what question you should ask an attorney before hiring for immigration

by Lisa Brekke 6 min read

Below are the 7 questions you need to ask a U.S. immigration lawyer before hiring them.
  • What Kind of Experience Do You Have? ...
  • How Can You Help Me? ...
  • What Do You Need from Me? ...
  • What Sort of Timeline Should I Expect? ...
  • How Will We Communicate? ...
  • How Does My Case Compare to Others? ...
  • How Do You Charge Clients?
Apr 24, 2020

How to find an excellent immigration lawyer?

 · Don’t hesitate to ask multiple immigration lawyers about their rates to see what the general average fees you should be paying are. What are your qualifications and experience? Not everyone with a law degree is qualified to handle your case, nor is everyone who is offering immigration consulting services.

What are good questions to ask immigrants?

 · You need to verify the experience your attorney has in immigration law, and you can do this by asking that attorney how many years they have practiced only immigration law, generally how many cases of your particular type they have handled, and what they generally see as a successful case.

What every lawyer needs to know about immigration law?

 · When looking for an immigration attorney, we suggest that you ask your potential counsel some important questions, such as: What is your experience with immigration law? When it comes to handling difficult and challenging immigration cases , …

Do I really need an immigration lawyer?

 · Your attorney should listen to you and your concerns–that is part of their job. Here are a few suggestions for what questions to ask: “What sort of experience do you have?” You can follow up on this question by asking things like, “How long have you been practicing immigration law?” “Have you worked on cases like mine before”?”

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What are 3 questions you should ask a lawyer before hiring?

Below are ten questions to ask your potential lawyer.How long have you practiced law? ... What type of cases do you generally handle? ... Who is your typical client? ... How many cases have you represented that were similar to mine?More items...•

What questions should I ask an immigration consultant?

Ten Questions To Ask An Immigration ConsultantAre you registered with ICCRC? ... Can I talk or correspond directly with the registered agent? ... How long have you been in the industry? ... How are you different from others? ... Which immigration program may be right for me, and why?More items...•

How do I prepare for Immigration Consultation?

5 Tips to Make the Most of your Immigration ConsultationAsk the Prospective Attorney Questions about His or Her Experience. ... Tell the Lawyer if Your Case Involves an Emergency. ... Bring the Necessary Immigration Documents to Your Appointment. ... Bring Copies of Criminal Records, if Applicable. ... Take Good Notes.

What questions should you ask your attorney?

Questions to Ask Your Lawyer During a Consultation1) What kind of experience do you have with similar cases?2) What would be your strategy for my case?3) Are there any alternatives to going to court?4) What are my possible outcomes?5) Who will actually handle my case?6) What is my role in my case?More items...•

What do you say to an immigration lawyer?

Here are five important questions you should ask before you hire an immigration lawyer.What are your credentials?How long have you been practicing?Have you handled cases similar to mine?How much will it cost and how will I be billed?What happens after I hire you?

What do immigration lawyers do?

Immigration lawyers represent individual and business clients before the USCIS, the Board of Immigration Appeals, and in Immigration Courts and the federal circuit courts on issues dealing with immigration, emigration, visas, green cards, adjustment of status, political asylum, and other important immigration and ...

What should I ask a migration agent?

7 Questions That Need To Be Asked By a Migration Agent in AdelaideAre You Registered With MARA? ... How many experiences Do You Have in The Industry? ... Which Immigration Program Could Be The Best For Me? ... What is The Success Ratio Of My Visa Application? ... What If My Visa Application Gets Rejected?More items...•

How does the fiance visa work?

A K-1 visa — also called a fiancé visa — allows the engaged partner of a U.S. citizen to enter the United States, as long as the couple gets married no more than 90 days later. The newly married spouse can then apply for permanent residence (a “green card”) based on marriage.

Is immigration a law?

It also provides the means by which certain aliens can become legally naturalized citizens with full rights of citizenship. Immigration law serves as a gatekeeper for the nation's border, determining who may enter, how long they may stay, and when they must leave.

What you should know before you talk to a lawyer?

10 Things You Should Know Before Contacting a LawyerHave Your Documents Ready. ... Research the Elements of Your Case. ... Don't Call if You Just Have a Question. ... You May Not Speak to a Lawyer Right Away. ... Do Not Ask the Legal Support Staff for Advice. ... Don't Provide Too Much Information. ... Answer the Lawyer's Specific Questions.More items...•

How do I prepare for an attorney interview?

If you are interviewing virtually, all of these tips apply.Do your research. Lawyers are known for being good researchers. ... Be presentable and dress your best. ... Come prepared to ask questions. ... Be personable and show enthusiasm. ... Be genuine. ... Promptly send a thank-you note.

How do I talk to my lawyer for the first time?

Tips for Talking to an AttorneyAlways be as honest and candid as possible about the facts of your case. ... Ask questions if you don't understand something that your attorney mentions or explains to you.Approach an attorney about your case as soon as you think you may need one.More items...•

Does an investor need an immigration attorney to submit an I-526 petition?

It is highly recommended that an investor obtain legal services for their immigration petition submission. The documentation needed for the I-526 petition package is extensive, and an experienced immigration attorney can provide valuable assistance with the petition, consular interview, and visa processing.

Why choosing an immigration attorney for the EB-5 process is an important decision

An attorney will represent your best interests, guiding you through the process of obtaining legal status in the U.S. or even help win a deportation case, making the choice of attorney an important decision.

What is an hourly rate for immigration?

With an hourly rate, you will only pay for the time the immigration attorney spends working on your case. This can be quite appealing if your case does not demand that much time, but it can be troublesome if it requires intense labor. With a flat fee, the lawyer charges you a specific total fee for the moment the lawyer starts working on your case to the end.

Do immigration attorneys offer free consultations?

While some attorneys offer an initial consultation for free, please note that a lot of the times you get what you pay for. Just because a consultation is free, does not mean it is going to solve all your doubts. A lot of newly admitted attorneys, or perhaps not attorneys at all, offer free immigration consultation in order to entice a person to come in. Oftentimes, it is worth spending money on a consultation to get the correct answers to your questions while receiving the attention you deserve.

How does an immigration attorney help you?

Your immigration attorney can help you by (a) helping you think about the timeline of the process as a whole and (b) thinking about how long particular steps along the way will take. This will help you as you make plans and move forward with your immigration.

What happens if you don't apply for immigration?

If you do not, you may encounter delays, complications, or even refusals of your application. Your immigration lawyer understands the law and can help you figure these sorts of details out.

What is immigration law?

Immigration law is about more than just filling out forms and writing letters. Find out how your attorney plans work for you, and how you can help them. Ask them what they will do after your application is filed to ensure that it is processed in a timely manner and to improve your chances of success.

Is it normal to ask questions about immigration?

Having questions about payment, timeline, the process of immigration, both for temporary or permanent residence, and so on is perfectly normal! Immigration can be stressful and confusing. If you don’t understand something ask! And don’t feel like your questions are a bother to your attorney! You are helping both of you by asking as many questions as possible.

Do you know your circumstances better than anyone else?

You and the immigration lawyer have different sets of knowledge. You know your circumstances better than anyone else and it is important for you to communicate them to your lawyer. Your lawyer knows immigration law and has insight into what will work for you. You might think one form is best, while your attorney might know of one that will meet your needs better

What is immigration law?

Immigration law covers a wide variety of cases, from green cards and work visas to deportation proceedings. Be sure your attorney has experience handling cases similar to yours.

Is immigration a complex practice?

Immigration is a complex practice. You’ll want an experienced professional to provide you with effective legal representation. Your best bet is to interview more than one lawyer .

Can an immigration attorney practice in California?

Immigration law is federal law, therefore, an immigration attorney may be licensed in another state and practice in California. Please be sure you know where they are licensed and check with that state bar to ensure they are in good standing.

What information do you need to get an immigration lawyer?

Bring any forms the lawyer asked you to complete. These will usually include basic information, such as name, date of birth, and address. In addition, you should bring or send ahead copies of all documents related to your immigration case.

What is the best place to start for immigration?

If you’re still in the early stages of searching for an immigration lawyer, a great place to start is the American Immigration Lawyers Association, also known as AILA.

What to do if you have a criminal record?

If you have a criminal record, you should bring all related police reports and court documents. You must be open and honest about any arrests, even if they no longer appear on your record. Keeping your lawyer fully informed is important.

Can immigration cases resolve quickly?

Immigration cases typically don’t resolve quickly. It’s important to be realistic about how long your specific case will take to move through the U.S. immigration process. Your lawyer should be able to create a plan of action that will give you a tentative timeline.

Can immigration cases vary?

As noted, immigration cases can vary greatly depending on the situation. For this reason, it’s helpful to have a lawyer who has worked with people in similar circumstances. Ask about the strategies used in those cases and whether the same approach could work for you. 2.

Is immigration stressful?

Immigration issues can be stressful and emotional for you and the people you love. You deserve to have a lawyer you trust.

Can a lawyer guarantee a case will go in your favor?

This is an important question. While no lawyer can guarantee that a case will go in your favor, they should be able to give you an idea of whether or not you have a good chance of a successful outcome.

What are my chances of success?

To some extent, this is a trick question. If the lawyer purports to offer you a guarantee of success, eliminate him from consideration. What you should be looking for is a nuanced and conditional answer that gives you odds, not certainties. The lawyer should also be able to give you advice on how to strengthen your case.

How long will it take to complete my case?

The answer that you might most want to hear is also the answer that should raise the most concerns. In most cases, the quicker the lawyer promises to resolve your case, the less realistic his estimate is likely to be — and the less trustworthy he is likely to be. Immigration cases usually take time. This is not always the case, but it usually is.

Will you be handling my case personally?

Many immigration lawyers pass off their cases to paralegals and other non-lawyers, examining the case in-depth only immediately before it is submitted to immigration authorities. In other words, the lawyer you hire may know very little about your case until very late in the process.

How much are your fees?

Immigration lawyers typically do not work on a contingency basis (where your obligation to pay is conditioned on the lawyer winning your case). Instead, you pay an immigration lawyer to exercise his best efforts, and from there on out you simply take your chances.

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