Immigration lawyers play an important role in interpreting U.S. law and helping individuals through the complicated immigration process in the United States. These laws are notoriously difficult and most people trying to gain American citizenship or applying for visas will need legal advice on the matter. Even the smallest mistakes can result in application delays or deportation. If you’re searching for immigration lawyers in West Virginia, keep reading for everything you need to know before appointing an attorney to work on your behalf.
An immigration lawyer is a legal professional that specializes in complex U.S. immigration law. They guide people that are immigrants through the legal proceedings and application processes for visas, green cards, and U.S. citizenship. They also fully understand peoples' civil rights in matters such as deportation, non-citizen employment, and your naturalization status. This comprehensive knowledge is then used to represent clients in disputes with immigration authorities or help with lengthy application paperwork to assist their clients in remaining in the United States.
The primary role of West Virginia immigration lawyers is to help immigrants with their applications to stay in the USA. They complete and provide legal advice on applications for visas, green cards, and citizenship to help avoid delays due to legal technicalities. However, most of their time is spent mediating disputes between their clients and immigration authorities, such as the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). In some cases, immigration law attorneys will also represent their clients at immigration court hearings in front of a judge to get the case dismissed or file appeals for unfavorable decisions made by the courts.
Any non-citizen looking to live in the U.S. would benefit from hiring a West Virginia immigration lawyer. They help to ensure the application for changing their immigration status is accepted and avoid all unnecessary delays relating to legal technicalities. However, many immigrants choose to represent themselves when changing their legal status. With that being said, the below are situations where hiring a West Virginia immigration law attorney is necessary:
You need to choose carefully before hiring an immigration lawyer in West Virginia for the highest chances of success. Here are our top tips on deciding which law firm to work with:
The cost of hiring a West Virginia immigration law attorney varies hugely between firms and on the type of issues you need help with. For example, a lawyer assisting you with forms for your application could charge anywhere from $250 to $2,000, whereas legal advice on becoming a permanent resident is more likely to be in the region of $1,000 to $7,500. Other firms will charge hourly rates for the entire process rather than fixed fees for specific legal advice, ranging between $150 and $350 on average.
The majority of West Virginia immigration lawyers will charge between $75 and $300 for an initial consultation. It is standard in the industry, so don't be alarmed if the law firm requests payment for this. On the other hand, a few legal practices will offer free consultations if you decide to proceed with their legal services. Speak to the law office and see what their policies are.
There was a temporary suspension of naturalization ceremonies and many in-person interviews were postponed due to the pandemic. Moreover, the immigration process has become even more complex, making the need for an immigration attorney even more paramount.
Anyone that needs advice on the U.S. immigration process should contact an immigration attorney to avoid delays, denied applications, and deportation.
No – West Virginia immigration lawyers will explain the reason for delays and provide you with an accurate expected timeline for the entire process, but they cannot speed up the process itself.