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    Why Hire an Immigration Attorney?

    If you’re looking to obtain a visa, green card or U.S. citizenship, have questions about your existing immigration status, or are facing deportation from the United States, you might want to hire an immigration attorney.

    Why hire a lawyer?

    When you’re up against a slow-moving and often difficult government bureaucracy, having an immigration lawyer’s help can make all the difference. The attorney’s knowledge of the law and procedural norms can mean the difference between success and failure. It’s especially important to think about hiring an immigration attorney if any of the following apply to you:

    • You’ve tried to puzzle out U.S. immigration law yourself and realized it’s extremely complicated.
    • You are trying to apply for a visa, green card, or U.S. citizenship but have questions about your eligibility or are finding the paperwork challenging.
    • You’ve realized that the visa or green card you’re seeking can be gotten only if you apply for a special waiver.
    • You feel you were wrongly denied the immigration benefit you applied for.
    • You are in the U.S. on a visa or green card but have been arrested or otherwise violated the terms of your status.
    • You are undocumented or have a visa that’s about to run out and are wondering if there’s a way you could stay in the U.S. longer.
    • You’ve been issued a Notice to Appear in removal or deportation proceedings (an “NTA”).

    In short, if you’re finding the immigration system challenging, or are facing an urgent situation that threatens your immigration status, you should consider hiring an immigration attorney.

    What can a lawyer do for you?

    An immigration attorney can help you with much more than abstract legal principles. The attorney’s responsibilities might include:

    • Preparing application paperwork
    • Contacting U.S. immigration officials on your behalf
    • Drafting cover letters, memos, and legal briefs explaining how U.S. law supports your asylum claim
    • Monitoring your case through bureaucratic delays and difficulties
    • Figuring out what documents you’ll need to gather to support your asylum case
    • Representing you in interviews before U.S. government officials or in immigration court, and
    • Seeing your case to a successful conclusion, possibly after appeals to a higher court or administrative body.

    An attorney also can advise on strategies to, for example:

    • Obtain lawful immigrant status for not only yourself but your family members
    • Find an appropriate job to qualify for an employment-based visa, or
    • Persuade U.S. immigration officials that your case is genuine, not a fraud to gain immigration benefits.

    Did you know?

    The United States is home to approximately one-fifth of the world’s international migrants, who represent nearly every country on the globe. (Source: United Nations.)

    Common Questions About Immigration

    Immigration law covers rights and opportunities for foreign nationals coming to the United States temporarily or permanently, complex situations involving marriage, criminal issues, and employment. Below you'll find discussion of some detailed issues.

    Q: Can an immigration attorney help me figure out whether pleading guilty to a crime will get me deported?
    If you've been arrested, and are in the U.S. with a green card or visa, you should absolutely consult an immigration attorney as well as a criminal defense attorney. What seems like a wise strategy or good plea deal to the criminal attorney could end up dooming your immigration status. An experienced immigration attorney can help figure out the least risky path.
    Q: Can an immigration attorney help me avoid deportation?
    Although some foreign nationals truly have no right to be in the United States, a good attorney can analyze the possibilities and possibly point out something you're eligible for that will allow you to remain long-term. The attorney can also represent you in immigration court, including eliciting your testimony (asking you all the most important questions) and making legal arguments to the judge.
    Q: Can an immigration attorney help me figure out whether a new immigration program I heard about is worth applying for?
    If you hear news of some recent and promising immigration opportunity, you'd be wise to talk to an attorney before submitting an application or taking other action. The media sometimes gets it wrong, which gives scammers an opportunity to charge people for immigration “opportunities” that aren't real, or that will in fact get you deported.
    Q: Can an immigration attorney help me show the U.S. authorities that my marriage to a U.S. citizen is the real thing?
    Yes, if you are filing for a marriage-based green card, your lawyer can help you prepare evidence to prove your marriage is authentic, not a sham or fraud.
    Q: Can an immigration attorney help me get asylum?
    If you are afraid to return home because you face persecution in your country, an immigration attorney can help you apply for asylum in the United States. The attorney's most important role will be to help you prepare your personal account and prepare you to meet with U.S. government officials.

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    Related practice areas

    Criminal defense

    Criminal law establishes the classifications of crimes, how guilt or innocence is determined, and the types of punishment or rehabilitation that may be imposed.

    Employment and labor

    Employment law governs employee pay, non-discrimination policies, employment classifications, and hiring and firing at the federal, state, and local levels.

    Divorce and separation

    Information and legal advice about divorce, from considering your options to completing each step in the process to understanding your final decree.

    Marriage and prenuptials

    Entering into a prenuptial agreement before marriage can protect certain assets in the event of a divorce, but such agreements must be carefully written.

    Asylum

    Asylum is a form of protection offered to people who fear persecution in their home country and are in the United States or an entry port.

    Frequently asked questions on Immigration asked by real people

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    What does 'Step 3 of 4 (completed): Attend interview (if necessary)' mean on my case status?

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    Can I travel outside the US while my H4 extension + H4 EAD is pending?

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