who needs an immigration lawyer

If you’re an immigrant and you’ve been accused of a crime, or you’ve committed one, you may need an immigration lawyer. A lot of entrepreneurs who want to invest in the United States apply for investor visas like an EP-5 or EB-2.

Full Answer

What are the requirements to become an immigration lawyer?

Are you looking for someone to take your side in matters concerning immigrating to the United States or avoiding deportation from the country? 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 …

What education is needed to become an immigration lawyer?

 · A lawyer specializing in immigration can help you gather the necessary documentation, file the necessary paperwork, and present your case in the best possible light. Furthermore, if your case goes to court, your immigration attorney will be …

How long does it take to become and immigration lawyer?

How can I become an immigration attorney?

Do I need US immigration lawyer?

You will definitely want to consult with an attorney who practices immigration law if: you are uncertain about your basic eligibility for a green card or other immigration benefit. you have received government assistance while living in the U.S. or are concerned that you might be inadmissible for some other reason.

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

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.

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.

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 is the fastest way to get citizenship?

The fastest way to get a US green card is through sponsorship from an immediate relative. Unlike other permanent resident visa categories, the IR visa is not subject to quotas or lengthy waiting periods. You are eligible for this visa if you are a spouse, child under 21, or parent of a current US citizen.

What is the fastest way to get a visa?

The Fastest and Easiest Way to Get a US Electronic Visa US ESTA's can take up to 72 hours to be authorised by the US Homeland Security. You must apply for an US ESTA 72 hours prior to travel.

How can I make immigration process faster?

6 ways to speed up your immigration caseSubmit an expedited request. One of the first things you can do to speed up your immigration case is to ask the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for an expedited request. ... Premium Processing. ... Members of Congress. ... Ombudsman. ... Process reshuffling. ... Hire a lawyer.

What can an immigration attorney do?

An immigration attorney can help the employer and worker decide which visa best suits the employer's needs and the worker's qualifications. Similar issues might come up in family-based or other types of visa situations.

What happens if you are not in the immigration process?

If the proceedings are not yet finished or are on appeal, your entire immigration situation is in the power of the courts— and you will not get anywhere trying to use the same application procedures as people who are not in proceedings.

Do lawyers have to ask about delays in USCIS?

Delays at the USCIS Service Centers are also far too common. Lawyers do not have a lot of power in such circumstances. But at least the lawyer might have access to inside inquiry lines, where they (and only they) can ask about delayed or problematic cases.

Do not sell personal information?

Do Not Sell My Personal Information. You are not required to have a lawyer when applying for an immigrant visa or green card in the United States or overseas. If you have a straightforward case, are clearly eligible for the benefit you seek, and have no record of crimes or negative run-ins with immigration authorities, ...

Do you have to place advertisements for a job?

You will be expected to place advertisements for the job. The advertisement process is complicated, as only certain types of ads are acceptable, the ads must contain specific language, and there are many time frames and deadlines involved. It's easy to get it wrong.

Do you have to give consent to a lawyer to text you?

You are not required to provide consent as a condition of service. 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.

Is it worth hiring an immigration lawyer?

They have computer programs in which they can enter your information and spit out the forms in an instant. Hiring a lawyer can be well worth it for the peace of mind.

How long does it take to get a visa?

The answer to the first, will of course depend on the nature of the case. Some visa applications take a number of months and some number of days. The answer to the second will of course varies depending on the nature and complexity of the case.

Do I need a lawyer for immigration?

I then go on to tell them the following, often to their relief: “Although you don’t need a lawyer, you definitely should have one. Immigration law is very complex and there are many aspects to a case that require professional assistance despite what you may read or see online. I then add that “many cases we handle are refused applications or failed hearings and appeals from people without lawyers. Such cases are much harder to resolve and more costly. It is always better to get it right the first time. Therefore there is a big difference between needing a lawyer and should you have one.”

Is it easy to explain the role of a lawyer in immigration matters?

The person is back to looking shocked again. Trying to explain the proper role of a lawyer in immigration matters is not easy. For some reason I can’t figure out, people have this perception that immigration applications are just about filling out some forms, paying a fee, and sending them in. If it were only that simple!

Significance of the Process

First and foremost in the minds of my clients is the recognition that the result of the immigration process can literally be life-changing and that it can impact their families for generations.

Ease in Which Mistakes Are Made

The U.S. immigration system is commonly known to be extremely complicated–the Tennessee Bar Association has noted that it is second only to the federal tax code in complexity.* The complexity of the law is further compounded by:

Potentially Devastating Consequences

Every year I see people who are looking for solutions to consequences that resulted from a mistake they made in the immigration process. Most of the time the solution–if there is a solution–costs them more time, money, and anxiety than if they had hired an immigration lawyer in the first place. Common examples are:

Why Hire a Jennings Immigration Lawyer

Jennings Immigration Law Office understands the significance of the immigration process and treats its clients accordingly. I have limited my practice to immigration law for thirteen years. Because I limit my practice to immigration law, I am able to devote my full attention to the constantly evolving immigration system.

How long does an immigration lawyer consultation last?

ANSWER: A typical consultation should last around 45 minutes to an hour. A qualified immigration lawyer should obtain general information from you and discuss the facts of your case. Then they will discuss which legal options are appropriate for you, and review the anticipated costs of your case. By the end of our consultation, you should know what can be done for you, how long it will take, what are the risks and at what cost.

What is immigration consultation?

ANSWER: A consultation provides you with details and recommendations based on your own case. Immigration law is complex, and constantly changing. It cannot be fully comprehended without knowing the structure, context, and history of the law. Generalized information online is not a substitute for a detailed analysis of your case by an experienced attorney. In fact, there is a lot of misleading and false information in cyberspace that looks credible but isn’t.

Is immigration law federal?

ANSWER: Immigration law is Federal. This means that so long as your lawyers are licensed in Canada and the US., they should be able to handle any immigration matter for US and Canadian visas. At our firm, we have many clients from all over Can ada, the US and the world we sometimes never see in person! So long as you have email an internet access, we can help.

Is there a guarantee on immigration?

ANSWER: There are no guarantees with immigration cases. The nature of immigration law and the realities of immigration processing are such that guaranteeing a result is impossible and unethical. However, if the immigration firm you choose has many years of experience and a good reputation and is up front with you, you should be in good hands.

What is the legal requirement to represent you in immigration matters?

To represent you in immigration matters, the attorney must be a member of the bar of a U.S. state or possession, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia). It just doesn't matter which state. The attorney must be in good standing with his or her state bar association; that is, not the subject of any disciplinary actions, ...

How many circuits are there in immigration?

Some differences in interpretation of U.S. immigration law exist between the various federal circuits. (The U.S. federal courts are divided into 13 "circuits," based on region; and many immigration matters can be appealed to those courts.) The immigration authorities must follow their local circuit court's interpretations.

Do immigration lawyers practice in different states?

state the office or immigration court the immigrant applicant will be interacting with is located, accept representation by lawyers who are members of the bar in different states. Many attorneys end up practicing far from the state where they were originally licensed. And even if they remain in the same state, they may accept clients from other states or countries.

Do immigration lawyers have to be a bar member?

If you will be asking the immigration lawyer to interpret how a state crime will be viewed under U.S. immigration laws, that attorney needs to be a bar member in the state where the crime and conviction took place. (A responsible immigration attorney will bring in another local attorney as a consultant in such a situation.)

Can a lawyer help with immigration?

Therefore, it can be helpful to hire a lawyer who has been practicing for some years in the area where your immigration case will be decided upon.

Is immigration law federal?

Immigration law is federal, and is administered through a federal agency (the Department of Homeland Security or DHS ). Once a lawyer has been licensed by the bar association of one or more states, and learned the basics of immigration law, the lawyer can set up practice wherever he or she chooses—in any U.S. state, or even in another country.

Can an attorney analyze an immigration case?

The attorney must be an attorney. That might sound obvious, but people such as "notarios," immigration consultants, paralegals, document preparers, volunteers at community associations, and so forth are not authorized to analyze your case or act on your behalf unless under the direct supervision of an attorney. Even if they have your best interests at heart, immigration law is insanely complicated, and trusting your case to a non-expert can lead to disaster.

Why do you need an immigration lawyer?

An immigration attorney also helps ensure that you are handling the process with as much efficiency as possible. He or she will try to avoid any delays in helping you obtain your citizenship.

What can a lawyer do for a student?

A lawyer may provide legal advice about a person's ability to obtain a work visa in another country for a specified period of time. If a student is studying abroad, then he or she may want to consult with a immigration attorneys for the appropriate visa. An immigration attorney also helps people obtain citizenship through naturalization.

What is the best way to get citizenship?

Applying For Citizenship. An immigration lawyer can be very helpful when you are applying for citizenship from another country. The process of applying for citizenship can be very complex and time-consuming. A lawyer helps you gather the documentation you need to become a citizen.