What to Look For in a U.S. Immigration Lawyer

By, Richard Hanus, Esq.

You open up the mail and find a notice that your green card application is denied, or even worse, deportation proceedings are being initiated against you. What do you do now? This is when you need to contact an immigration lawyer.

An immigration lawyer focuses on helping clients who are dealing with a wide variety of immigration issues. This includes benefits, citizenship, green cards, and visas. Not every incident requires legal assistance, such as when you are only visiting the United States for a short period of time.

When dealing with more complex issues, hiring an immigration lawyer can save you time and aggravation. Keep reading to learn what to look for when you are seeking the services of immigration attorneys.

When to Call an Immigration Lawyer

United States immigration law generally stems from the language of the Immigration and Nationality Act as well as accompanying regulations. Making a mistake while working your way through our complex immigration laws can result in a denial or deportation. You need to schedule a consultation with a reputable immigration attorney if you encounter any of the following:

• You are not sure you are eligible for a green card,
• You believe you may be inadmissible for any reason,
• You are requesting asylum or waiver requiring an exception to the standard admission process,
• You are being asked to provide additional evidence regarding your application for a green card, citizenship, or other immigration related benefit
• You receive a refusal on your immigration application or have a prior denial
• You were deported and want to return
• You receive notification that removal or deportation proceedings are being initiated against you
• You have a criminal conviction or arrest and are attempting to obtain entry into the United States or submitting an immigration related application and
• You are planning to move to the U.S. for work and your U.S. employer needs guidance in facilitating the process.

Although a variety of obstacles to obtaining or qualifying for a green card put into place during the Trump administration have been removed, there will still remain times when difficulties arise.

Immigration Attorney Consultation

When you are meeting with an immigration lawyer for the first time, bring with you any documents that pertain to your case or issue in general. This includes copies of applications, your passport, marriage certificate, criminal arrest reports/conviction record, and any immigration agency correspondence you have received regarding the matter.

The attorney will review your documents. They will ask you questions to develop an understanding of your situation and all facts that make up your U.S. immigration related history. From there, the immigration lawyer will be in a position to outline options, provide their legal opinion on your matter and provide you with a basis upon which you can make an informed decision.

The best immigration lawyer will be able to answer your questions about your case and their own legal qualifications. Make sure the firm you are speaking with practices the type of immigration law you need. You may inquire on how many years they have been practicing and their success rate in handling particular types of cases.

If you are interviewing a large firm, inquire as to which particular lawyer in their firm will be handling your case or if it will go to a several different immigration lawyers. Regardless of firm size, the attorney will likely have some work performed by their legal staff, such as a paralegal. You can often contact the attorney’s paralegal or legal assistant for minor questions and document handling.

Any non-attorneys you deal with will need to check with their supervising attorney before providing answers to your legal questions. Paralegals in many cases will have a vast knowledge of the law but are not licensed professionals.   A non-attorney’s answering of questions without first checking with an attorney is considered the unauthorized practice of law.

Win Your Immigration Law Battles

When you are dealing with any type of immigration related, the Law Offices of Richard Hanus can provide the help you need. We have been assisting individuals, families and businesses with immigration law matters for more than 25 years.

We invite you to contact us online or by phone at (312) 357-0033 to schedule a consultation with an immigration lawyer today!