This year, many deserving immigrants will lose their sole opportunity to legally immigrate to the United States.
To be sure, some immigrants file for benefits when they have a zero chance of winning.
But countless immigrants, with good cases, also lose.
Too often they fail because they're influenced by immigration mythology.
These immigrants, lacking the knowledge to distinguish good from bad advice, file for benefits in a blindfolded fashion.
They do not perceive the potential obstacles in their path to permanent residence.
By the time they speak to an immigration deportation defense attorney, it's often too late to reverse their mistakes.
Since I hate to see such opportunities wasted, I decided to share my insights.
My goal is to unravel common myths about the immigration process, myths which may prevent you from achieving your dreams.
1) "Immigration rules are the same as a few years ago.
" Family members often tell their relatives things like, "I followed the advice of my Uncle Tony, who emigrated successfully five years ago.
He didn't hire a lawyer and still received a green card.
" This advice can be dangerous.
It's simply not true - rules and regulations in immigration law are rarely static.
Tactics, successful last year, might now be obsolete.
Your family member may have won a green card through an immigration program that no longer exists.
This can cut both ways: new laws might be your ticket to achieving your dreams.
The moral to the story.
Be careful not to rely on laws which no longer exist or apply to your situation.
2) "You can complete immigration paperwork on your own.
They're simple.
" There are at least two problems with this advice.
Before submitting your petition, you should know why immigration officials want to know certain things about you.
Additionally, you should be aware of the consequences if you're unsuccessful.
The information sought in immigration applications seems simplistic.
Don't be fooled - providing too much or too little background information may undermine your case.
Most immigrants are truthful when they complete their applications.
It's still quite simple to make an error.
Not all mistakes will be overlooked or qualify for forgiveness.
With minor mistakes, you're usually allowed time to make adjustments.
With larger issues, you may not get a second chance.
On the more serious errors, your mistakes will lead to rejection.
It's also possible, if you lose, you may end up facing deportation charges..
On the other hand, an experienced green card attorney will recognize red flags which can sink your ship - problems that go unnoticed by do-it-yourself applicants.
More significantly, government agents are also likely to recognize the shortcomings.
Such problems can be minimized, if not eliminated, with the help of an immigration attorney.
The main problem with this myth should be obvious.
If you do not understand what you're filling out in the first place, you also do not have the ability to correct your errors.
3) "Just hire an immigration services company if you need help.
" Like the do-it yourself applicants, immigrants seeking non-lawyer assistance focus on price.
Nothing wrong with that...
if the different services provided by attorneys vis-a-vis consultants are fully considered.
Normally, non-lawyer consultants and advisers will do no more than fill out immigration forms and applications.
They are not responsible for legal troubles which arise after the documents are filed.
Even after immigration applications are submitted, attorneys have a responsibility to handle issues which come up later.
Moreover, attorneys have a professional responsibility to stay abreast of changes in law that might affect their clients' cases.
When immigration rules change, attorneys must guide you if they might potentially harm your chances of success.
Non-lawyer assistants might do their utmost to guide you, but without legal training, most will not know how to decipher recent changes.
These are not small differences.
Attorney fees, in most instances, are set at a higher rate than consultant fees.
The difference in fees reflect the difference in responsibilities.
Whatever you spend is an investment.
If you succeed, you acquire legal residency.
Should you fail, your dreams of living here may be forever shattered.
But only you can decide whether the potential benefits justify the costs of pursuing your dreams.
4) Conclusion Following these guidelines will not guarantee a visa, green card, or legal residence.
Nonetheless, in some cases, they greatly improve the chances for your success.