There are many wonderful neighborhood resources that encourage you to get outside and enjoy life, to learn about the local events in your area or how to make the most out of stunning weather. You can even find resources that explain which type of immigration law impacts your situation and when you need an attorney.
Hiring the best immigration legal firm means adding legal fees to your situation, however, in spite of how expensive an attorney might seem, you can avoid serious mistakes in the future that can cost you time and money while also preventing Visa denial or removal by working with a top immigration lawyer.
Do I need an immigration attorney?
Today people can find information, step-by-step guides, and research data for just about every legal topic. If you are dealing with an immigration issue you might be surprised to find how much information is readily available online and as such you might be wondering whether you should truly spend the money on an attorney.
There are so many fees today for immigration document filing, adjustments to your status, visas, Biometrics, interviews, and much more. It can add up very quickly. Easy access to online resources might lead you to believe that you can handle your simple immigration case without legal representation. However, the reality of the situation is that most immigration cases are far from simple.
Why hire an immigration attorney?
Navigating the framework of immigration regulations as well as the laws based on your individual location can be very challenging. Even simple mistakes can result in being separated from your loved ones, being excluded from the United States, or deported from it. For that reason, no matter how simple you think your matter might be, you should at the very least consider a consultation with an immigration immigration attorney in your area.
Can I do my paperwork myself?
There are situations where an attorney might allow you to do the paperwork yourself, fill out the application or the petition and gather all the necessary documents, and then just run it by them for review before you submit it. This might come at a different cost, a slightly lower cost but not every attorney is willing to do it so you will have to speak with different attorneys during consultations.
How Much Does an Immigration Lawyer Cost?
The legal fee for an Immigration lawyer varies in cost based on what it is you need done. For example, if you are hiring an attorney to help you file an immigration petition for your family, it will likely cost you less than hiring an attorney to defend you in court during a deportation case. Below is a breakdown of average legal costs for different situations:
- application for a work permit costs between $300 and $600
- citizenship applications cost between $500 and $1,500
- family-based Green Card petitions cost between $800 and $3,000
- employment based petitions cost between $2,000 and $7,000
- asylum applications cost between $1,000 and $6,000
- adjustments to your existing immigration status applications cost between $600 and $2,000
- deportation defense costs between $2,000 and $15,000, but could go up depending on how many court appearances are required
It is important to understand that some attorneys might charge significantly more depending on how many years of experience they have. The more experience they have, the more likely it is that they will be able to handle your case successfully with as few problems as possible, but this does come at an extra cost. Similarly, individuals who use specialized processes or live in major cities like San Francisco or New York will likely charge more than someone living in a suburb outside of Winnemucca, Nevada.
Why should I pay for an attorney?
There are a handful of reasons why you should consider paying for a qualified immigration attorney.
Firstly, the application process for things like family-based petitions and visas can be very complex. There is also a growing political increase toward detention and deportation which means that you want to avoid as many mistakes as possible with the help of an attorney. Finally, the ability for non-US citizens with minor crimes in their criminal history to get a waiver is a bit more complicated than a traditional application.
All three of these situations present unique problems and require careful expertise. With the right attorney, something that seems like a potential obstacle might actually become the solution to your immigration problem.
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