How to Hire an Immigration Attorney
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Research the legal processes.gavel image by Cora Reed from Fotolia.com
Research which facet of immigration law you will deal with. Immigration law has many branches, such as family immigration, employment visas, removal proceedings and citizenship. Many immigration lawyers choose to focus on a particular facet of the law. It's important to choose one with experience in your area. - 2). Become familiar with your case and the requirements you need to meet. You will need to understand your needs before you can hire someone to help you meet them. Visit the government immigration pages and also read how-to guides and message board posts about your type of case. For example, if you are applying for naturalization, research the forms you will need to fill out, how you will prove your residency and what it's like to take the citizenship oath.
- 3). Ask your social network for recommendations of good immigration lawyers. We often know of people going through similar immigration processes, and they can be a great resource for referrals. Also utilize the Internet to find recommendations on immigration blogs and message boards. Finally, the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) website includes a feature to help with finding a lawyer.
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The Internet is a great resource for your immigration case.www and internet image by mbs from Fotolia.com
Use the Internet to research immigration lawyers' backgrounds and specialties. Most have websites that highlight their experience and often provide pricing as well as testimonials and successful cases. Focus only on attorneys whose experience matches your needs; that will help you narrow your list. - 5). Schedule consultations with several immigration attorneys from your list. Be aware that some charge a small fee for a consultation. Consultations can be in person, by phone or even email. Remember that immigration law is federal, so you do not necessarily need a local attorney unless the circumstances of your case require local representation. An example of such a circumstance would be the attorney representing you in immigration court.
- 6). Ask questions during the consultation. After you have explained your situation, ask the attorney what your next step should be and how exactly his firm would represent you. Compare the answers to your research, and also to other attorneys you consult. Also, be sure to ask about the lawyer's experience with cases like yours, and her track record. Finally, leave the consultation with a good understanding of the lawyer's fees. It is likely that you will select one of the attorneys based on the consultation.
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Retain the best lawyer for your immigration case.handshake image by Peter Baxter from Fotolia.com
Retain the lawyer that fits the best with you and your case based on your consultation. You will need to sign a contract, or retainer, and it's likely you will have to pay part or all of the fee. Typically, immigration attorneys charge flat fees for different services instead of hourly rates. At that point, your lawyer will be able to instruct you on the next steps to take with your case.
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