How to choose an immigration attorney?
Once you decide to consult with an immigration attorney, you will face a challenge of selecting an attorney who is right for you
If you are not living in a big city, there may be few immigration attorneys to choose from. You may go for a phone consultation with an immigration attorney if you just have a few questions and your case is not pending in immigration court. You may send your papers by e-mail to an immigration attorney in San Francisco for review. Immigration attorneys in San Francisco give consultations by phone or skype, accept credit card payments over the phone.
Please keep in mind that not all the people who will try to help you with immigration issues are in fact immigration attorneys. There is a lot of immigration fraud in the Russian and Hispanic communities in big cities all over the United States.
Immigration attorney Lena Korial-Yonan in her article 6 Tips on How to Choose the Best US Immigration Lawyer for Your Case says that you should pay attention primarily to the immigration attorney’s education. She goes on to say “How can you tell the best from the average immigration lawyer? You must first look at their education. Specifically, you need to find out when comparing lawyers which law school he or she graduated from and whether they had any special accomplishments in law school.”
After law students graduate from law school they take a licensing exam also called Bar exam. The requirements and difficulty of the bar exam differ from state to state. It is believed that the California bar exam is the hardest in the United States. In July of 2012 only 55% of students passed California bar exam, while in Missouri 90% of exam takers passed. The ranking of states’ bar exams by difficulty can be found here
Best Tips When Choosing Immigration Lawyers
If you are that person who is thinking of moving to another country, then you will often need to apply for individual documents and visas to be legally allowed to work or live there. Applying for permits can often be a stressful and time-consuming experience. If you want the whole thing to run smoothly, then it is best to hire the help of a specialist immigration lawyer. They will have the tools and the expertise to support you along every step of the process. With so many different agents out there it can be tough to know who will be best for your needs.
CHECK PROMINENT LAWYER’S WEBSITES
Many sites are there online which could give you good lawyer referrals. Some favorite sites can be viewed online, which provide rankings of lawyers about immigration and green card visas. There is data on these locations, which is helpful. So you can find some useful information about attorneys. Checking the ratings is a great way to arrive at a decision about the lawyer whose services you may want to engage
Check client reviews
Once you zero in on a particular lawyer or law firm, try to Google for more information and view how they are rated. Clients always give reviews to these lawyers, and these reviews would help you understanding how good they do their work. Do not just rely on the number of reviews and decide, but do take the time to read each review carefully. These client opinions matter a lot, as they are full of insights about the lawyers and their performance
The cost of their service
How much does the lawyer charge for their services? Some lawyers charge hourly, while others will charge a set rate for completion of an entire job. You should always be entirely clear on the fees that they charge so that you are not left with any nasty surprises when it comes to paying your bill.
Look closely to their services they offer
What services do they offer? Many Immigration lawyers will be able to deal with a range of issues relating to immigration law. If you require something a little more unique, then you may have to search for a specialist type of lawyer
Hiring A Lawyer
The process of immigrating to the United States is one of the most important life experiences many people will go through in their lives. Moving countries is usually complex and stressful and the consequences of failing to plan properly can lead to nightmare scenarios. It is not a surprise, therefore, that many people turn to immigration lawyers to assist with immigrating.
Do you need a lawyer?
The old saying “He who represents himself has a fool for a lawyer” applies to immigration law like many other types of legal matters. Immigration law, particularly American immigration law is one of the most politically divisive areas of the legal system and it is therefore not surprising that it has grown incredibly dense and is constantly changing. No fewer than three major agencies administer the US immigration system and dozens of other agencies play a role. Many people turn to agencies like the US Citizenship and Immigration Service and the US Department of State to determine how to immigrate to the US.
Even if you can manage to succeed filing the application yourself, your lack of experience could lead to mistakes that can be costly in terms of time and money. If you have to hire a lawyer later, your mistakes may limit your options and immigration lawyers are likely to charge more to clean up the mess.
What about people that call themselves “immigration consultants”?
In most states, people who work as immigration consultants are violating the law by practicing law without a license. Because these individuals are operating illegally, their work is not regulated and you do not have the same recourse available to go after someone who is dishonest or incompetent.
What to look for in your lawyer
There are a number of factors to consider when hiring an immigration lawyer and with more than 7,500 immigration lawyers practicing in the US, the process of selecting just the right lawyer can be difficult
DO I NEED AN IMMIGRATION LAWYER?
There are many compelling reasons to hire an immigration lawyer to meet your immigration needs.
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
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.
Questions To Ask Before Choosing Your Immigration Lawyer
How long have you practiced immigration law?
How long have you been a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association?
Do you limit your practice of law to immigration? If not, what percentage of your practice is immigration?
Will you provide a written fee agreement?
Will you explain to me exactly what my immigration status is and the process you will be undertaking on my behalf?
Will you respond to my communications promptly?
Will I have access to the immigration attorney or just to his/her staff?
Why hire an Immigration Lawyer?
Immigration law was setup to create a set of rules by the federal government to determine who is allowed to enter the country and also the length of their stay. Immigration law also helps the government manage the process to allow immigrants to apply to be a U.S. Citizen.
An immigration Lawyer defends their client’s case and help prevent them from being deported to their country of origin. They also spend their time helping their clients to become a citizen of a new country. Becoming a citizen in another country can be complex and an Immigration Lawyer can be helpful to gather the the documentation their client may need to become a citizen. At times, they will provide legal advice about how their clients can obtain a work visa for a specific period of time.
Being in a different country and trying to become a citizen can be overwhelming. LinkedIn ProFinder can make that process easier. Their are plenty of experienced and knowledgeable Immigration attorneys in your local area who would love to assist you with any case you may have and to make sure that you have the best representation.
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