why do i need a lawyer to file a green card

A Lawyer Can Review all of Your Options One of the benefits of having an attorney you can consult with throughout your green card case is knowing that you have access to someone who can answer specific questions and come up with solutions to issues that might arise during the immigration process.

Full Answer

Do I need an immigration lawyer to get a green card?

While the law is written partly to benefit the applicants, for example, by allowing them to reunite with family members in the U.S. or gain asylum as protection from prosecution, it is also written to protect the U.S. from entry by people who might be a drain on the country's resources or present a health or security threat to U.S. society.

How long does it take to become a good immigration lawyer?

Nov 08, 2019 · If so, you should consult with an experienced immigration attorney to get professional assistance filing your green card paperwork. Hiring a lawyer to handle your green card petition can greatly increase your chances of being approved because you won’t have to navigate this complex area of law on your own. Here are just some of the reasons you should …

What do you need to know about marriage-based green card?

Jun 27, 2020 · By hiring a green card immigration lawyer, you can avoid costly errors, ensure you do not miss any deadlines, and learn what you can do to minimize the risk of your application being denied. Get In Touch with an Immigration Lawyer from Our Trusted Network

What should I do if my marriage-based green card is denied?

Jul 20, 2018 · The answer is – this is too important to fool around with. Many sites make green card applications seem simple: like a filling out a simple stack of papers and just going to an immigration office. Just download the application and hand it in. But do NOT be fooled. If you go on your own without a lawyer present you may make the smallest ...

Is it possible to get a green card without a lawyer?

While you are technically allowed to apply for a green card without the help of an attorney, navigating immigration laws alone can be troublesome. Each type of visa has a variety of paperwork with different costs and places to send each document.

Can I apply for green card by myself?

Most people who apply for a Green Card will need to complete at least two forms—an immigrant petition and a Green Card application (Form I-485). Someone else usually must file the petition for you (often referred to as sponsoring or petitioning for you), although you may be eligible to file for yourself in some cases.Jul 5, 2020

How much does a US immigration lawyer cost?

This can be anywhere from $150 to $500+ per hour. However, some immigration lawyers charge a set fee for a specific service. For example, for filing a specific immigration form, an immigration lawyer may charge a flat rate between $350 to $1,500.Mar 4, 2021

What is the easiest way to get a US green card?

The simplest way to get a Green Card is through the Green Card Lottery. The U.S. Department of State gives away 55,000 Green Cards through the Diversity Visa Program every year.

How long does green card process take?

In most cases, it takes about two years for a green card to become available, and the entire process takes around three years.

Do I need a lawyer to become a U.S. citizen?

Do I need a lawyer to apply for U.S. citizenship? No. You can file USCIS forms yourself, including Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, which can be submitted online. However, some people choose to seek assistance from a lawyer or Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR)-accredited representative.Sep 16, 2021

How much is an immigration lawyer for green card?

Here are some typical legal fees for common immigration services: Green Card Petition for Relative: $1,000 to $3,500. Adjustment of Status Application: $2,000 to $5,000. Citizenship/Naturalization Application: $500 to $2,500.Dec 29, 2020

Do I need a lawyer to file I 485?

Options for Preparing Form I-485 Depending on the case, attorney fees can be $1,500-$5,000 (not including USCIS fees). For individuals with complex situations, criminal offenses, or serious immigration violations, using an lawyer is the best option. But most people with straight-forward situations don't need a lawyer.Aug 14, 2018

Why You Need an Immigration Lawyer

The U.S. government issues more than a million green cards every year. Most are given to family members of U.S. citizens and current green card holders, as well as workers from other countries seeking employment in the United States.

Get In Touch with an Immigration Lawyer from Our Trusted Network

If you are looking for an experienced green card immigration lawyer, try out AppearMe for Consumers.

UPDATE: THE RISK OF FIGHTING DEPORTATION HAS BEEN RAISED

On July 5, 2018, USCIS released guidance about Notices to Appear (NTA). An NTA is the document that Immigration authorities use to initiate removal (deportation) cases. NTAs demand that immigrants must appear before the US Immigration Court.

Written by: Harlan York

Immigration Attorney Harlan York is Former Chair, Immigration Section, NJ State Bar Association and Former Co-Chair, NY State Bar Association CFLS Immigration Committee. Mr. York appeared on National Television on CBS This Morning with Charlie Rose and Primer Impacto on Univision, as well as Telemundo, NBC, and PBS.

Never knew I was undocumented, now stuck

Hey guys, I’m in a bit of a situation. I came to America first when I was 13- I tuned 14 here- and I am turning 18 in 6 months.

Is anyone else jadded by the whole fake recruitment process to get a PERM labor certificate?

Like honestly, how many job openings that pay a wage commensurate with the work are there which no US citizen or green card wants?

Error in I-94 records: they missed a departure and state that I overstayed my admission period

CBP sent me an email, stating that I had 10 days to leave the US. But I already left months ago and am currently abroad. I checked my I-94 records and it appears that they didn’t register at least two of my departures (both from San Juan, Puerto Rico by airplane). So now I have an overstay on my record.

Best countries to move to at 50

So here's my situation. I live in India and currently 45. Wife and 2 daughters. The girls are 15 and 11. I'm decently well off - liquid worth USD 1.5M and another USD 2M in assets with no liabilities. Passive income from investments about USD 70k per year.

Urgent!! Help regarding Citizenship of India for my grandfather

My grandfather M (73) has been trying to acquire Indian citizenship to get a valid passport to India.

How long does it take to get a green card?

And if you do make those mistake it will make it longer to get your green card. And the process usually takes about 180 days. All the best.

Can I file everything myself?

You can prepare and file everything yourself, but as a practical matter it is better to go through an attorney unless you are absolutely certain of what you're doing. As with anything in life, the surest way to make sure things are done correctly the first time is to find an expert to assist you. And when the consequences of a mistake are as dire as they are in the immigration world, gambling that you can do it right the...

Should I hire an attorney for my divorce?

Yes you absolutely should hire an attorney. The reason is because you have to prove that your marriage is bona fide, not just married. This is a legal standard and circumstantial evidence is used to establish it. It's good that you recognize that you need an attorney to help you with this...

How long does it take to get a green card if you are a citizen?

The citizen and the foreign spouse must prove that the marriage is bona fide. If the citizen and foreign spouse have been married less than 2 years at the time the spouse becomes a permanent resident, a conditional 2-year green card will be issued.

What is the first step in the green card process?

The first step in a marriage-based green card process is for the petitioning spouse (citizen or permanent resident) to file an I-130, Petition for Alien Relative with the USCIS. After the I-130 approval, the next steps will depend on whether the beneficiary is staying in the U.S. or is living abroad.

How old do you have to be to get a green card?

However, you must be at least 18 years old and have a residence in the United States before you can sign the Affidavit of Support Form. The affidavit form is one of the mandatory items for a marriage-based green card application, so the minimum age is effectively 18.

What do I need to file an I-485?

After the approval of the I-130, the beneficiary will need to file an I-485, Petition to Adjust Status with the USCIS. The I-485 must be submitted with supporting evidence, which includes a birth certificate, proof of nationality, and proof of lawful entry to the U.S. (I-94 travel record).

Does USCIS have backlogs?

If the number of applicants exceeds the number of available visa numbers, then a backlog will build. Unfortunately, there is usually a backlog for each marriage-based green card category.

What form do I need to file for a green card?

citizen or permanent resident who filed their I-130 petition) fill out and submit an Affidavit of Support on Form I-864.

What does an affidavit mean?

The Affidavit represents the petitioner/sponsor's promise to support the immigrant financially for a period of years, so that he or she will not need such assistance; or at least to pay back (reimburse) any government agencies from which the immigrant does claim such assistance. That's not the end of the analysis, however.

Do I need an I-864 to become a US citizen?

citizens automatically, as soon as they become U.S. permanent residents. This is called " derivation " of citizenship. Such applicants do not need an I-864 Affidavit of Support to be filed for them.

Do widows need an I-864?

residence, so long as they do so within the two years of the U.S. citizen's death and do not remarry. They will not need to submit an I-864 Affidavit of Support. They will still, however, need to clear the public charge hurdle.

Is a petition for a green card for a battered spouse required?

Abused or battered spouses or children self-petitioning for U.S. green card under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) are also exempt from the I-864 Affidavit of Support requirement. Their approved Form I-360 will be sufficient proof of their exemption. They will still, however, need to clear the public charge hurdle.

Do I need to submit an I-864?

A few green card applicants are exempt from the Affidavit of Support requirement, and do not need to submit a Form I-864 at all (though they might still face public charge issues).