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The boundary between a lead, client, and case

Use a lead for a prospective relationship. Use a client when your firm has an ongoing relationship with that person or organization. Use a case for a specific immigration matter that needs its own information, documents, deadlines, and delivery workflow. This distinction matters: a lead form is designed to help you decide whether and how to engage. A case questionnaire is designed to collect the structured facts needed to work an active matter. Do not create a detailed case simply to hold an early enquiry. Read Core Concepts for the full model.

Choose an intake path

Build a useful lead form

Ask only for the information that changes the next action. A strong first version usually includes contact details, the immigration objective, location or status context, timing, and how the prospect heard about your firm. Avoid using a lead form to recreate a full case questionnaire; long forms reduce completion and create details your team has not yet committed to managing. Use Custom Lead Form to build the form and Collect Leads to work the incoming queue.

Run the consultation handoff

Before a consultation, confirm the lead owner, the purpose of the meeting, and the question that must be answered next. After it, record one clear outcome: Consultation settings with profile, availability, bookings, email, and advanced configuration tabs. Public booking page showing the consultant profile, service, and available dates.
  • Continue qualification.
  • Request additional information.
  • Send an engagement or payment step.
  • Convert to a client and create a case.
  • Close the lead with a reason your team can understand later.
This makes follow-up visible and prevents prospects from disappearing between a form submission and a retained matter.

Convert only when the work is ready

When the firm chooses to engage, preserve the useful relationship information and create the client record. Then create the appropriate case type and assign an owner. Start the case questionnaire only when the team knows which matter it is collecting for; that keeps the data, files, tasks, and automation context aligned. After conversion, use Create a case, Send Invitation, and Client Portal to begin delivery.

Common questions

Can I use an intake form before choosing a program?

Yes. Use a lead or consultation form for first-contact qualification. Move to a detailed case questionnaire once the firm has chosen the matter type and is ready to collect the required facts.

What happens to leads that do not convert?

Keep a clear non-conversion or follow-up outcome rather than deleting useful context. This lets the team distinguish a prospect who needs more time from one that is not a fit, and makes future follow-up intentional.