Hiring an immigration attorney can be an intimidating process, especially if you have never done so before. An immigration lawyer has extensive knowledge of the intricacies of U.S. immigration law, but how do you know who to trust?
For your next trip down to the immigration office, keep these questions in mind when seeking an immigration attorney to help guide you through the legal issues at hand
Here’s Your Immigration Attorney Hiring Checklist
Do your research
There are a lot of immigration attorneys out there. So, how do you choose the best immigration attorney to handle your matter? Well, the first thing to do is research.
Here are some things to consider when hiring an immigration attorney:
-The area(s) of law that the attorney specializes in.
-The experience and education level of the attorney.
-Whether or not the attorney is licensed to practice law in your state.
Consider your budget
Before you start looking for an immigration attorney, it is important to consider your budget. Not only do you want to find someone who will work within your budget, but there are a lot of different things that go into hiring an immigration attorney.
For example, the attorney needs to review all of the paperwork and documents to make sure everything is in order. They might also need to travel overseas depending on the case. This can all be costly.
Plus, how much does the attorney charge per hour? How many hours is the average case? What about costs for filing with government agencies like USCIS or AILA?
There are so many factors when it comes to hiring an immigration attorney that the best thing you can do is spend time researching what’s available before making any decisions.
Look for experience
Experience is very important when seeking an immigration attorney. Hire someone with experience in immigration law. A lawyer with a lot of experience in immigration law can anticipate issues and will be able to navigate the system more efficiently and effectively. They are also more aware of recent changes in immigration law, which might affect your case.
Finally, hiring someone with a lot of experience means they have worked on cases similar to yours before, so they will know how best to deal with it.
If you hire someone who doesn’t have much experience in immigration law, you run the risk that he or she won’t know what steps to take next or how best to resolve your situation. If you’re having difficulty deciding on an immigration lawyer to hire, talk about your options with friends and family members who have gone through the process themselves.
Check for referrals
If you’re seeking assistance with immigration, your best bet is to ask for referrals from people who are in the know. If you have a friend or family member who has recently gone through this process, ask them what their experience was like and if they would recommend any specific attorneys.
You can also ask for recommendations from anyone who works with immigration law on a daily basis.
Attorneys should be willing to provide client references and testimonials to shed light on their work’s quality.
For example, if someone handles both business and family-based immigration cases, they should be able to tell you how they handle each type of case as well as what the difference is between them.
Consider the consultation
Many people seeking legal immigration assistance don’t know where to start. A consultation can help you figure out what your needs are and how to best find the right attorney for you.
You should consider the following questions:
– What is your immigration status in the U.S.?
– Who are you seeking assistance from?
– What type of assistance do you need?
Read Online Reviews
Before you hire a lawyer for your immigration needs, make sure to read reviews for immigration lawyers online. These reviews will give you a sense of what other people think about their experiences with the attorney.
Plus, reading reviews can help you understand if the lawyer is trustworthy and competent in their field. In short, when seeking legal counsel for immigration needs, it pays to read the reviews first!
Review Information on the Law Firms Website
Before you hire an immigration attorney, make sure to review the information on their website. This will help you get a better understanding of the law firm and allow you to see the type of work they do. It will also give you a feel for the firm’s personality. This is especially important if you need someone who can empathize with your situation.
Conclusion
At Nelson Immigration Law, we provide help with legal immigration and offer a free consultation. We can answer questions about legal status, naturalization, visas, and more. Call us today at 626-683-3451 to schedule your free consultation.
