what you should know before hiring an immigration attorney

by Jodie Zboncak 9 min read

  1. How Experienced Are They? First and foremost, determine your potential lawyer’s familiarity and experience with immigration issues similar to yours. ...
  2. Where is the Lawyer Licensed? It is important for you to find out where the lawyer you intend hiring is licensed. ...
  3. Who is Handling the Case? You should know whether the lawyer in question will really be the one setting up your case or if another person will handle it. ...
  4. How Busy is the Lawyer? Find out how many cases every month the attorney handles. ...
  5. When will He Begin? You also want to find out from your potential attorney when they can start on your case, and how he will communicate the progress of ...
  6. How much will it cost? It is very important to get a clear estimate of the legal fees. ...
  7. What About Testimonials?

5 things you must know before hiring an immigration lawyer
  • Experience. The topmost factor to consider before settling on an attorney is their experience. ...
  • Remarkable communication skills. The perfect lawyer needs to have a personality and demeanor that enables good communication. ...
  • Location. ...
  • Availability. ...
  • Fee.
Apr 26, 2021

Full Answer

Do you need an immigration lawyer to apply for a visa?

Jun 13, 2018 · You can and should negotiate the price of the RFE in advance. The cost of the RFE can range from $100 – $3000. Make sure you get a chance to check your case before your attorney submits it. If you are about to do an O-1 Visa perhaps you can already have the attorney evaluate if you can also go for a Green Card and price both options from the get-go. You should …

What does an immigration lawyer do?

What You Should Know Before Hiring an Immigration Lawyer. You Can Always Represent Yourself. The first thing you should know is that USCIS does not require you to hire an Immigration lawyer to process your case. You can always represent yourself in your case. There are plenty of people who represent themselves in Immigration cases.

What do you need to know about immigration law?

How Immigration Officers should not be relied upon for legal advice; How communication with your attorney is critical (and how to determine if you will be able to reach your attorney throughout the fiancé visa process. We guarantee that these reports will help you decide how to handle your case. Get Immediate Access [si-contact-form form=’4′]

How can I get help with immigration law?

Service charge should be one of the most significant considerations if you are planning on hiring an immigration lawyer, and what the general procedure will cost you. You ought to know the mode of payment including how and when you will be charged. Ensure to ask for any additional or extra expenses plus the breakdown of the total cost. Note: Are you planning on immigrating to the …

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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.Jan 14, 2021

How much does it cost to hire an immigration lawyer in the US?

On an hourly basis, the cost of an immigration lawyer ranges from $150 to $300.Dec 29, 2020

What questions should I ask about immigration?

Officers can ask a vast range of questions, but here are some examples:How, where, and when did you meet your spouse?Where did your first date take place?How long did were you with your spouse before getting married?When and where were you married?Did you go on a honeymoon? ... What is your spouse's current job?More items...•Jan 31, 2022

What should I ask an immigration consultant?

10 Questions to Ask an Immigration ConsultantWhich is the right immigration program for me and why?What are my chances of success through this program?Do you specialise in visas and family immigration law?How long you have been practising immigration law?How long does our retainer/contract lasts?More items...•Sep 3, 2021

Can immigration lawyer speed up process?

While an immigration attorney cannot per say “speed up” your case, the immigration attorney is knowledgeable in immigration law and will know the best strategy and options for your case. Undeniably, this avoids any unreasonable delay by anyone lacking specialized knowledge in this area of law.

What are the 4 types of immigration?

To begin with, let's look at the four types of immigration status that exist: citizens, residents, non-immigrants and undocumented. The characteristics of each status are explained below.

How do I interview an immigration lawyer?

Interview with an Immigration AttorneyWhat do you do for a living? ... How would you describe what you do? ... What does your work entail? ... What's a typical work week like? ... How did you get started? ... What do you like about what you do? ... What do you dislike? ... How do you make money/or how are you compensated?More items...

What can I expect at an immigration interview?

During your naturalization interview, a USCIS officer will ask you questions about your application and background. You will also take an English and civics test unless you qualify for an exemption or waiver. The English test has three components: reading, writing, and speaking.

How long does an immigration interview take?

Typical Questions at an I-485 Interview. The typical adjustment of status interview lasts approximately 20 to 25 minutes.Jun 22, 2021

Why do I want to do immigration law?

Why? Because immigration law provides you with a foundation to represent people who have immigration matters to resolve, but it also allows you to recognize how a person's immigration status might impact them in many seemingly unrelated ways.

Do I need an immigration lawyer for spouse visa?

While, as a matter of law, visa applicants are at liberty to file an Immigrant Visa (Spouse) application in person, representation is recommended for best prospects of success, and to ensure the process is as smooth and efficient as possible.Mar 29, 2021

What questions do they ask at a marriage interview?

Development of Your RelationshipWhere did you meet?What did the two of you have in common?Where did you go for dates?When did your relationship turn romantic?How long was it before you decided to get married?Who proposed to whom?Who chose the ring?Why did you decide to have a [long, short] engagement?More items...

How Experienced Are They?

  • First and foremost, determine your potential lawyer’s familiarity and experience with immigration issues similar to yours. For example, if you are seeking asylum, you’ll want to know about past asylum cases in which representation was provided. Most lawyers have at least one area of law they specialize in. Usually, this means that they have in-depth education, skill, and expertise in th…
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Where Is The Lawyer Licensed?

  • It is important for you to find out where the lawyer you intend hiring is licensed. If the lawyer’s office is in Auckland, for instance, you need to be sure the lawyer is licensed to practice there. Why? This is to protect you. It is claimed that immigration lawis a federal law and so does not require that a lawyer be licensed in a state or province for them to practice there. However, the i…
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Who Is Handling The Case?

  • You should know whether the lawyer in question will really be the one setting up your case or if another person will handle it. Often it is usually an inexperienced lawyer or a paralegal who is left to do the work. This may cause some problems which can cost you extra money.
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How Busy Is The Lawyer?

  • Find out how many cases every month the attorney handles. If the lawyer has several cases to handle, the quality of work rendered to you may not be excellent. The best lawyers handle only a few cases and do the cases themselves. Immigration cases can take several months or even years to complete. During this period, you will want a lawyer that is fully invested in your case an…
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When Will He Begin?

  • You also want to find out from your potential attorney when they can start on your case, and how he will communicate the progress of your case. You will need to make sure you are hiring a lawyer who is ready to begin work and can give your case the attention that it deserves. You also want a lawyerwho will communicate with you throughout the entirety of your interactions with the immi…
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How Much Will It Cost?

  • It is very important to get a clear estimate of the legal fees. Some lawyers may charge you a little amount initially and find ways to get more money by charging an additional fee. Ask them what the fees cover. Dors it cover for initial filing only or does it include ancillary matters, follow-up appointments etc. Experienced attorneys know how much work the process inolves and will hav…
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What About Testimonials?

  • Can the Lawyer provide actual client testimonials from previous successful cases? What do past clients say about him, his integrity, and his willingness to provide both successful and compassionate legal representation? Take the time to research testimonials from different outlets like the website of the attorney, social media, and online review sites.
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