You will definitely want to consult with an attorney who practices immigration law if:
To become an immigration lawyer, you must first earn a bachelor’s degree from a college or university. At some point towards the end of the four-year program, you will take the law school admissions test (LSAT). The standardized exam assesses a person’s reading comprehension, logical, and verbal reasoning proficiency.
Who is the best immigration lawyer? The Law Offices of Grinberg & Segal are often considered among the best immigration lawyers in the USA. Perhaps the most common reason why applicants are unsuccessful when seeking immigration to the USA is because of improper filing of their application (s).
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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.
U.S. Immigration law does not require you to have a lawyer represent you for a green card. If you are already married, then the person who is already a U.S. citizen will petition for their partner.
An immigration lawyer charges between $150 and $300 per hour, with a typical 30-min consultation fee of $75 to $150. Legal assistance when filing basic immigration forms costs $250 to $800, while green card assistance runs from $800 to $5,000, plus the USCIS fees of $460 to $700.
An immigration lawyer cannot magically speed up your applications process once it has been submitted, however by hiring an immigration lawyer you can greatly decrease your chances of unnecessary delays caused by mistakes in your application.
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.
The beneficiary, or person who is applying to receive a green card, is generally automatically eligible to receive a green card once they are lawfully married to a U.S. citizen or green card holder.
The fees are (as of early 2022): $535 for an I-130; $435 for an I-360 (with exemptions for VAWA and many other applicants); $535 for an I-129F; and $700 for an I-140.
between $3,000 and $7,000(Many, but not all cases require an in-person interview; and it's pretty much guaranteed in marriage-based applications.) Expect to pay the attorney somewhere between $3,000 and $7,000 in total—in addition to the application fees described above.
A green card lawyer will first have to determine that you're eligible through the specified criteria before you can petition the U.S. government for lawful permanent residency. The criteria that will be analyzed is as follows: Your Familial Relationships. Your Employment Status.
How much does it cost to apply for a green card? The government filing fees for getting a family-based green card is $1,760 for an applicant living in the United States or $1,200 for an applicant living outside the United States.
An Immigration Attorney Can Help Before, During, and After Your Interview. Your immigration attorney is a valuable resource during the green card application and interview process. They can help you: Prepare for the interview with hypothetical questions.
The Green Card is mailed to the beneficiary, not to the attorney.
An immigration lawyer is an independent practitioner (unconnected to the U.S. immigration authorities) who helps clients deal with a wide range of issues relating to visas, green cards, U.S. citizenship, and other immigration benefits.
Not all immigration issues require consultation with an immigration lawyer. For example, if you merely wish to visit the United States for a vacation, and are sure you will be ready to return in 90 days, you might not require any visa at all, but could (if you're from one of the countries on the list) travel on the Visa Waiver Program.
Most immigration lawyers will charge a flat fee (often around $100) to meet with you and talk over whether and how the lawyer could, if you hired him or her, help you out. A few offer a free first consultation. You will probably want to meet with more than one attorney before choosing one to represent you.
you need emergency help with an immigration matter. you have been notified that deportation or removal proceedings are being started against you. you have been deported from the U.S. and wish to apply to return. you have had an immigration application refused or denied in the past.
U.S. immigration law is incredibly complex. In many cases, hiring an attorney can save you time, aggravation, and even money.
However, for less predictable types of legal services, such as representation for an immigration court hearing (which could turn into several hearings), the lawyer is more likely to charge you at an hourly rate. Also see What Immigration Lawyers Report About Their Fees and Free Consultations.
Realize, however, that the attorney's role does not include lying on behalf of a client. If, for example, someone tells an attorney, "I need help preparing paperwork for my fake, green-card marriage," the attorney (assuming he or she is reputable, some are not) will have to tell the client to go elsewhere for help.
Your immigration attorney will be able to help resolve most legal issues. You may run into an unexpected problem at any time during the immigration process, but with the help of your attorney, you will be able to navigate the dilemma without worrying about its affect on your case. A good immigration attorney will be able to see potential issues and address them before they become a reality.
You can rest assured that retaining an immigration attorney will enhance the chance of success for your claim. Contact the Law Office of Raphael M. Scheetz to speak with an experienced attorney who will be able to assess your situation and determine the path through the immigration process that best fits your needs. Do not let your immigration status go to chance–get the guidance you need to best ensure the success of your case.