What questions should I ask an immigration lawyer?
Tips to Choosing an Excellent Immigration Lawyer
The US immigration process can be very complicated, confusing and time consuming. Having a good immigration attorney fighting for you can make all the difference to your case. On the flipside, a bad immigration lawyer can fail to deliver the promised services, overcharge you and/or harm your case in a way you might never recover from.
The best way to start the immigration process for you and your family is to research immigration attorneys and law firms. But what benchmarks should you keep in mind as you go through the process of interviewing immigration attorneys/firms?
Take note of these tips as you evaluate which attorney is the best one to help you reach your immigration goals:
1. Get a Referral
Often word-of-mouth is the best way to choose an immigration attorney. Your network of family, friends or colleagues may know other individuals who have dealt with immigration attorneys in order to acquire a green card residency visa or other benefit. You can learn firsthand about the kind of experience the individual had when working with the immigration attorney.
2. Asking for References
After you’ve been referred to a good lawyer, schedule a consultation where the lawyer strategizes his/her plan of action for your individual situation. Be sure to ask for references. A good immigration lawyer should have great online reviews (Google, Yelp, Avvo) and an abundant list of happy former clients willing to recommend the firm’s services. Other possible resources are researching them via the local bar association, the local chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), and a member in good standing of the Better Business Bureau.
3. Consider More than Just Price
Don’t blindly choose an immigration lawyer based on pricing. Like many things in life, you get what you pay for. There are plenty of sub-par immigration attorneys out there offering reduced pricing versus the competition. Some may be handling too many cases at once and don’t have a proper team to dedicate quality time and personalized service to your case. Others may not have the proper experience in complicated areas of immigration law.
Invest your time in researching the reputations of all the lawyers you evaluate. Don’t be afraid to invest a few thousand dollars on a quality lawyer. It’s not worth the risk of wasted time and having a delayed or rejected process because you want to save money.
4. Hiring a Lawyer Who Speaks Your Language
Choose a lawyer (and a firm) which speaks your language fluently. This improves communication throughout the process and ensures that you and your lawyer are understanding complicated legal nuances.
5. Build a Relationship with your Attorney
A visa is your first step in being able to legally reside in the United States. It may be the first, but likely not the last, time you’re communicating with the USCIS.
It is critical that you build a good relationship with your attorney (and their firm), so that they can serve you in the future when you are ready to take the next step in your process.
Filing for legal papers to live in the United States can be a complex process, but having the right people fighting for you can simplify the ordeal. Utilize these five tips when evaluating the right attorney to expertly handle your unique situation.
What to Ask in a Consult with an Immigration Attorney
- What is your experience with immigration cases like mine? – Immigration law covers a number of different types of cases, from those involving requests for visas and naturalization to others related to deportation or removal from the U.S. Each of these cases can require extensive work, unique processes and potentially even courtroom representation. And having an attorney on your side who understand the process you will be going through – and who knows how to troubleshoot the possible challenges that can arise – will be essential to obtaining the best possible outcomes.
- How much of your practice is dedicated to immigration cases? – Just because an attorney practices immigration law does not mean that it is his or her exclusive or primary focus. So be sure to ask about other practice areas a lawyer has so that you can better understand whether that lawyer will prioritize your case (or not).
- Will you be overseeing my case through to its resolution? – Or will your case be passed off to another lawyer you don’t know – or worse yet, a non-lawyer associate at the firm? Knowing this upfront can help you figure out whether you should place your case (and trust) in a particular lawyer’s hands.
- What specifically will you do to help me? – Will the lawyer complete and submit all paperwork on your behalf? Will (s)he oversee the other administrative work essential to your case? And will (s)he be available to attend interviews or court hearings with you? Asking about the level of service you can expect with a lawyer is another important step to determining whether that professional is a good choice for you.
- Do you have references or former clients I can talk to? – Whether or not you plan on contacting these references, ask this question anyways, as it can reveal how confident a lawyer is about the services (s)he provides, as well as how happy (s)he has made former clients.
Before setting up an appointment ask:
Do you speak the same language as me?
It’s important to ask if the attorney speaks your native language. If they don’t, ask for an interpreter to help you during your appointment. You want to make sure that you understand everything they say and that you can clearly explain your situation. If you give them the wrong information, it may take longer for the lawyer to start your case, and it could affect the outcome.
What documents and papers do I need to bring?
Attorneys need complete information about your case in order to represent you well. When making your appointment, ask what papers, documents, and identification you’ll need to bring with you. This will make the first meeting less stressful for everyone, and it will help the attorney get started on your case right away.
During the appointment ask:
How long have you been practicing immigration law?
When you interview for a job, they’ll ask if you have any experience doing that type of work. Since you’re interviewing the attorney, you can ask them the same questions. Ask how long they’ve been practicing immigration law. Attorneys should be happy to share their certificates, diplomas, and license information with you. In fact, many lawyers have them hanging up in their offices. You can also ask them if they’ve ever dealt with a case like yours. Asking questions like these will help you determine how qualified they are to represent you.
What are your fees?
Law firms usually charge by the hour for their services, while some may charge a flat rate for certain cases. Make sure to ask your attorney for an estimate of the cost to represent you. If you have limited funds, check to see if the attorney will allow you to pay in installments.
How will you start working on my case?
Ask your attorney what the next steps are in the legal process. They won’t know exactly how long your case will take, but you can ask them when they think the process will start and end. Your attorney should be confident enough to give you an estimate, but realistic enough to account for delays. Be sure to ask if there’s something you can do to speed up the process and increase your chances of success.
If you plan to be out of the country while your case is being worked on, ask your attorney how they will send updates about your case. While traveling, make sure you’re close to a place that has cell phone or internet service so that you can get calls and emails from your lawyer.
Who will be working on my case?
Attorneys have assistants and paralegals to help them with their cases. Ask your attorney if anyone else will be working the case. If possible, meet with them in person and ask about their experience in cases like yours. Get everyone’s contact information and find out if they want you to communicate with them by email, phone calls, or text message. This will help you get in touch with them quickly and get answers when you have an important question.
Top Questions to Ask An Immigration Attorney
Having questions about payment, timeline, the process of immigration, both for temporary or permanent residence, and so on is perfectly normal! Immigration can be stressful and confusing. If you don’t understand something ask! And don’t feel like your questions are a bother to your attorney! You are helping both of you by asking as many questions as possible.
Your attorney should listen to you and your concerns–that is part of their job. Here are a few suggestions for what questions to ask:
- “What sort of experience do you have?”
You can follow up on this question by asking things like, “How long have you been practicing immigration law?” “Have you worked on cases like mine before”?” What sort of experience dealing with government officials and courts do you have?” If you are dealing with US immigration law, you should also ask your attorney if he or she is a member of AILA (American Immigration Lawyers Association)
- “What will you do to help me?”
Immigration law is about more than just filling out forms and writing letters. Find out how your attorney plans work for you, and how you can help them. Ask them what they will do after your application is filed to ensure that it is processed in a timely manner and to improve your chances of success.
- “What do you need from me?”
Take an active role in working with your attorney! Figure out what they need from you and get it to them on time, or even better, well ahead of schedule. Ask your attorney what sorts of forms or paperwork you might need to bring in and what you can do to make the process go more smoothly, and both of you will be happier for it.
- “What sort of timeline should I expect?”
Immigration can be a complicated and difficult process. You might not know what to expect or how long things will take. Your immigration attorney can help you by (a) helping you think about the timeline of the process as a whole and (b) thinking about how long particular steps along the way will take. This will help you as you make plans and move forward with your immigration.
How Will We Communicate?
It’s very important that you communicate with your lawyer throughout the immigration process. This will help ensure that you don’t miss any important deadlines or appointments.
Ideally, you want to find an immigration lawyer who will be staying in touch with you directly, either through email or phone. If they mention that you’ll be primarily in touch with their legal secretary or paralegal, this is a sign that they may not be able to give your case the full attention it needs.
Do You Have References?
Because there are such high stakes with your immigration case, it’s very important that you hire a lawyer with a good reputation.
The best way to learn about a lawyer’s reputation is to talk to others who have used their services. So, make sure to ask lawyers for references before hiring.
But, keep in mind that lawyers are only going to give you their best references. Therefore, it’s important to also read reviews online. You should also check to see if the lawyer has any complaints filed against them through the Better Business Bureau.