What immigration lawyers want to know & other essential things you will need to know.

Immigration laws are incredibly vast and complex. You or a loved one may face deportation back to your home country, which could be for any number of reasons. Since the 9/11 attacks, we have seen an increase in the number of people deported from the United States. In most cases, the assistance of immigration lawyers can save you time, aggravation, and even money.

Meanwhile, if a challenge needs to be made to the underlying factual basis of the deportation proceedings, for instance, a criminal charge, lawyers may be able to go back to the criminal court and try to obtain a more favorable disposition. Therefore, if you are 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 who may not be connected to the United States immigration authorities and helps clients deal with a wide range of issues relating to visas, green cards, U.S. citizenship, and other immigration benefits.

However, in this article, we will provide information in detail on everything you should know about immigration attorneys or lawyers, such as when to hire and what to ask an immigration lawyer, how to find an immigration lawyer that's right for you, benefits, and any other important information pertaining to hiring an immigration attorney.

What are Immigration Lawyers

An immigration lawyer is an independent legal practitioner who helps clients deal with a wide range of issues relating to immigration such as visas, green cards, US citizenship, etc. Although not all immigration issues require consultation with immigration attorneys. It is generally essential to find the right immigration lawyer. Whether you want to visit the United States on a tourist visa, work or study visa, become a lawful permanent resident, or become a naturalized US citizen.

However, anyone who has gone through the immigration process will tell you that exploring any area of immigration law on your own is not a good idea. Immigration law refers to the national statutes, regulations, and legal precedents governing immigration into and deportation from a country. it is typically distinct from other matters such as naturalization and citizenship, although they are sometimes conflated.

Moreover, if you plan to immigrate to the United States, it would be wise to consult a US immigration attorney, especially if you have a complicated case. Besides, the United States immigration law is extremely complex. In most cases, hiring an immigration attorney can save you time, aggravation, and even money.  An immigration lawyer will inform you of your options and help you prepare your application correctly to increase your chances of success.

Immigration Lawyers vs Immigration Consultants

However, most people think that an attorney is different from a lawyer, but an attorney is just used as a synonym for a lawyer. When looking to immigrate to the United States you may choose to use an immigration lawyer or an immigration consultant. Both attorneys and consultants are legally authorized to represent clients during the immigration process. But they have different educational backgrounds and regulation authorities.

Moreover, immigration attorneys or lawyers, have much more legal experience than consultants. Immigration lawyers must attend law school, complete a three-year degree, and are also required to complete the bar exam in order to become legally registered and become a lawyer. They will be able to attend immigration interviews with you, and can even advocate for your application in an American court of law in a case (which is rare) that your application is brought under judicial review.

On the other hand, immigration consultants are not lawyers. They don't attend law school and generally undergo a one-year certification in order to legally register as an immigration consultant. Furthermore, while immigration consultants are legally able to represent you, only lawyers are allowed to advocate on your behalf in federal court, in the event that it is required.

Benefits of Hiring an Immigration Lawyers

Moreover, here are some of the benefits of hiring an immigration lawyer:

1. Understand the immigration process:

However, just as we said earlier, the US immigration law and process are extremely complex. Such that even if you make one mistake, they can deny your visa application. Moreover, most of the visa application denials or rejections result from the applicants making minor errors. Such as uploading false documents or providing insufficient documents.

Without a doubt, the only way to avoid making these mistakes is by getting a better understanding of the US immigration process. Which you can achieve by appointing an immigration attorney to assist you. They will make sure your application has all the necessary requirements and evidence before it is filed. Moreover, note that government fees for the application are non-refundable. Therefore, you will be losing several thousand dollars with nothing to show for it, in case of visa denial. So,  paying for an immigration lawyer may be a minor amount to pay for getting your visa in the long run.

2. Expert guidance of migration law:

The application for a visa is a very complicated legal process and exploring any area of it on your own is not a good idea. You may be at risk of submitting an application that does not fulfill all of the requirements, which could result in your visa being denied.

3. Immigration lawyers are held to a set of professional standards:

Moreover, immigration lawyers adhere to professional norms and are held accountable for these norms. However, this will guarantee that your lawyer will always act in your best interests, charge a fair fee, and follow the law. Therefore, hiring an immigration attorney will not only provide a better chance of acceptance. But you will also receive superior help throughout the immigration process.

4. Immigration lawyers can help you understand the law:

Furthermore, it can be very difficult to understand legal documents. Lawyers are well trained to interpret legislation and apply it to visa applications. Lawyers have a deep understanding of the law, are familiar with all application criteria, and adequately outline your case. Therefore, their understanding can be very helpful when it comes to writing submissions.

5. Decision making:

Moreover, each immigration case is distinctive, and each applicant has various reasons for immigrating to the United States. However, your immigration attorney can look into your case and present you with several options for a smoother immigration process.

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How to Find an Immigration Lawyer

However, we have already made it clear that the United States immigration system can be very overwhelming. Only immigration attorneys can help you navigate through the journey. Therefore, it is important that you find an experienced immigration lawyer that can help you navigate the complexity of your immigration case. Moreover, in this section of this article, we will be discussing the differences in legal representation, and when, and how to find an immigration lawyer. You can click here to find licensed immigration attorneys.

Legal Consultation

A legal consultation is an initial meeting with an attorney that takes place before you make the decision on whether to hire that attorney to represent you in a particular legal matter. However, during the consultation, the lawyer or attorney will also determine if they can legally and competently represent you in accordance with the information that you provided.

Moreover, before consulting with an attorney it is important that you properly prepare for the consultation by gathering any and all the documents that are relevant to your immigration case. Such documents may include contracts, police or accident reports, property deeds, employment records, and other documents evidencing damages. During the consultation, what will be discussed will depend on your legal issue. Some of the discussions that normally occur in the consultation include costs, legal claims, facts, etc.

Differences in Legal Representation

Furthermore, it is important to note that an initial legal consultation does not mean that the immigration attorney is officially representing you. Generally, there must be a written representation agreement in order for an attorney to legally represent you. The agreement must be signed by both you and the attorney.

However, here are the differences in legal representation:

Non-profit agencies: Provides BIA-accredited legal services and can provide services at a low cost or sometimes at no cost. However, they can rarely meet all of the demand, resulting in long wait times. Moreover, non-profit agencies may also have limited capacity or do not provide expertise in all areas of immigration law.

Private immigration attorney: Provides services for a broader range of cases than the non-profits with specialization. Moreover, a private attorney can be more accessible and willing to spend time answering all of your questions. You will only have to make sure that you reach the immigration attorney's background before hiring him/ her.

When to Find an Immigration Attorney

However, it is important to know when it's time to get legal help from an immigration lawyer. Therefore, if you have already run into a situation that needs expert assistance or that you have a complicated immigration case. Then, it is probably time to find an immigration lawyer.

Moreover, you will need to consult a lawyer who practices immigration law :

• If you are not certain about your basic eligibility for a green card or other immigration benefits
• You were refused entry at a port of entry
• Failed to leave the United States before a visa expiration
• You are requesting any sort of discretionary relief, such as a waiver or asylum, which may involve persuading the immigration authorities to make an exception.
• Finding it difficult to obtain a USCIS green card, citizenship, or other immigration benefits
• If you have been notified or have been reported from the United States and wish to apply to return
• Planning to move to the U.S. to work for a U.S. employer and it has not assisted you with the immigration process
• Applying for an investment-based visa
• You need emergency help with an immigration matter

However, these are some of the reasons one might need the assistance of an immigration attorney. There are many others as long as immigration is involved.

How to Find an Immigration Attorney That's Right for You

Meanwhile, here are a few tips to help you find the best immigration lawyer that can help you navigate the complexity of your immigration case. They are as follows:

1. Experience: 

The first tip we have for you is to look for experience. The United States immigration law is extremely complex and is one of the more complicated areas of law. Therefore, it is very important to find an attorney that's experienced, someone with at least five years of experience. Look for a licensed attorney that focuses on immigration law. Be cautious of attorneys who practice law in several areas such as personal injury, business, etc.

2. Interview your favorites:

You can do this second tip during the legal consultation. It is an opportunity to ask questions and determine if you are comfortable with the lawyer. You will also need to make sure that your immigration case or needs match the attorney's expertise. However, you may have to pay for your time with the attorney as an initial consultation. You will have to determine if the attorney does a good job answering your questions in a way that you understand. Here's a quick look at some of the questions should ask every immigration attorney you speak with regarding your case.

• Do you specialize in visas and family immigration law?
• Are you a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association?
• How long have you been practicing immigration law?
• Have you ever been reprimanded or disciplined for dishonesty?
• How much will it cost for you to represent me?
• Do you have experience with cases similar to mine? What kinds of outcomes do you get for your clients?
• What’s the best strategy for my case?
• Do you have a list of client referrals that I may call?

3. Compare rates:

Firstly, you will have to understand the differences in legal representation, we have said something about that earlier. However, you will have to make sure you understand if your lawyer charges a flat fee or by the hour. Then you compare it with other lawyers. Moreover, while no one wants to pay for the most expensive attorney, finding the lowest-cost attorney probably isn't the best strategy.

4. Check qualifications/ credentials:

Finally, you will also need to do a quick background check. This is to make sure the attorney is legally licensed and in good standing and has never been subject to disciplinary action. This does not cost at all, as most state bars allow you to look up the attorney by name or bar number online.

See other posts:

1. All You Need to Know About American Immigrant Visa Sponsorship
2. 5 Easiest Ways to Immigrate to the United States of America
3. How Visa Sponsorship Works For Citizenship
4. Common Mistakes to Avoid During K-1 Visa Processing
5. US Visa Lottery
6. How to Find a Job in the USA

Additional Notes

However, we have provided you here a few more pieces of information that may be of interest to you.

Asylum

If you face persecution back in your home country, you may be eligible for asylum in the United States. Don’t go it alone. Find out how you can greatly increase your chances of success while trying to stay in the United States through a well-crafted asylum application done on your behalf by one of our referring immigration attorneys.

Companies Hiring Immigrants

As your company grows, you may want to hire foreign workers to help your company take advantage of the diversity of skills immigrants offer. Under current immigration law, you can apply for a non-immigrant visa so as to allow that individual to come to, or remain in, the United States. Later, you can sponsor that person for permanent resident status. We have immigration attorneys who specialize in this area. They are available to help you institute an intelligent visa strategy that can help you maximize your chances of success with USCIS.

Immigration Delay Litigation

A number of immigrants who have called us for referral purposes tell us that Info Pass appointments, calling the USCIS 1-800 number, and sending letter after letter does not do well most of the time when trying to get USCIS to act on an application.

Have you been waiting too long for naturalization or for your green card? Learn how asserting your rights in federal court through an immigration attorney can lead to the one thing you want – action – from USCIS. We have immigration attorneys who will work on your behalf until your case is successfully adjudicated.

I-9 Compliance

Immigrants who want to work in the United States must have authorization to do so. Federal statutes and regulations, as well as an increasing number of state laws, govern this complex area of the law. The verification process can be complicating and confusing. The immigration lawyers we work with liaise with both employers and foreign-born workers to ensure compliance with applicable laws.

Final Thought

In addition, not all immigration issues require consultation with an immigration lawyer. For instance, 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 travel on the Visa Waiver Program.

In conclusion, don’t try to navigate the complicated world of United States immigration alone. As an immigrant, trying to navigate the complicated world of United States immigration and citizenship alone can be tough. The immigration attorneys who specialize in this area can handle your case and help you in many areas including residence permits, asylum issues, employment – or family-based immigration, and deportation defense. Don’t lose your right to live and work in this great country. Moreover, the information on this page may also be important to foreigners planning to immigrate to other countries aside from the United States.