Immigration Law Lawyers Near You

An immigration lawyer is someone who can provide counsel about legal rights or responsibilities associated with immigration, who can try to prevent someone from being deported to their home country, or represent their client in court where immigration matters are concerned.

An immigration lawyer focuses on immigration law, which handles concerns of foreign workers who need visas to work legally in the United States, individuals who are seeking permanent residence in the United States or are having legal issues with their legal status, immigrants who are trying to get citizenship or those who are facing government deportation and need help collecting the necessary documents. They also help those who want to become citizens and make sure they follow all the rules.

There are many situations where you might consider hiring an immigration lawyer or at the very least getting a consultation. You should consult with an attorney who specializes in immigration law under the following circumstances:

• You don't know whether you're eligible for a green card or an immigration benefit.
• You're requesting something like asylum that involves immigration authorities.
• You are trying to obtain a green card, citizenship, or immigration benefit, and you need to supply additional evidence.
• You need immediate, emergency assistance involving an immigration matter.
• You received notification the authorities are starting deportation proceedings against you.
• You have been deported from the U.S. but want to return.
• You have an immigration application that was refused or denied in the past, but you still want a green card or citizenship.
• You have been convicted of a crime and are trying to prevent deportation from the United States, or you are trying to enter the United States.
• You want to move to the United States for work.
• You are engaged or now married to a U.S. citizen and need to change your citizenship.
• You need an investment-based visa.

When evaluating an attorney, you should ask many questions during the consultation. Ask about not just the fee structure but what their experience is. Even in the world of immigration law, someone who focuses primarily on green card applications for people working in the United States may not have experience handling a deportation proceeding. You should find attorneys that specialize in situations just like yours.

Cheaper is not always better. Beware of attorneys that charge very low rates. You might luck out and find an immigration attorney near you who does not charge for the consultation, a great place to save money, but long-term you don't want to go with the cheapest option just because you want to save money. A single error in your forms can result in a denied green card, denied citizenship, or deportation.

Immigration law attorneys near you are often the most expensive type of lawyers. They know how challenging it can be to obtain the legal right to live or work in the United States, and they traditionally charge a flat rate rather than an hourly fee. This means, during your consultation, they will look over your legal status and explain how much they charge for cases and concerns like yours.

A flat fee can work in your favor because the attorney will charge the same amount even if it takes long hours, months of extra work on your immigration application, or anything else. You pay the same rate regardless.

The average rates for immigration lawyers near you are as follows:

• A traditional visa for someone you're engaged to can cost anywhere between $750 and $2,000. This does not include changing the status once you are married.
• A marriage-based green card can cost anywhere between $800 and $4,000.
• If you are in the middle of deportation proceedings in immigration court, the average cost will be based on the expected work associated with your proceedings such as filing motions, appearing in court, and so forth. This can be anywhere between $1,500 or upwards of $10,000. If you end up appealing your case, this might come at an additional cost.

It is quite common for an immigration lawyer near you to charge for a consultation. This might be anywhere from $100 to a few hundred dollars. It depends entirely on the attorney.

If you just want legal advice before deciding whether to move forward with proceedings, the law firm will typically charge you for the consultation, assuming you get all your immigration questions answered, and then lay out their fees if you move forward with the immigration process.