Finding the Right US Immigration Lawyer

You may be in the process of applying for a green card or a visa or working towards avoiding deportation. In all these cases, you require the services of a good immigration lawyer.

Let’s first look at what immigration law covers. Immigration law, in relation to individuals holding foreign citizenship, regulates the legal status of these people in issues like US or Canadian citizenship. It is closely connected to nationality law. If you are a Canadian looking to emigrate to the United States or seeking a job in the country temporarily, then there are two types of visas offered by the US government that you can choose between:

• Immigrant visas – These are provided for individuals seeking to live in the country. The number of such visas granted to foreign nationals every year is limited, with ‘per country caps’.
• Non-immigrant visas – These are offered to those people entering the country for limited periods of time. They are generally granted for work and typically require an employment offer from a US company. There are no caps on these visas.
• Other visa categories include tourist, family and student visas.

Most immigration lawyers are diligent and honest professionals whose only agenda is to help their clients. Of course, there are a few who are not as trustworthy, charge outrageous fees, and don’t produce results, so you must exercise caution when choosing one. Here are a few guidelines to follow when looking for the right lawyer to represent you:

Visa consultants and petition preparers – These individuals are not immigration lawyers, though they may have some knowledge of the process. Some are unscrupulous and will try to cheat foreigners who need help and don’t know better than to entrust them with their cases. Avoid them as they ultimately cannot help you represent your case.

Lawyers who approach you at the immigration office – There are numerous lawyers who haunt the corridors of immigration offices. The very fact that they approach you is a pointer that he or she is not too great at his job and has not enough business. An immigration lawyer who is good at his job will be too busy to look for work in immigration office halls. Don’t agree to give your case to these lawyers.

Unrealistic promises – Only the Department of Homeland Defense, along with the USCIS and the immigration judge, can decide on your case. So don’t believe a lawyer who says his success rate is 100%. Even top immigration lawyers cannot guarantee the outcomes of any cases. They can just aid in the case proceedings.

Unethical advice – If your lawyer gives you unethical advice such as telling you to lie in court or in your application, you have obviously chosen the wrong lawyer. He is after your money and doesn’t have your best interests at heart, so don’t hire him.

Talk to several attorneys – Most of the best immigration lawyers will be very busy. Once you actually meet them and talk to office staff, you certainly will get a very good idea about how dedicated they are. Talk to a few lawyers and take some time before you decide to hire one.

In order to get timely help with your particular case, it is crucial that you choose a genuine and trustworthy immigration lawyer. This will make sure that your cause does not go into a tailspin, you don’t get cheated of your hard-earned money and that you get respite and eventually a ruling in your favor.

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