Immigration law is a complex matter. While you can probably get by without professional help if your case isn’t too complicated, hiring an immigration attorney is never a bad move.
For instance, if you’re engaged to a US citizen and planning on moving to the US, you’ll need to do some paperwork to get a nonimmigrant visa and then adjust your status to get a green card. These things require some skill. If this is your case and you need more information on immigration law, you can click to find out more here and consult with a law firm from New York, “Law S&B.” They’ll be able to help you with any bumps in the road you might be facing.
There are multiple reasons we believe you need an immigration attorney. So, here’s the list of the most frequent ones.
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They’re experienced.
An immigration attorney is not just a regular attorney. They must earn a bachelor’s degree, obtain a JD, and gain experience by doing an internship with a focus on immigration law. Gaining some hands-on experience and knowledge in immigration law takes years. After that much time, they ought to help you.
If you’re unsure how you can find the right immigration lawyer, we have some tips:
- Ask them if they’re entirely devoted to immigration law
- Check if they specialize in your type of case
- Make sure they’re accessible to you when you have questions or need any clarification
- You need to feel comfortable and safe around them.
If they check all the boxes, you’re good to go.
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You’ll save money and time.
Obtaining a visa or a green card is a long and costly process. Most of the time, there’s also a lot of paperwork. Naturally, people find it draining as they have to spend hours trying to figure out what can and can’t be done. Not to mention that making even the smallest mistake can cost you a lot of money.
For instance, there’s no appeal process if you get denied a visa. That means you must pay the taxes all over again, even if the mistake you made was benign.
Hiring an immigration attorney can save you a lot of time and money, especially if you hire them right away.
Expats often find an immigration lawyer here who then helps them navigate the complex legal system with ease. Having legal support early on can prevent costly mistakes and ensure that all paperwork is filed correctly and on time.
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They will explain your options to you.
Moving to the United States is not that simple, as you’ve probably already known. This is especially true if you plan on moving there permanently.
There are about 185 different types of visas, both immigration and non-immigration. Many of them are not so well known to those that don’t deal with cases similar to yours on a daily basis.
An experienced immigration lawyer will present you with all available options and give you an idea of how much money and time you may have to spend. Once you know your options, you can decide which one suits you best based on your priorities.
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Sometimes it’s too complex to do it on your own.
There’s a lot at stake in case of any reason for inadmissibility, such as health, criminal activity, national security, public charge, lack of labor certification, or fraud and misrepresentation.
You may not be permitted to enter the US unless you successfully apply for a waiver (legal forgiveness) or fall under an exception. The matter is even more urgent if you’re already in the US since you could be deported.
If this is your case, we highly recommend hiring an immigration lawyer who has extensive experience in dealing with complex inadmissibility cases. They can argue your case in front of the judge or apply for a waiver.
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You’ll avoid the stress.
Dealing with all the paperwork and the complexities of immigration law can be very stressful.
If you hire an immigration lawyer, they will send you the list of documents you need to provide and the information they need to proceed with your case and that’s pretty much it! Your lawyer will be preparing the documents and sending them to the competent authority. Once everything’s done, they’ll simply notify you.
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They’ll defend your best interests.
Sometimes the competent authorities make a factual or legal mistake. Remember, they’re human after all. Your lawyer is there to make sure that doesn’t happen.
A good immigration lawyer will look out for your interests and make sure you’re treated fairly and with respect under the law. Since they have years of experience in dealing with cases like yours, they’re more likely to notice when something goes south and correct it.
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Find out if you qualify for the benefits.
Immigration law in the US offers different immigration benefits. These benefits include granting US citizenship to those who are eligible, allowing foreigners to reside in the US permanently, and allowing noncitizens to work in the US.
However, some complications arise from time to time. They include previous marriage or divorce, previous visa denials and overstays, illegal entries and re-entries, immigration fraud, a criminal record, and many others.
An immigration lawyer that reviews your case will be able to tell if you qualify for any benefits so that you don’t waste your time and money if you’re not eligible in the first place.
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They can help you become a citizen of the US.
You may decide you want to apply for citizenship once you gain permanent resident status. It makes sense – there are some jobs only available to US citizens, and the only way you could vote is by becoming a US citizen.
However, only certain immigrants are eligible for citizenship. There are some requirements you need to meet before you can apply.
Depending on your unique situation, you may be able to obtain it more easily than others. On the other hand, it could also be a bit more complicated. Either way, a qualified immigration lawyer will guide you through the process and help you prepare all necessary documents and nail your naturalization examination.
Hiring an immigration lawyer is never a mistake. Legal representation of high quality can be detrimental in some cases.
While there is a lot of information available online, we advise you against relying on immigration consultants and online immigration processors. Avoiding a costly mistake is easier than you think – all you have to do is pick up the phone and ask for professional help.
Founder Dinis Guarda
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