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11 Jan, 2013 by Anonymous
Alex Park was unprofessional, rude, and dishonest. When my husband had questions about his immigration case, Alex always responded in a demeaning, cutting way, which we later realized was due to the fact that he did not know or do anything about his case. I thought it was strange that a lawyer would literally yell (I could hear him) at a paying client. Not only that, but his wife, his secretary, would also yell at my husband for calling to speak to Alex. Alex would call once in a while to let my husband know about "new developments" in the case. These usually consisted of something that had to do with something bad about to happen but if we paid him, it would all be resolved. For example, once he called and said that the courts were going the review my husband's file soon, but if we gave him $15,000 then he could put a team together for us.
Suspicious, we asked him for a detailed summary of what our money was paying him for - this is something professional lawyers document. His detailed summary had a couple lines - attorney fee, processing fee. This was a red flag! There was no physical evidence that he was doing ANYTHING for my husband's case. In the end, we got a new attorney who was courteous, professional, and helped us fight our case in court in a matter of months as opposed the several years my husband worked with Alex Park. DO NOT HIRE HIM!
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01 May, 2013 by Anonymous
Once she got your money, she did not answer your calls, no reply your emails and answer questions about your case. She let our case passed over the deadlines without informing us, even we tried to call her. She even refused to let you come to her office, unless we insisted so many times and still.
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06 Jun, 2017 by Juan
This person has a very bad / negative attitude. Just like most of the attorneys, she thinks she is superior than any of her clients. I went to consulted her to try to find a solution, at least answers, but she gave me more doubts instead. I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND HER TO ANYBODY, just because her attitude, she might be good, but I believe she is not.
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10 Oct, 2019 by Ann
Hi,
I hired as immigration attorny while I was working for a company in Pasadena, forgot to submit financial statement until a reference letter was sent to her, I paid her extra $1000, but never get it proved or sent me a copy.
She pissed me and my family off entirely till this day, I've suffered so much for her representation and lost everything, she didn't even give me a copy of her filing or the records after! We are new in this country, trusted her, but
she's a irresponsibile, poorly experienced, kept asking for pay and not good at filing it properly which result in me lost everything in my life and my son couldn't pursue higher education.
Ann
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16 Aug, 2013 by Anonymous
He is not reviewing anything and never answers his phone. He never kept me informed and always looking for an excuse. Don't waste your time, money and energy because most probably you are going to lose the case.
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05 Jul, 2013 by Anonymous
Provided me with false information. Was not always responsive. When asked for specific information, did not provide it.
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20 Feb, 2013 by Anonymous
I hired David Kaufman to represent a family member (in ICE Custody). Biggest disappointment was he did not meet with his client before the bond hearing (and got denied). I arrived at his office that morning and we were hoping to be in court by 9. For whatever reason the cancellation of removal paperwork was missing and he had to re-do it. He ended up going to court @ 9.45 to a client who thought there was no representation and then cross-examined with no preparation. Actually he first met with the client in court.
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18 Apr, 2019 by Anonymous
Rob took over from our other lawyer who retired. And it felt like his response to emails was slow and followup on issues was lacking. Maybe because we were not corporate clients?
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22 Sep, 2014 by Jeff
The one star is for his staff who was extremely polite and accommodating.
Overall Dominic had poor professional conduct. There was a single chair in the corner of his dusty "lobby", nestled amongst poorly stacked books and boxes overflowing with paperwork. He kept me waiting 30 minutes passed the appointment time, with no explanation that there would be an additional wait.
Granted, my immigration case is slightly complicated, but for the most part involves three major forms: and i-130 for an immigration visa for a family member, a k-3 visa for a spouse to then later apply for a i485 adjustment of status upon entering the United States. Dominic had "never applied for an K-3 Visa" and had little knowledge of how it is processed. I had to explain to him that a K3 needed to accompanied by an i-130. To which he replied (and I'm paraphrasing), that I've already researched it more than he ever has.
He finished our consultation by saying that since I've filed several forms already, he'd would have a hard time taking a case like that because he "is such a control freak", which he repeated several times. Besides being creepy, that is completely unprofessional.
His quote to take the case was 5,000 dollars, to file paper work that he had no experience filing. I don't think so. Money wasn't a barrier, but I was quoted 2-3,000 for my case by a Lawyer who was far more professional and experienced than Dominic.
To his credit, he only charged me 1/2 of his consolation fee because he felt guilty he did not know enough to help me with my case.
Bottom line is, there are plenty of Lawyers who will take better care of you.
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23 Mar, 2016 by Monica
I made a mistake in my past which ended up in me being detained in CCA. my husband hired Robin Carr to help me she went to CCA with her then assistant Manuel. They talked to me and then got me out. Once out I had to go to her office and make arrangements to see what I had to get to her for my court. I talked to her and then set another date to come back from there on I had trouble contacting her I would always end up getting advise from her assistant Manuel they would always say that she was out or in the Chula Vista location . I went to see the Jude she met me there. The judge said that it was an easy case to take the paper work for the final court and it would all be over with. it took 2 years of back and forth back and forth with misinformation and not being able to talk to my lawyer directly oh but when it was time to collect money they sure would find me even at a tire shop but I could never find her. In the end I ended up with a deportation order and all she said was sorry but if you get me 1000 dollars I can see if I can open your case again. My husband said I would be crazy to trust her sure enough I didn't . I looked for another lawyer and it was not easy to have found someone to take me out of that mess but thank goodness I did I would never send anyone to be helped by Robin!
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08 Sep, 2023 by Braulio
Payed her $1,500 for one court date cause she promised me she would have immigration lawyer dismiss my case under deferred action, wrong!! 5 yrs later she wanted more money and wanted to file political asylum!!! Seriously! Ive been living in the u.s for over 33yrs!!
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05 Mar, 2018 by Anonymous
We went to Ms. Yianilos for a consultation about my wife's immigration status. She did nothing to educate herself about my wife's situation before our meeting. She asked us questions to get more information so that she could do research later to suggest a strategy. She spent much of the consultation talking about her connections to various blues musicians. We tolerated it politely but cared nothing for it. Then she said we owed her $200 for the consultation. This was NEVER mentioned before. Avoid her.
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19 Oct, 2023 by Anonymous
We hired him. He got all money, but never responded to us. Some of his team members were too rude on the phone. They lost our documents. There are some negative comments on his service on the internet as well, google review, etc. Read them.
Don't waste your time, money.
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17 Oct, 2019 by Anonymous
I hired lawyer Hu to handle EB-5, in December 2016, but now I can't be reached. The phone is not answered, the email is not answered, and WeChat has blocked me.
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12 Aug, 2023 by Anonymous
Despite negligence from Mr. Small, I was able to get my green card with the help of three other attorneys who all pointed out gross negligence on how my case and especially my case was handled. I am glad i was able to identify 3 of his mistakes, the consequences ultimately was "only" to have my wife fly abroad to renew her visa and for me to be unable to work for a few weeks. When I brought some of the junior mistakes his team did in filling for my visa his immature reaction was threatening and he was yelling on the phone.
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17 Sep, 2022 by Jacob
Her actions and decision disrupted future of mine. She hates allowing races other than filipino to thrive in US. She has hateful agendas against minority. She is biased and prejudiced against minority. This one was hired for petition specific candidate. She blatantly neglected the achievement of the candidate in order to be fair to her Filipino community to avoid feelings of being inferior and belittling of their accomplishment. She believes in indentured servitude as perpetual curse to outsiders. She believes outsider are not allowed to thrive and achieve their true potential. How much money did Filipino community paid you as bribe to belittle an Outsider's accomplishment?
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07 Jul, 2013 by Jimmy
He delay your case and take your money, then ignore your calls ;and when finally decides to answer it's to gives excuses . Personally i have lost 4 years with this guy and it's been horrible
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24 Jul, 2012 by Anonymous
Mr. Illions was my attorney for my political asylum case which I ended up losing, Mr Illions had not prepared the documentations for the court on the court date. He would forget from appointment to appointment what we had talked about and I would have to refresh his memory everytime I saw him. He would leave things to the last minute. He had me fax him documents at 1:am before one of my court dates.(the court was 8am same day). He tried to charge me extra for a day and when I confronted him he got flustered and asked me to leave.
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29 May, 2017 by Lisa degunya
Rodriguez was assigned to my prejudicial and unconstitutional case where it is on record I did not break the law. Evidence was withheld and obstructed. My two young son's were illegally placed (repugnant unlawful orders by Judge Gary Green) with my felon ex husband John twice incarcerated for assault and battery. Essentially kidnapped. Now it is public record John is trafficking them for money. The truth always comes out. You will always face God. You cannot escape God. No one is above the law and God...
You will lose everything
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17 Mar, 2021 by Anonymous
I hired Wei Zhong to represent me for a case. I felt that she was not very professional and only seemed to charge me for every little encounter. There were many times when I called the office to see if Wei Zhong was there and the receptionist said "no" but I was billed for the call. This attorney seemed to bill me for every little thing and took very little time to explain things clearly to me. Because of this, I don't feel that she is professional and doesn't have the client's interests at heart. She also doesn't seem to have much experience except in overbilling me which I feel may lead hear to lose my case.
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24 Mar, 2021 by Anonymous
Contacte a este abogado para que me tramitara mi numero social, y me dijo que en 2 meses me tendría el numero. Me llamaba e insistía para que le depositara por el trabajo, le deposite y nunca mas volvió a contestar mis llamadas ni mensajes, tengan cuidado que no es abogado es un estafador. Por fortuna cuento con el registro del deposito que esta a su nombre, y lo denunciare al colegio de abogados.
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27 Aug, 2023 by Anonymous
remembers nothing, knows nothing, you ask a question, you look at the answer on the Internet with the client. After receiving the full amount of money, lawyer Marina Cab does not communicate with you, only through the secretary all questions. There are a lot of mistakes in the case, I corrected everything myself, negligence, errors in the dates in the names, until you pay, she guarantees the win of the case, but by paying her money the lawyer is not involved in the case.
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25 Mar, 2016 by Anonymous
I and my ex jointly hired Jenny Zhao to draft Marital Settlement Agreement in July 2014. (1) She gave me wrong legal advice on division of community property,which made me lost over $ 80,000. (2) She made mistakes when submitting application for Judgment to Court because she wrote wrong name and address of my ex and wrong legal description of community and separate property. Court rejected to give Judgment in February 2015. (3) When she prepared to re-submitted application for Judgment, she retaliated on me and postponed to submit paper and tried to ask for money. (4) She harassed me through email after I had terminated her representation.
I complained against her to CA Bar Associate in 2015. The investigator did not discipline her but advise malpractice in January 2016I have appealed and waited for final decision.
At same time I am thinking about suing her for her malpractice.
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16 May, 2024 by Ron
Joseph fancies himself to be an effective lawyer, but in reality, he’s in it only to over charge and under deliver to his clients.
Joseph represented me and when I was offered a good settlement proposal, he never brought the proposal to me, he refused it, and then I ended up losing everything.
I am in the process of filing a complaint with the California State Bar as he violated my rights by never discussing the settlement offer with me.
He’s arrogant, just wants to get paid, and he literally pisses off the judges and other lawyers.
He’s a hack who shouldn’t be practicing law.
I’m sure others have had similar experiences, so if you have, please share your stories as well.
Joseph Benincasa should be disbarred.
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07 Jun, 2023 by D
The Firm is only looking out for their own best interest $$$$. Complaining of the work they are being paid to do. Unable to meet deadlines, numerous errors, bad discovery, no depositions, late filing, missed deadlines. These failures ultimately were the firms need to withdraw from my case after three years and after receiving over $100,000 of my hard earned money. Their unexplained, inconsistent, excessive and unreasonable billing was the excuse used to abandon my case and place blame on their client for non-payment....yes after they already billed and were paid over $100,000....my money and time wasted. You are only $$ in their eyes. Don't make the same mistake I did....they will only succeed in making your situation worse, leaving you to pick up the pieces with no remorse!!
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12 Feb, 2022 by Eric
In the interest of making this review as objective as possible I will only provide bulleted facts from detailed notes I kept which led to my one-star review.
• In January 2019 I wanted to immigrate my then-girlfriend and her children from Mexico to the United States.
• Mr. Bustamante was referred to me by a distant relative who works in the law profession.
• I arranged for an in-person consultation at his office January 8, 2019 (a little over a year before the COVID pandemic).
• When I arrived to his office he was not there and I waited at the front of the office.
• After 20 minutes his receptionist informed me that he was not able to come to the office to meet with me but that I could use an empty office and have a phone call with him instead.
• He called in to the office where I had a 25 minute conversation with several questions about the process of immigrating my girlfriend and her children.
• During the call he said he would try to find out how long it takes for fiancee visa or to marry in Mexico and cross that way.
• When I was about to leave his receptionist informed me that I would need to pay for the full consultation fee of $200 to which I wrote a check that was then cashed by his office.
• After waiting 3 weeks to hear back from Mr. Bustamante about the wait times he talked about in our phone call, I called his office to follow up. During this call I was only able to speak with his paralegal who gave me some answers about the timeline of immigration for both fiancee (K-1) visa and getting married in Mexico. She did not have any idea of the costs. She closed the phone call by telling me that Mr. Bustamante would contact me about the costs and to get started with the immigration process.
• After waiting for 4 weeks I placed another call to his office and spoke to his receptionist who nothing about me or my immigration case. She said Mr. Bustamante would call me back.
• I never received a call back and subsequently looked for another attorney to handle my immigration case.
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31 May, 2022 by Foundation 707
Not an aggressive attorney and hung me out to dry twice.
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19 Mar, 2014 by Anonymous
Does not follow the agreed upon procedures. Does not prepare documents properly. We paid him to appeal on a procedure, for which we had 90 days to appeal and he never did it. His time is more valuable than yours, so he will not return phone calls. Everything is strictly filtered through his secretary. Recently through another attorney, we learned that we could have demanded our money back from the whole case, since he did not accomplished any of what he was hired for. This happened about 8+ years ago, so it may be too late to request money back. Mediocre attorney, but he thinks he’s great along with hid secretary.
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17 Jul, 2018 by Anonymous
I went to azadeh for immigration consultation. She was late for her appointment and the moment she came to the office she very rudely asked me to sit down as i was trying to sooth my 1 month old baby by standing close to my chair, regarding the consultation she did knew nothing, she didnt knew where to look for type of visas and when i try to assist her she said she knows how to do her job well. it was 30 mins consultation and she had no interest in my case and in 8 mins she was done with me, least interesting in listening to me just spoke about her rate and not even bothered to listen to my whole reason of visiting her. She was highly unprofessional.
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06 Feb, 2015 by Anonymous
This lawyer is the least reliable lawyer I've ever met. He filed my H-1b visa for two years, but for the first year he failed to submit my documentation on time, and the second year he didn't even file the right position required by USCIS. Later, he explained that it was because USCIS became picky!! WTF?
During the process, I sent a lot of emails asking the status but they were extremely lame to respond; the replied very slow, or even ignored my emails. I think the only reason that my company is using them is that this lawyer is CHEAP.
Thanks for helping me say bye to the U.S.
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Questions? We have answers
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.
