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30 Jan, 2024 by Claudia
En mi caso . Me prejudico bastante !! En mi divorcio puso que el beneficiario Era mi ex y que El tiene el derecho a quitarme lo mio si yo no cumplo en pagarle lo q esta Robando Ella no tuvo el profesionalismo para aconsejarme y ayudarme. Tampoco tiene caracter para defender a su cliente .
Lastima que tengan preferencias. A y cobran por todo !! Hasta por 1 minuto en el telefono!!!
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15 Mar, 2021 by Ivan
THANK YOU!!! I want to express my greatest thank you to Iris and her staff. We had an extremely difficult immigration case we have been working on for a year and a half and were unhappy with the way our previous lawyer was handling it. Once discussing the case with Iris, I was convinced she was the right lawyer to follow through the case. It took less than year to completely resolve it. She was able to do so navigating through all the Covid-19 Pandemic challenges and especially the challenges the immigration agency went through. I highly recommend her services.
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12 Dec, 2019 by Maria
La abogada Iris y sus asistentes son excelentes. Me ayudaron a lograr mi residencia y también mi caso de familia. La recomiendo 100%
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26 Jul, 2024 by Bradford tretola
After a terrible car accident I was involved in, I am so thankful to have had David Komie Law on my side. Matthew Komie represented me. Him and his staff were exceptional and worked very hard on my case. They were very informative and communicative every step of the way. I knew I was with a trustworthy and caring law firm. In the end I was very happy with the outcome of my case. I highly recommend David Komie Law.
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21 May, 2024 by Gus sterneman
22 Apr, 2024 by Yudo yarrito
Great law firm!
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11 Oct, 2023 by Charles edward andrew lincoln iv
10 Jun, 2023 by B d
Nice
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01 Jun, 2023 by Eric rishel
11 Oct, 2023 by Charles edward andrew lincoln iv
10 Jun, 2023 by B d
Nice
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01 Jun, 2023 by Eric rishel
11 Oct, 2023 by Charles edward andrew lincoln iv
10 Jun, 2023 by B d
Nice
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01 Jun, 2023 by Eric rishel
10 Oct, 2024 by Dinesh bauri
07 Sep, 2022 by Percy bella
29 Jun, 2022 by Jeislly alvarado
29 Jan, 2019 by Anonymous
Thank you so much sir Thomas Esparza, for the invaluable response giving me clarity on the decisions to take. God bless you Sir!
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20 Jun, 2013 by Lina marin
Mr. Thomas is the lawyer that you need and you always want to keep in your contacts, close to your hands.
The first day that I came in to his office, I had a lot of confusion and sadness as my case was dropped by another lawyer seemingly without hope.
As soon as Mr Esparza saw me, he told me: we will work together, I'm going to do my best to re build your case and we will rock it, and he did it. He and his team did an excellent job and He made my case easier than it was, everyone won.
Mr. Thomas Esparza and his team are professionals, fast, kind, friendly and effective. they are the lawyer you want to work with.
I recommend Thomas and his team with all my heart.
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25 Mar, 2013 by Anonymous
We trusted Mr. Esparza to help us to attain my wife's citizenship. We assumed that he would be looking out for our best interest. Mr. Esparza's legal aid made a mistake thereby putting us in a situation where our family is at risk of being torn apart. When we confronted Mr. Esparza about the mistake, he refunded us some of our money. I looks like from his other ratings, he normally does a great job but beware! If there is a mistake, he will drop you and not take responsibility for his mistake!
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24 Jan, 2020 by Navid
I had a meeting with him regarding may immigration status and paid him $75 for 45 minutes consultation. I arrived on time but waited one hour for him at his office then I talked him and pass my documents to see am I eligible to apply for green card. He didn't answer my question and asked me to review my documents and answer my question in three days. After one week that I didn't heard back from him I sent him email and leave voice massage. Two days later, his secretary call me and told me if you want to know you are eligible you should pay him again to review your documents and do more research. This was against what he said to me. How many days they need to review five pages documents to simply answer you could apply for GC or not.
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02 Feb, 2016 by Dennis
Mr. Haddad is a fantastic attorney. His office is professional and punctual. Although I was nervous he assisted me and directed me throughout the entire process. He also worked out an affordable payment plan and we secured the visa for my wife. It was great experience and has inspired me to pursue J.D. after I complete my B.A.
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15 Feb, 2014 by Paul f
The Law Office of Sam Haddad was very courteous and professional and very thorough. I would recommend others to contact them for their services. I am very pleased with their services. Paul F.
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13 Apr, 2014 by Barbara
Lue is skilled in both legal knowledge and her ability to work with multiple interests. She is able to help clients look for and define a common goal and work towards resolution of any problems. Lue responds quickly to requests or concerns. Highly recommend.
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10 Apr, 2014 by Anonymous
Luemara doesn't look at you only as a credit card: she looks at you as someone that needs help, and she is ready to help.
She is knowledgeable, and goes the extra mile to help a client.
I highly recommend her.
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09 Apr, 2014 by Conley
I have worked with Mrs Wagner on several project over the past two years. Her professionalism and depth of knowledge has been of great value.
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04 Feb, 2022 by J chavez
Hyatt Centric Downtown Austin (Construction Phase)
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19 Aug, 2024 by Susan morrison
Gary Bledsoe is an excellent attorney with tenacity to handle difficult cases and winning.
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21 Apr, 2022 by Elaine p
I’ve called at least four times and spoken with a lady three times and she takes my phone number down and ask for my name including the reason I need a lawyer. Not once have I had a call back from this office.
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08 May, 2019 by Freddy flintstoned
Great man.
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28 Oct, 2022 by Anonymous
Horrible. Just horrible. We’ve spent six years with this man and his firm “representing” us. Once you’re done paying his fees, he drops you. No call or response unless you reach out to them. Even then, he’ll ghost you. Come to find out, he messed up our documents/sent incomplete files to the government and failed to notify us that our case was terminated over two years ago. Had to find out through our new attorney. Instead Kevin Boyd strung us along to believe we were further into the process to clearing up our case. This man feeds on the under served communities. He does irreparable damage with no regard to the people he claims to help. He’s been reported to the State Bar for falsifying documents in the past AND for failing to show up in court for his clients. Look it up, it’s public record. Please do your research. Do not trust this man with your fate let alone to return a phone call when the money has been paid.
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14 Feb, 2013 by Armand
Kevin was referred to me by a lifelong friend. He took my case and got my charges dropped for a very resonable fee.
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24 Jan, 2013 by Maria rodriguez-ortiz
Mister Kevin Boyd got my husband out of jail and made him not get deported. He is a good man and good attorney. He not speak spanish but has translator and does good business
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03 Jun, 2024 by Robyn richardson
My mother used this attorney for a family matter not only did he fail to properly represent her, he made several seedy attempts to be inappropriate. When my mother denied his advances her became careless working on her case. She lost her home and thousands of dollars as a result. Don’t trust him.
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05 Jan, 2024 by Derek ulrich
Mr. Mason is one of the most personable lawyers I’ve had the pleasure of speaking with, I hope I never have to use him again but if need be, he’s the man.
He has went above and beyond in my case, as cliche as that sounds, the statement has never rang more true for me, than me saying that now.
A true man for what’s right, and I believe that in my heart of hearts.
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15 Sep, 2023 by Yaz
This website is saying that they provide free 30 mins consultation. I called the office and they said it’s $200
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09 Jul, 2019 by Anonymous
We hired Maggie and her law firm, Jackson Lewis, to help us with our first H1B transfer. As a startup, we depended on their expertise to guide us through the process. They did nothing but file papers. They took zero time to understand the candidate, job description, qualifications, etc. As such, the government declined our request because they misclassified everything! When we reached out to question why our H1B transfer was declined, they disappeared. They're poor communicators during the process and especially poor communicators after they render their service. Oh, and they'll still bill you for their incompetence. Stay away unless you want an expensive administrator.
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13 Jan, 2017 by Jorge salgado
19 Jun, 2016 by Sam richards
13 Apr, 2024 by Jose
I highly recommend the Law Office of Vinh M. Tran, P.C. After my first accident, the team was exceptional. They clearly explained all my options and handled my case with great care, making the process stress-free. Their communication was excellent, ensuring I was fully informed every step of the way. Thanks to their thoroughness and dedication, I was made whole. I'm grateful for their support and would turn to them again if needed.
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30 Nov, 2023 by Joyjit
I am not his Client. My case was very complex and needed an expert opinion from a lawyer who knows Criminal, Family, and immigration. Hence I went to Vinh for an initial free consultation he offered. My experience was horrible with him. I started to give him some background and he stopped me in the middle and asked me to explain what I wanted in one line. His tone, body language, and attitude everything were very rude. It seems like since he is giving free consultation, he has the right to disrespect me. Then when I explained what I was looking for he denied providing such kind of service, which is fine. But along with that, he started judging me and giving his opinion about my personal life. I was there only for 15 minutes. He just literally told me to go away. I could have responded to him right then and there, but I controlled myself just because I didn't want to misbehave like him. I don't understand how such a horrible person becomes a lawyer.
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12 Apr, 2017 by Frederick
Unprofessional, very poor communication. Does not return calls or emails. Very slow and unmotivated. Mr. Bennett was hired to probate a will 8 months ago, no progress has been made and he continues to bill for unnecessary services.
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09 Sep, 2010 by Anonymous
Mr. Bennett is a very professional and caring lawyer. He goes above and beyond the call of duty. He came with me to all my appointments, every time I had a question, he was there. His staff is very nice and knowledgeable. I highly recommend Mr. Bennett.
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04 Jun, 2021 by Milad
She is nice but she is super slow. She does not update frequently and work on your case. Unless you call her and ask for update and push her to work on your case. My case took 4 months to finish which average time for my case type is 2 to 4 weeks
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15 Jul, 2019 by Beth
I was privileged to have Hana working on my immigration case. My husband and I first met Hana in January 2018, when she explained our options for going forward with immigration clearly and answered all of our questions patiently.
Hana was very thorough in gathering evidence representing the best interests of my husband and I. We had two instances where more evidence was requested and Hana responded to these promptly, satisfying the RFE.
Hana was professional, knowledgeable, and personable. I highly recommend Hana's services for immigration law.
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28 Nov, 2019 by Anonymous
Consulted for N336 appeal, N400 denied due to not meeting physical presence requirement caused by a clerical mistake of IO. There were clear evidences for continuous residence, attorney give diid not highlight that, but kept on discussing that if attorney were an IO, then she would confiscate green card and deport. Charging 4-5 times of my current attorney and was planning to prepare for whole N400 interview again. Consulted another attorney(current) in San Antonio and he was straight to the point about the documents required for the interview, we got the N400 approval.
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27 Sep, 2016 by Faye kolly
I highly recommend Claudia Baellow for your immigration needs. She is organized, compassionate and knowledgeable. I have had the opportunity to work with her over the years and can attest to her professionalism and attention to detail that is so important for the practice of immigration law.
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15 Mar, 2017 by Anonymous
I met with Jeffrey to discuss possibly opening a case with him, however, after 3 days of ignoring my calls and messages to meet with him again, he responded with "I can't help with your case" with zero explanation why, although his profession is with DWI, which I needed desperate help with. He simply doesn't care, I don't recommend.
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05 Jul, 2015 by Anonymous
Mr, Casey was a wonderful help to me. I had never ever been in trouble in my life and was faced with a very scary charge that could ruin me. The charges were wrong, unfair and inaccurate but it was my job to fight these charges, and prove they were wrong or face some very tough times ahead. I got a referral from a friend of a friend for the practice of Dunham & Jones and Googled them. I filled out a contact form on the website, on a SUNDAY night and received a call within MINUTES personally from Mr. Casey. I was shocked. I really didn't expect to hear from them for days. Mr. Casey introduced himself and asked me what he could do for me. He listened to my case, then asked me several questions and set up an appointment for the next day to come into his office to see him. From the moment I met him he assured me that he completely agreed with me that I should not have been charges and he would prove this and get it thrown out. He told me I had nothing to worry about and said he would take care of everything from that point on. I didn't have to make a single move from that day on. I went on with my life as normal, and Mr. Casey worked his tail off to prove my innocents. He went to all my court appearances, and shot me an email now and then to let me know he was on top of it and everything was going great and not to worry. Then sure enough, within three in a half months he got my entire case completely thrown out. I will forever be grateful to this wonderful man for taking such wonderful care of me, and also for being true to his word. He told me he would fix this and he would handle everything and he was true to his word. He is a fantastic Attorney and I highly recommend him to everyone. Thank you Mr. Casey, you are my Hero!
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23 Aug, 2024 by Jacqueline obaseki
Greetings to all 💝 I would like to share my experience with Attorney Brian Bernard.
I had Mr. Bernard saved in my contacts from a relative in jail that asked me to reach out to him (Brian) in June 2024. About 1 month later my son went to jail and the attorney that I initially reached out to wanted to help for the "low-low" price of $7,500 for a Class "A" misdemeanor with an initial payment of $2,500😂. I sent Brian a text message wanting to know how much should a misdemeanor charge of that nature cost. I was bracing myself for impact of his response (because I am extra broke😂) but his response pleased me. The conversation of the photo is attached💝 Brian had my son out within hours. I was relieved because as parents we want our children to do the right thing and be ok. The day was nearing for me to fly out of town for work, so I was pleased and burden lifted.
Moving forward to August 2024, my Aunt called me upset and stated her son went to jail and it would cost a lot of money for the bail bonds to get him released. I instantly said "Aunty call Brian, I am sure he can help and have him released the same day for a fair price💕 " She said text me his info and I will call him (In her still hurt tone). After my aunty called Brian, she called back telling me how excited she was and I could hear it in her soul💕 Then she told me some fun facts about Brian's career from their in person meet (I paid through CashApp😊 so we did not meet in person). My aunty kept thanking me. I said Aunty we Thank God for Mr. Brian Bernard.
Names to me are very important because what we are called is what we are as well as what we respond to. For example My name is Jacqueline which means "May God Protect Her" and He definitely has throughout my whole entire life💝
Brian means: High, Noble, Honor and dignity
Bernard means: Brave, Hardy and strong
Now look at this fair man walk in his purpose according to who and what he is called.💗💖💝💓
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16 Aug, 2024 by Charlie grandville
He is a great Lawyer and he handles court cases with such ease. He is definitely a current recommendation and a future recommendation.
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19 Jul, 2024 by Kiya vela
Horrible service he will take your money and stop answering the phone did absolutely nothing to help us told us he would get my husband out the following day after he received payment he quit answering the phone completely ghosted us and refuses to return the money we will be reaching out to the Texas lawyer chapter
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10 Sep, 2024 by Julio
Got my work permit within a month of case being filed. Got my green card within six months! Sonia is a fast and effective communicator. She was so polite and professional in her communication with me and my wife, I have improved writing my own work emails. We only dealt directly with her throughout the entire process from the first phone call to schedule a consultation to the immigration forms to case updates up until approval. She is a fantastic immigration attorney, and we are so grateful we found her. You will be too!
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03 Jun, 2024 by Robyn richardson
My mother used this attorney for a family matter not only did he fail to properly represent her, he made several seedy attempts to be inappropriate. When my mother denied his advances her became careless working on her case. She lost her home and thousands of dollars as a result. Don’t trust him.
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05 Jan, 2024 by Derek ulrich
Mr. Mason is one of the most personable lawyers I’ve had the pleasure of speaking with, I hope I never have to use him again but if need be, he’s the man.
He has went above and beyond in my case, as cliche as that sounds, the statement has never rang more true for me, than me saying that now.
A true man for what’s right, and I believe that in my heart of hearts.
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03 Jun, 2024 by Robyn richardson
My mother used this attorney for a family matter not only did he fail to properly represent her, he made several seedy attempts to be inappropriate. When my mother denied his advances her became careless working on her case. She lost her home and thousands of dollars as a result. Don’t trust him.
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05 Jan, 2024 by Derek ulrich
Mr. Mason is one of the most personable lawyers I’ve had the pleasure of speaking with, I hope I never have to use him again but if need be, he’s the man.
He has went above and beyond in my case, as cliche as that sounds, the statement has never rang more true for me, than me saying that now.
A true man for what’s right, and I believe that in my heart of hearts.
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10 May, 2023 by Fabiola banda
04 Dec, 2023 by Arthur martinez
15 Sep, 2023 by Jabella j
The attorney I was giving is doing a terrible job with my case. The public defense office has really failed me.I have reached out to the supervisor and never received a response.
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15 Sep, 2023 by Teranique caldwell
Blue Ware and Scott Ruplinger saved my life on so many different occasions I couldn't be more grateful for them they worked really hard on my Cases and fought for me like no other I thank them and i hope this will be helpful to others because these 2 attorneys excuse my language but are badass :)
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03 Jun, 2024 by Robyn richardson
My mother used this attorney for a family matter not only did he fail to properly represent her, he made several seedy attempts to be inappropriate. When my mother denied his advances her became careless working on her case. She lost her home and thousands of dollars as a result. Don’t trust him.
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05 Jan, 2024 by Derek ulrich
Mr. Mason is one of the most personable lawyers I’ve had the pleasure of speaking with, I hope I never have to use him again but if need be, he’s the man.
He has went above and beyond in my case, as cliche as that sounds, the statement has never rang more true for me, than me saying that now.
A true man for what’s right, and I believe that in my heart of hearts.
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03 Sep, 2023 by Anonymous
Avoid and stay away. Misconduct, dishonesty, and unprofessional. This attorney needs to repeat grad school and retake the Ethics course. He screwed up my I-485 petition: lied, misconducted, and was rude. Cannot tell how this influenced my life. Both I and my wife fired this attorney and firm. We have saved all the original email communications. We would be happy to share per request to use as educational materials. Please google the attorney’s name before you decide to hire. Interested to see the story, see below.
We hired this attorney to file two I-485 cases for my wife, and myself as a derivate applicant. The I-485 case of my wife’s was filed earlier properly but due to visa retrogression, when we were preparing the paperwork for mine, the PD of the primary applicant was not current.
1. We were told I could not file until we could, we checked multiple times however, my case was filed to USCIS in May 2023 when the PD of the primary applicant was still not current even now (August 2023)
2. We asked for confirmation within 2hr upon receiving your email telling us my package was shipped, we were told that, ‘we haven’t, we will until we can.
3. 2 weeks later, we were notified by USCIS that my case was received.
4. 1 week after, we were told that they indeed filed my case and advised us just to wait.
5. We expressed the concerns politely; We were told that USCIS should not mistakenly accept the case. We were again told no action was needed; Even if something happens, they would help us proceed with CP or Follow-to-join, which would take a significantly long time. We said no. In the initial conversation, they told us they would do what they could to avoid this happening as this could take a very long time.
6. We took a lot of time looking into this issue, and we all became very anxious. Unfortunately, we found it was well-documented that the I-485 not Current filing would be denied; We also found some similar cases from a BBS and some friends around. We again expressed our concerns and asked for a solution, we were told what we described was quite implausible.
7. We asked to let him withdraw the case on my behalf and would still let him help me refile when it becomes current. We were again told the fact of USCIS receiving my case would be a good thing for us. Also, we were told we could not refile when the withdrawal case was not completed.
8. We followed up, and we were told that Form B was in use and the timing was good when my case was filed in May 2023, so there was NOTHING wrong but just some miscommunication. We were convinced at that time and felt happy. However, we checked and found it was a lie. Form B was never in use since early this year and is still true now (August 2023). We were fooled.
9. We decided to pay for a consultation with another lawyer, we also used some free services provided by AVVO. Consistently, we were advised to withdraw and when it becomes Current, we can refile not to miss the timing. Even if the withdrawal case is not completed, we can still refile for no problem. We asked again, and they refused but admitted that we could refile even if the withdrawal case was pending. They told us because it would cause a financial loss to their firm, they refused to issue a refund but would be happy to disengage immediately.
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17 Sep, 2021 by Reginald russell
Nothing on the shelves
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17 Sep, 2021 by Reginald russell
Nothing on the shelves
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17 Sep, 2021 by Reginald russell
Nothing on the shelves
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17 Sep, 2021 by Reginald russell
Nothing on the shelves
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17 Sep, 2021 by Reginald russell
Nothing on the shelves
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23 Aug, 2014 by Cristian
I applied for an H1b visa on April of 2013. I wasn't aware about how the whole process worked but, I trusted the immigration lawyers my employer hired to deal with my case.
I did not get the H1b that year but, I got it on 2014 and everything went smoothly with another law firm.
To sum up the awful turn of events:
1- They never made aware of an existing lottery for the H1b that year
2- They had my employer fill a job description the wrong way. This caused my paperwork to be returned
3- I didn't have my professional license issued until July ( Dentist License) but, they said "it was ok" because they would create a different position on the job description and then change the job title once the visa was approved
4- I was selected on the lottery BUT the job description this law office invented, would not qualify for an H1b. This made my denied to be denied
5- I was only made aware of all this mess they created on the same week I was supposed to start working on a 6-figure job
6- I had to stay overseas for an extra 9 months due to this until I was able to get another job. This created a huge financial burden on me and my family (wife and baby)
7- After all this unprofessional mess they created, the best was left for last. They offered me to come on a H3 visa (which is for exchange students-NOT WORKING VISA) to work on that same position. In other words, they suggested that I WORKED ILLEGALLY in the USA, which could of course, compromise my entire life in this country.
I was lucky enough to get referred to another lawyers before I talked to these people again. Now, I live in the US working on an academic position and will finally get to my dream job this year.
The lawyers that handed my case ( a true mess) were Maggie and Ajmera.
Do yourself a favor and look for someone else
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What an Immigration Lawyer Can Do for You
An immigration lawyer specializes in helping individuals, families, and businesses navigate the complex immigration process. These lawyers provide legal guidance on various immigration matters, such as obtaining visas, gaining permanent residency (green cards), applying for citizenship, and defending clients in deportation or removal proceedings. Immigration lawyers also assist with employment-based immigration, asylum applications, and resolving issues related to visas or immigration status.
Whether you're trying to immigrate to the U.S., facing deportation, or sponsoring an employee or family member for a visa, an immigration lawyer can help you understand your legal options and navigate the often complicated legal system.
When Should I Hire an Immigration Lawyer?
Hiring an immigration lawyer is beneficial in many situations where you are dealing with U.S. immigration laws, whether for personal or business reasons. Common reasons to hire an immigration lawyer include:
- Visa applications: If you need assistance applying for a visa, whether it's a work visa (H-1B), student visa (F-1), or tourist visa (B-1/B-2), a lawyer can help ensure the application is properly completed and submitted.
- Green card applications: If you're seeking permanent residency, an immigration lawyer can guide you through the process, whether through family sponsorship, employment, or the Diversity Visa (lottery) program.
- Deportation or removal defense: If you’re facing deportation or removal from the U.S., a lawyer can defend your case in immigration court and seek to prevent removal.
- Asylum applications: If you’re seeking asylum due to persecution or fear of persecution in your home country, a lawyer can help you prepare a strong case and file for asylum.
- Family reunification: If you're a U.S. citizen or permanent resident looking to bring family members to the U.S., a lawyer can assist with the family sponsorship process.
- Citizenship and naturalization: If you're ready to apply for U.S. citizenship, a lawyer can help you navigate the naturalization process and ensure you meet all the requirements.
- Business immigration: If you're an employer seeking to hire foreign workers, a lawyer can assist with employment-based visas, labor certification, and compliance with immigration regulations.
- Special immigration categories: Immigration lawyers also handle complex cases, such as visas for victims of human trafficking (T visa), crime victims (U visa), or those seeking Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
Hiring an immigration lawyer early in the process can help you avoid delays, errors, and possible denials due to incomplete or incorrect applications.
What Does an Immigration Lawyer Do?
An immigration lawyer provides a wide range of services to help clients with their immigration needs, whether personal or business-related. Their tasks often include:
- Assisting with visa applications: Helping clients fill out and submit visa applications, ensuring all documentation is complete and accurate.
- Filing for green cards and permanent residency: Guiding clients through the process of applying for a green card, including family-based, employment-based, or other forms of residency.
- Defending against deportation or removal: Representing clients in immigration court who are facing deportation and working to prevent removal from the U.S.
- Preparing asylum cases: Assisting clients in applying for asylum based on fear of persecution in their home country due to race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group.
- Handling citizenship applications: Helping lawful permanent residents apply for naturalization and ensuring they meet all the legal requirements for U.S. citizenship.
- Employment-based immigration: Assisting employers with the process of sponsoring foreign workers for temporary or permanent visas, including H-1B, L-1, and EB-1 through EB-5 visas.
- Representation in immigration interviews: Preparing clients for immigration interviews and attending interviews at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) offices.
- Appealing denied applications: If a visa, green card, or citizenship application is denied, a lawyer can file appeals or motions to reopen or reconsider the case.
How Are Immigration Lawyers Paid?
Immigration lawyers generally charge for their services based on the type of immigration case and the complexity of the legal work involved. Common payment structures include:
- Flat fee: Many immigration lawyers charge a flat fee for specific services, such as preparing a visa application, green card petition, or citizenship application. Flat fees help clients know upfront what the legal costs will be for a particular service.
- Hourly rate: For more complex cases, such as deportation defense or appeals, some lawyers charge by the hour. Hourly rates vary depending on the lawyer's experience and the complexity of the case.
- Retainer: For ongoing immigration matters, some clients may need to pay a retainer, which is an upfront payment billed against as the lawyer works on the case.
- Pro bono or sliding scale: Some immigration lawyers or nonprofit organizations may offer free or low-cost services for clients with limited financial means, particularly in asylum or humanitarian cases.
It’s essential to discuss the fee structure with your lawyer during the initial consultation to understand the costs and payment arrangements.
How Much Does an Immigration Lawyer Cost?
The cost of hiring an immigration lawyer varies based on the type of legal service required, the lawyer's experience, and the complexity of the case. General cost estimates include:
- Visa applications: For help with visa applications (e.g., H-1B, L-1, F-1), legal fees may range from $2,000 to $7,500, depending on the complexity and the type of visa.
- Green card applications: Fees for family-based or employment-based green card applications typically range from $3,000 to $10,000, depending on the case.
- Deportation defense: For defending clients in removal proceedings, costs can range from $5,000 to $15,000 or more, depending on the complexity of the case and how long the case takes.
- Asylum cases: Asylum applications may range from $2,000 to $10,000, depending on whether the case is defensive (in removal proceedings) or affirmative (not in removal proceedings).
- Citizenship applications: Legal fees for filing a naturalization application usually range from $1,500 to $5,000, depending on the complexity of the client’s immigration history.
- Business immigration services: Fees for assisting businesses with employment-based visas (such as H-1B or EB-5 visas) often range from $3,000 to $10,000 or more.
Always ask for a clear breakdown of costs and fee arrangements before proceeding with legal services.
Top Questions to Ask an Immigration Lawyer
Before hiring an immigration lawyer, it's essential to ask questions to ensure they have the experience and expertise to handle your case effectively. Important questions to ask include:
-
What experience do you have with immigration cases like mine?
Ensure the lawyer has experience handling cases similar to yours, whether it’s family-based immigration, employment visas, or asylum. -
How do you charge for your services?
Clarify whether the lawyer charges a flat fee, hourly rate, or retainer, and ask for a detailed estimate of the total cost. -
What is the likelihood of success in my case?
Ask for an honest assessment of your case and the potential outcomes, including any challenges you might face. -
How long will the process take?
Immigration cases can take time, so ask how long it may take to process your application or resolve your legal issue. -
Will you handle my case personally?
In larger firms, junior attorneys or paralegals may handle parts of your case. Make sure you know who will be working on your case directly. -
What documents do I need to provide?
Ask the lawyer about the documentation required to support your case, such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, or employment contracts.
How to Check the Credibility of an Immigration Lawyer
To ensure you are hiring a reputable immigration lawyer, take the following steps to verify their credentials and track record:
- Check their state bar status: Confirm with your state bar association that the lawyer is licensed to practice and has no disciplinary actions against them.
- Look for specific immigration law experience: Review the lawyer’s website or professional profile to ensure they specialize in immigration law and have experience handling cases like yours.
- Read client reviews and testimonials: Look for reviews on platforms like Avvo, Martindale-Hubbell, or Google to see what previous clients have said about the lawyer’s professionalism and success rate.
- Ask for references: A credible lawyer should be willing to provide references from past clients who can speak to their ability to handle immigration cases.
- Check for industry affiliations: Membership in organizations like the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) can indicate the lawyer’s expertise and commitment to immigration law.
What Should I Prepare for My First Consultation?
To make the most out of your first consultation with an immigration lawyer, it’s important to come prepared with relevant documents and information. Here’s what you should bring:
- Passport and immigration documents: Bring your passport, visa, and any documents related to your current immigration status.
- Family documents: If you're applying for a family-based visa or green card, bring marriage certificates, birth certificates, and proof of family relationships.
- Employment information: For employment-based visas, provide your employment contract, offer letter, or other documentation of your job.
- Criminal records (if applicable): If you have any criminal history, bring copies of court records and other relevant documents.
- Timeline of events: Provide a clear timeline of any prior immigration applications, visas, or issues with immigration authorities.
- List of questions: Prepare any questions you have about your immigration case, the process, costs, and the likelihood of success.
By preparing thoroughly for your consultation, you can help the lawyer understand your case more effectively and get the best possible legal advice on how to proceed.
