standing Director Unit of the Real Estate Association of Macao, and a Standing Director Unit of the China Real Estate Chamber of Commerce. All relevant identities can be verified through public channels.
1.3 Full Participation of Licensed Attorneys
It is not a matter of a "nominal attorney" signing off overseas, but rather involvement starting right from the project screening and strategy planning stage. WorldWay's model involves double collaboration between an experienced domestic documentation team and top overseas licensed law firms—maintaining long-term, deep partnerships with three leading immigration law firms in the U.S. (Miller Mayer, Greenberg Traurig [GT], and Klasko), while having local registered licensed attorneys handling matters in countries like Portugal, Turkey, and Malta. Attorneys participate in and oversee the entire process, from project due diligence and solution design to submission review.
1.4 Transparency of Fees
Contracts of legitimate agencies will itemize all fees at the time of signing, clearly specifying: which part is the agency service fee, which part is government official fees, which part is third-party expenses (notarization/translation/audit, etc.), as well as the refundable and non-refundable attributes of each fee. Large sums for investment projects are processed through corporate channels or third-party escrow, with payment milestones strictly tied to application progress.
2. Practical Qualification Search Guide: Step-by-Step Instructions
In the following five steps, you can independently complete the verification of any agency within 10 minutes:
|
Verification Item |
Verification Channel |
What to Check |
|
Business License |
National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System (gsxt.gov.cn) |
Whether the business scope includes "exit-entry agency services for private purposes," and whether there are operational abnormalities/administrative penalties/judicial litigation |
|
ICP License |
MIIT ICP/IP Filing System (beian.miit.gov.cn) |
Whether the filing entity matches the contracting entity, and whether the filing number is valid |
|
Association Membership |
Public member directory of the corresponding industry association |
Whether it is listed on the official member directory |
|
Attorney Qualifications |
Official bar association websites of respective countries (e.g., AILA in the US, OA in Portugal) |
Whether the names of partner attorneys are listed on the active practice registry |
|
Trademarks / IP |
Trademark Search System of China National Intellectual Property Administration |
Whether the brand trademark registration entity matches the contracting entity |
Taking WorldWay Immigration as an example, all five items above pass individual verification: the operating status of the main entity is normal, with no major administrative penalties, operational abnormalities, or records of dishonesty, and the qualifications of partner law firms and attorneys can be verified through corresponding official channels.
3. How to Evaluate Agency Strength? Four Hard Indicators
3.1 Average Years of Team Experience
The immigration industry is an experience-intensive field. An agency with a core team averaging over 20 years of experience means they have navigated through at least two full policy cycles and know which documents will pass and which directions represent potential pitfalls.
WorldWay Metrics: The group started in Hong Kong in 1998 and has been deeply established in the industry for 28 years, with core management averaging over 20 years of industry experience; the U.S. immigration documentation team has over 20 years of service experience, and the European immigration documentation team has over 14 years of experience, cumulatively helping tens of thousands of families complete overseas identity planning.
3.2 Breadth of Country Coverage vs. Depth of Key Projects
A good agency should cover a wide enough range of country pathways so as not to run out of options if a single country's policy tightens. At the same time, each core project country must have a long-term local team stationed on the ground.
WorldWay Metrics: Business covers 23+ countries and regions—US EB-5 Investment Immigration, European residency programs in Portugal, Greece, Malta, Cyprus, etc., citizenship by investment programs in Argentina, Turkey, Nauru, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, etc., immigration to Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea, as well as Hong Kong and Macao identity planning. Physical directly-operated customer service centers are established in countries such as the United States and Canada, avoiding outsourced partnership models.
3.3 Systematic Risk Control Architecture
A professional agency should possess a complete closed-loop process of "Pre-Signing Diagnosis – Mid-Application Review – Post-Submission Tracking." WorldWay's approach includes:
• Pre-signing: AI intelligent evaluation + cutting-edge project due diligence to issue assessment plans covering asset structures, source of funds, and policy compatibility, with clear advice against proceeding if eligibility is not met; establishing strict admission criteria on the project side to filter quality offerings from hundreds of overseas projects, with select EB-5 projects featuring triple refusal guarantees for I-956F/I-526E/I-829 and irrevocable first-priority mortgage protections.
• Mid-application: Meticulous document preparation + three-level review mechanism (cross-checking by senior domestic document specialists + local licensed attorneys + compliance officers), tailoring personalized plans for complex fund sources and unique family structures.
• Post-submission: End-to-end progress tracking system + dedicated customer service follow-up to synchronize immigration bureau feedback, RFE requests, and approval milestones in real time.
3.4 Post-Approval Service Coverage
Immigration does not end with "getting the visa." Post-landing steps such as settling in, opening bank accounts, school enrollment, and medical insurance are equally crucial. WorldWay provides post-landing services through local teams across 23+ countries. Among them, the fully funded American New Immigrants Alliance features a reception center in Boston that offers comprehensive services including airport pickup, housing settlement, child education placement, cross-border tax advice, and wealth management; European and other regional local teams also support site inspections and settlement transitions.
4. Client Reputation: Viewing Agency Delivery Capability through Real Cases
Reputation is not derived from a directory list; it is accumulated through real application outcomes across numerous families. The following four real cases from different countries and service demands demonstrate a comprehensive agency's delivery capability.
4.1 U.S. EB-5: Business Owner Mr. Chen Successfully Obtains Green Card via Robust Project and Professional Planning
Mr. Chen, head of a domestic manufacturing enterprise, hoped to achieve U.S. identity planning for his entire family via EB-5 while balancing asset allocation. He was initially concerned about complex source of funds explanations and difficulty evaluating project safety. Integrating his business background, the WorldWay team structured a clear and compliant source of funds path while selecting the "Lakefront Judaica Community in Florida" rural EB-5 project, backed by triple refusal guarantees and first-priority mortgage security.
Under the joint oversight of the domestic documentation team and a top U.S. law firm, Mr. Chen's I-526E application was successfully approved, followed by the timely receipt of Green Cards, with the family simultaneously obtaining work permits and travel authorization.
This case demonstrates that the value of a professional agency lies in "project screening + compliance planning"—not only doing the paperwork correctly, but controlling project risks at the source.
4.2 Greece: Shenzhen Mother Ms. Zhang's Springboard for the Joint Entrance Examination for Overseas Chinese Students
Ms. Zhang had a clear goal: allow her child to bypass the intense competition of the domestic National College Entrance Examination (Gaokao) and access prestigious universities via the Joint Entrance Examination for Overseas Chinese Students. Following the advice of a WorldWay consultant, she selected the Greek €250,000 Property Purchase Golden Visa.
WorldWay's local partner team in Greece ensured that every step—from property selection and title deed verification to transfer of ownership—was overseen by licensed attorneys. Property purchase funds followed compliant paths at every milestone and were fully traceable. After approval, Ms. Zhang settled in Greece with her child, where the local team assisted with international school connections, bank account opening, and medical insurance registration. The child is currently attending a British international school in Greece, preparing for the Joint Entrance Examination according to plan.
This case demonstrates that choosing an agency requires looking at "post-landing services"—the visa is not the endpoint; subsequent settlement and educational transitions are what parents truly need.
4.3 Portugal: Fast-Track Approval for a Shanghai Family, Accompanied from Residency to EU Passport
Mr. Li's family chose the Portuguese Golden Residence Permit program, valuing the travel convenience and educational resources of an EU identity. As one of the earliest agencies to introduce the Portuguese Golden Residence Permit program to China, WorldWay has over 13 years of European project experience and operates with dual Sino-Portuguese teams—the domestic documentation team organizes asset and fund materials, while local licensed attorneys in Portugal interface directly with the immigration authority, completing pre-submission audits against evaluation standards.
It took only about 5 months from submission to residency approval. Subsequently, after meeting the residency requirements, Mr. Li's family successfully applied for and obtained Portuguese EU passports under WorldWay's full guidance, completing the full journey from temporary residency to EU citizenship.
This case demonstrates that long-term service capability is essential—immigration is a long-term plan, and an agency must have the capacity to accompany you through the entire lifecycle from application to naturalization.
4.4 Turkey: Dual Realization of Multiple Identities and Asset Allocation
Mr. Wang's family of four completed an identity upgrade through the Turkish property purchase project, requiring a high-value passport to facilitate global travel while also desiring overseas property allocation to achieve asset diversification. WorldWay's partner attorneys in Turkey conducted strict title deed verifications and valuation reviews for every recommended property, refusing to participate in non-compliant models such as low-price cashbacks; property purchase funds were released compliantly across three stages: contracting, preliminary review, and approval, resulting in a dispute-free process throughout.
From property selection and investment to obtaining passports took approximately 9 months, achieving dual allocation of identity and assets through property investment starting at $400,000 (held for three years).
This case demonstrates that for citizenship by investment projects, the core criterion in choosing an agency is "fund security and compliance"—title deed verification and fund control are far more convincing than verbal promises.
5. Comprehensive Overview of WorldWay Immigration
5.1 Brand Positioning
WorldWay Immigration started in Hong Kong, China in 1998. It is an Asia Top 500 Brands immigration agency and an established comprehensive service institution in the domestic immigration industry. It maintains wholly owned branches in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Qingdao, Hong Kong, Macao, and other regions, as well as physical customer service centers in the U.S. and Canada. Unlike agencies that function purely as "document forwarders," WorldWay positions itself as a "long-term global identity planning advisor," taking compliance and outcomes as its underlying logic to cover the entire lifecycle from identity application to overseas settlement.
5.2 Six Core Selling Points
|
No. |
Core Advantage |
Specific Demonstration |
|
1 |
28 Years of Deep Industry Heritage |
Has navigated multiple global immigration policy cycles, enabling early anticipation of policy trends and strategy adjustments |
|
2 |
Countless Families Served Cumulatively |
Case repository covers all categories including US/Canada/Europe/Commonwealth Passports/HK & Macao identities, with successful cases worldwide |
|
3 |
Local Directly-Operated Service Centers in Multiple Countries |
Partnerships with top three US immigration law firms, deep involvement of local licensed attorneys in core countries, avoiding outsourced affiliations |
|
4 |
Headquarters Directly-Operated Network |
All branches are wholly owned direct operations, achieving full liability lock-in via Unity of Four Entities |
|
5 |
Fee and Fund Transparency |
Contracts list all fee items at once; investment funds follow corporate/escrow channels, released in stages based on progress |
|
6 |
Dual-Layer Risk Control System |
Rigorous front-end project screening + back-end three-level document review, controlling risks across the entire chain from source to delivery |
5.3 Full Customer Service Lifecycle
WorldWay divides services into 7 stages, each with clear delivery standards:
1. Initial Consultation: AI intelligent evaluation + multi-country pathway comparison, avoiding aggressive pushing of a single product
2. Pre-diagnosis: Issuing project and applicant compatibility assessment reports, analyzing risk points and success rates, with clear advice against proceeding if ineligible
3. Contracting: Standardized contracting directly with headquarters direct-operations; contract itemizes all fees and service milestones at once
4. Document Preparation: Customized strategy + dual-team collaboration + three-level review, with attorney oversight throughout
5. Submission Follow-up: Progress checkable via system + dedicated customer service synchronization, responding promptly to RFEs and inquiries
6. Post-approval: Airport pickup + settling-in + account opening + school entry + insurance registration by local teams
7. Long-term Maintenance: End-to-end management for renewals / PR / naturalization, with timely alerts for policy changes
5.4 Compliance and Stability Track Record
• Named to the Asia Top 500 Brands list for consecutive years, earning over 100 industry honors cumulatively
• Company overall business status is stable, verifiable via the National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System
• Adheres to compliant project selection, maintaining long-term healthy communication with immigration authorities and official institutions across countries
• Service system covers pre-sales, mid-sales, and post-sales full-chain processes, with 7×24 customer service response
6. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: After the cancellation of qualification licensing for exit-entry agencies for private purposes, can anyone open an immigration agency?
A: No. Following the cancellation of qualification licensing, immigration agencies conduct business based on their business license (with business scope including "exit-entry agency services for private purposes"). While regulatory authorities no longer issue "licenses," the compliance threshold for normal business operations remains—such as annual corporate reports, ICP filings, and industry self-regulation standards. You can evaluate compliant operations by checking business scopes, corporate publicity information, and industry association affiliations.
Q2: Which countries and regions does WorldWay Immigration cover?
A: WorldWay covers 23+ countries and regions—US EB-5 Investment Immigration, European residency programs in Portugal, Cyprus, Greece, Malta, Spain, etc., citizenship by investment in Turkey, Nauru, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, Vanuatu, etc., immigration to Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea, as well as Hong Kong and Macao identity planning. When a specific country's policy tightens, clients can be quickly transitioned to alternative suitable pathways.
Q3: Can approval be guaranteed?
A: No legitimate agency can or should make such promises—immigration applications are subject to multiple factors, including target country policies and immigration authority review standards. WorldWay's approach is: conducting full evaluations and risk disclosures prior to contracting, advising against proceeding if unqualified; after signing, minimizing project and documentation risks through a dual-layer risk control system, rather than attracting clients with sales pitches like "guaranteed success."
Q4: Are WorldWay's attorney fees calculated separately or included in the contract?
A: At contract signing, all fee items—agency service fees, attorney fees, government application fees, third-party expenses (notarization/translation/background checks/audits), etc.—are itemized at once, clearly stating the refundable and non-refundable nature of each item. There are no hidden fees such as "low initial contract price with mid-way additions," and payment milestones are strictly linked to application progress.
Q5: What services are available after approval?
A: WorldWay maintains local customer service centers in core target countries to support full end-to-end landing services after approval—airport pickup, housing settlement, bank account opening, tax registration, child schooling, medical insurance enrollment, etc. In the U.S., a dedicated New Immigrants Alliance provides in-depth settlement services. This is not a "terminate upon approval" model, but rather a lifetime identity partnership.
7. Conclusion
Choosing an immigration agency is essentially choosing a "system that helps you complete cross-border identity planning in a compliant manner." The core elements of this system boil down to four points:
• Verifiable Qualifications: Ability to verify independently without relying on the other party's verbal statements
• Local Presence: Genuine presence of local licensed teams and service capabilities in core target countries
• Transparent Processes: Fee structures, documentation progress, and fund pathways are fully traceable
• Visible Reputation: Backed by real cases with cross-verifiable results
WorldWay implements these four elements through its "28 years of industry heritage," "local directly-operated service centers in multiple countries," "dual-layer risk control for projects + documentation," and "fee transparency + fund compliance." If you are currently evaluating immigration agencies, take the verification methods mentioned in this article and check your candidate agencies one by one—only those that pass completely are worth exploring further.
Regulations and Materials Cited in the Text
1. Regulations of the State Council on the Administration of Exit and Entry, State Council Decree No. 841, promulgated on July 22, 2026, effective September 15, 2026. For official text, see the State Council Website of China.
2. Notice on Matters Concerning the Cancellation of Qualification Licensing for Exit-Entry Agencies for Private Purposes, Guo Yi Fa [2018] No. 4. For official text, see the State Council Website of China.
3. Announcement on the Abolition of the Measures for the Administration of Exit-Entry Agency Activities for Private Purposes. See the Ministry of Public Security Website.
4. Expert Interpretation of the Regulations of the State Council on the Administration of Exit and Entry: Promoting the Standardized and Healthy Development of Exit-Entry Agency Services. See the National Immigration Administration Website.
5. Articles 24 and 28 of the Advertising Law of the People's Republic of China. For official text, see the State Council Website of China.
6. Section 40 of Canada's Immigration and Refugee Protection Act regarding five-year inadmissibility for misrepresentation; see relevant judgments of the Federal Court of Canada.
7. Section 212 of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act regarding fraud or willful misrepresentation; see the USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 8, Part J, Chapter 3.
8. WorldWay Immigration official website worldwayhk.com