what should i tell my immigration lawyer

If you are missing some of the document (s), it is highly recommended that you let your attorney know in advance. Bring the original interview letter, your IDs, passport (s), and all other relevant documents. If you feel you have issues or feel apprehensive, have an attorney handle your case.

Full Answer

What should I bring to my immigration lawyer's appointment?

Bring along any personal documents that relate to your immigration situation, such as your passport, visa(s), I-94, marriage certificate, records of criminal convictions, and any notices from immigration authorities. The lawyer is likely to ask a number of questions and take notes,...

How can an immigration attorney help me prepare for my interview?

An immigration attorney can help you prepare for your interview. They advise you on what to expect, given your circumstances, write a letter on your behalf to bring to your interview, and even accompany you.

What does an immigration lawyer do?

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. When Don't You Need an Immigration Lawyer?

What should I do if I get an interview at USCIS?

DO follow the directions of the USCIS officer. If the officer wants to interview you and your spouse separately, that is perfectly appropriate. DO listen carefully and answer only the question that the officer asks you. DO bring an interpreter with you if you do not understand English.

What questions should I ask my immigration attorney?

Here's a quick look at ten questions you should ask every immigration attorney you speak with about your case.Do You Specialize in Visas and Family Immigration Law? ... Are You A Member Of The American Immigration Lawyers Association? ... Have You Ever Been Reprimanded Or Disciplined For Dishonesty?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 are some good questions about immigration?

Green Card and Immigration BasicsWhat is a green card? ... What is USCIS? ... What is a lawful permanent resident? ... What is conditional permanent residence? ... Why would a green card application be denied? ... Can I work in the U.S. while waiting for my green card? ... What is the Visa Bulletin? ... What is a biometric screening?

How do you say thank you to an immigration lawyer?

“I want to thank you for the professional work and advice I have received from you over the years we have worked on my immigration process. I deeply thank you for that.” – A.C. “We greatly appreciate what you did for me and for my family. Thank you very much for being our lawyer.” – H.Z.

What questions do immigration ask couples?

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...

What can I expect at an immigration interview?

At the interview, the USCIS officer or Embassy official will ask if you have had any life changes that may have affected your application and may have caused an answer on your application to change since you applied. They are looking for things like a change of employer, change of address, birth of a new child, etc.

Why do green cards get denied?

Among the reasons the U.S. government might deny an immigrant visa or green card are its own error (or yours, in completing the paperwork), concern that you are a security risk, inadmissibility for health or criminal reasons, a finding that you are likely to become reliant on government assistance, and more.

How do you compliment a lawyer?

It is nice to see these days. To my attorney: Thank you again for your hard work and working extra hard to ensure our success. Attorney- A special thank you for all your help over the years. I know it's your job, but it's my life- and I feel you went above and beyond and I just want to express my appreciation.

How do you tell your lawyer your thank you?

Thank you for helping me through this difficult trial, and for ensuring the best possible outcome on my behalf. I am so grateful to you for representing me in court, and for being a powerful advocate for me throughout these difficult times. Thank you so much for your passionate, thoughtful, and brilliant work.

How would you describe a good lawyer?

Listening to your clients, listening to witnesses, listening to your opposing counsel, and listening to the court can be the difference between winning and losing a case. Great lawyers take in all relevant information, analyze it, and create a plan of action.

Can a lawyer handle immigration?

For the same reasons, only an actual, practicing lawyer should be trusted to handle your immigration matters. Unfortunately, many non-lawyers; even some well-meaning ones, who don't recognize how complex this area of law really is; claim to be capable of assisting foreigners who need help with the immigration process.

Can an attorney guarantee success?

Not even the best attorneys can guarantee success. Ultimately, the outcome of your case is up to an immigration judge, the Department of Homeland Defense and/or USCIS. Any attorney claiming he or she has a 100% success rate and guaranteeing you a particular outcome may need to be more closely evaluated.

Is it ethical to hire a low value immigration attorney?

A few "high-volume, low value" immigration attorneys prowl the hallways of immigration offices attempting to solicit business. This is not considered ethical behavior by the legal bar. Besides, any good immigration attorney is probably going to be too busy practicing immigration law and working for their clients to spend their time rounding up new clients this way.

What are the issues that impact immigration?

There are issues of state criminal law, state employment law, state domestic relations law, and other areas that impact an immigration case, and you want your lawyer to be cognizant of these areas to be able recognize any issues that might arise and be able to direct you to the appropriate specialists.

Is there a way to get a permanent legal status?

The sad truth is that for many immigrants today, there are no legal options, no easy answers, and no way to a permanent legal status. It is best to know the truth, so you can make wise decisions about your future, rather than wasting money chasing false hopes or even lies. Experience matters.

Is there an exam to become an immigration lawyer?

The issue in our US system of attorneys is that in most states, there is no exam to be an immigration lawyer (some states do have this, so look for “certified” or “specialist” lawyers in states like North Carolina, Texas, and California, among others). That means anyone can say in a newspaper ad or a TV commercial, or online, ...

Is it difficult to be an expert in immigration law?

It is very difficult to be an expert or specialist in a dozen different things. “Jack of all trades, master of none” is what you want to avoid in someone representing you in the ever changing area of immigration law.

Is a general review helpful?

Also “general” reviews, either positive or negative, are not very helpful, while specific reviews, especially by someone who identifies themselves in the review ( not anonymous), can be very helpful in making your decisions about that attorney.

Do immigration lawyers lose cases?

Be wary of immigration lawyers who say they never lose a case, that simply is not true in today’s world, because USCIS and the Courts deny good cases all the time, frequently for a bad reason, and not because the attorney has done anything wrong.

What does an immigration attorney do?

A good immigration attorney can investigate your case, review any submissions for errors, and determine whether or not your original attorney was licensed to practice law. If you do not act quickly, you might miss deadlines that apply to new applications or court filings based on ineffective assistance of counsel.

What does it mean when an attorney denies an immigration case?

A Denial Does Not Automatically Mean Your Attorney Made Mistakes. If you received a denial of your immigration case, appeal, motion, or application from the U.S. government, your attorney might seem like the natural person to blame. But don't be too quick to assume that your attorney made mistakes just because you did not receive ...

What happens if your lawyer isn't a lawyer?

What Happens If Your Lawyer Wasn't Really a Lawyer at All. In some cases, the "lawyer" might not have been a licensed attorney in the first place. These "immigration consultants" are also known as notarios in the Spanish-speaking community. An immigration consultant could have made mistakes in your case or even charged you lots ...

What to do if your former attorney made a mistake?

Once you have a professional opinion about the mistakes your former attorney made, you will want to "fix" your case and try to achieve any legal remedies or compensation available to you. If you have been the victim of ineffective assistance of counsel, you might be able to reopen your case, even if the deadline for appeal has passed. The Matter of Lozada case set forth the requirements for noncitizens who claim to have been unfairly prejudiced by ineffective assistance of counsel. You must:

What to do if your work visa is denied?

However, if your visa was denied because you clearly didn't meet the basic educational requirements, and your attorney told you that you would qualify for the work visa based on the information that you provided, you might be able to get other forms of relief, such as a refund of legal fees and application fees.

Can you reopen a case if you knew your representative was not licensed to practice law?

Unfortunately, the courts have held that if you knew that your representative was not licensed to practice law and you hired him or her regardless, you cannot reopen your case based on "ineffective assistance of counsel.".

Can an attorney text you?

Attorneys have the option, but are not required, to send text messages to you. You will receive up to 2 messages per week from Martindale-Nolo. Frequency from attorney may vary. Message and data rates may apply. Your number will be held in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

A client has the right to fire his or her immigration lawyer at any time

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Was the Problem Really Caused by the Immigration Lawyer?

Immigration lawyers cannot work miracles. Nearly all applicants are frustrated at some point in the immigration-application process, whether due to long waits, government requests to provide documents that have no apparent bearing on the case, the need to write new checks to replace a set that the U.S. government lost, and so on.

What If the Lawyer Won't Give You a Copy of Your File?

Your client file is your property, not the immigration attorney's property.

Who to Advise If Firing Your Lawyer

Firing your lawyer will not affect the progress of your applications with USCIS, the consulate, or any other government agency handling your case. However, you should send a letter to the last USCIS or consular office you heard from, directing it to send all future correspondence straight to you or to your new lawyer.

Paying the Lawyer You're Firing

You will (unless you're prepared to sue over inadequate representation) have to pay the fired lawyer for any work already done on your case. Look at the contract with your lawyer (if you signed one) to see how refunds are to be made.

What to do if you feel you have something that is difficult to explain?

DON'T lie to the USCIS officer. If you feel you have something that would be difficult to explain, hire an attorney. Your attorney should be able to defuse difficult situations during an interview.

What to do if you don't understand English?

DO bring an interpreter with you if you do not understand English. DO dress appropriately for the occasion. This is an important meeting for you, and a good impression can't hurt. DO remain calm. If you don't understand the question, ask the officer to rephrase it.

How to avoid sarcasm during an interview?

In particular, avoid joking or sarcasm related to drug dealing, communicable diseases, bigamy, or smuggling people into the country. DON'T argue with your spouse or other family members in the middle of an interview. Agree before hand on what you will do if a disagreement arises during the interview.

Do you have to show up for USCIS interview?

USCIS officers are notoriously difficult to reach and requests for changes in interview times are not well received. If you fail to show up for your appointment, you may have to endure a lengthy process to get another interview.

Is it necessary to be prepared for a USCIS interview?

Being prepared and not arousing suspicion will make the USCIS interview as pleasant as possible. The tenor of each interview will depend on the personality of the USCIS official with whom you meet, so it is almost impossible to be entirely prepared. It is important to remember, however, that it is the USCIS official's job to determine whether there ...

So what should you be paying for your Immigration Lawyer Fees?

Simple. Immigrants should not be paying $2000 an hour. As has been pointed out (by yours truly) in other blog posts, immigration lawyer fees are usually flat fees, not hourlies, so you can budget accordingly. What are you paying for? Immigration lawyers have to be up-to-date on every change in the immigration process.

How much can immigration lawyers fees cost?

The cost of freedom can vary greatly depending on each case. AND if you need to appeal your case this will add costs to that amount. Immigration lawyers may have to negotiate on your behalf, go to bond hearings, go with you to court, file applications for relief from removal and more.

What can an immigration attorney do?

An immigration attorney can help you prepare for your interview. They advise you on what to expect, given your circumstances, write a letter on your behalf to bring to your interview, and even accompany you .

What is included in an interview notice?

The interview notice will often include a general list of documents that might not always apply to you completely. It’s recommended to bring the original document of every copy you submitted in your application. You will be instructed to bring an interpreter if you do not speak English fluently.

What is the I-485 form?

Form I-485 asks for a list of any organizations you are affiliated with, and you might be asked the same questions during your Green Card interview. Technically, USCIS means any organization, even very innocuous ones such as the Boy Scouts . Specifically, USCIS is looking to see if you are a member of an organization that could be considered a threat to the U.S. Memberships in some groups, such as terrorist organizations or the Communist Party, could make you ineligible to receive a Green Card. Typical questions include:

Why is it important to read the notice of an interview?

When you receive your interview notice, it is crucial that you read it carefully as it will direct you exactly WHEN (date and time) and WHERE (location) your interview will take place.

Do USCIS officers ask for tax returns?

USCIS officers often request to see tax returns, even if that is not listed on your interview notice as one of the documents you should bring. You might be asked questions about your tax history, such as

Do you have to answer employment related questions on a green card?

While people with family-based applications do not usually answer as many employment-related questions, that is not always the case.

Do I have to disclose my criminal record on my I-485?

You are required to disclose any criminal record on Form I-485, and you must bring documentation with you to your interview if you have any such history. You might be asked questions such as: