Immigration Document Review by an Attorney
Prepared your own immigration application? Review your forms and supporting evidence with Richard T. Herman, Esq. or another HLG immigration attorney before you submit them to the government.
Discuss concerns, identify potential gaps, and understand what may need attention before filing. The appointment covers the documents and issues that can be addressed within the agreed scope and one-hour session.
HLG founder · More than 30 years in immigration law
Meet HLG’s founder
Richard T. Herman, Esq.
More than 30 years in immigration law · Practicing since 1993
Richard helps individuals, families, and businesses navigate U.S. immigration. His approach is personal, patient, and direct: listen to your goals, tell you what he sees, explain concerns, and help you understand the next steps.
Richard founded Herman Legal Group in 1995 and co-authored Immigrant, Inc. Explore Richard’s experience and credentials.
Want your review with Richard? Call 216-696-6170 before booking so we can confirm his availability and the appropriate appointment.
Can a lawyer review an immigration application I prepared myself?
Yes. Herman Legal Group offers a separate document-review appointment for people who prepare their own applications and want an immigration attorney to examine their work before filing. Bring a complete packet and specific questions so the meeting can focus on the concerns that matter to your case.
A review can help you understand whether your answers and evidence fit together, where information may be missing, and whether a legal issue needs more attention. It does not guarantee approval or mean every case can be fully evaluated in one hour.
What we can look at together
The review depends on your application, records, and available time. Tell us the forms, approximate packet length, and filing deadline when you schedule.
Forms and answers
Questions you are unsure how to answer, incomplete sections, and differences in names, dates, addresses, or immigration history across the packet.
Supporting evidence
How the documents relate to what you are asking the government to approve, and whether important records or explanations appear to be missing.
Filing preparation
Questions about current form instructions, form editions, signature requirements, filing fees, and the payment method for the way you plan to file.
Issues beyond the paperwork
Facts that may call for additional eligibility analysis, a different strategy, or ongoing representation before you proceed.
For government instructions, consult U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) forms and instructions and the agency’s filing guidance. Use the current instructions for the particular form and filing method.
What your $500 document review includes—and does not include
The appointment gives you one hour with an HLG immigration attorney to review prepared materials and discuss your concerns. Before booking, confirm that your packet and questions fit the available time.
Included in the appointment
- A conversation about your case: your goals, relevant history, and the questions you want to resolve.
- Review of prepared forms and evidence: the materials that can be addressed within the agreed scope and scheduled hour.
- Candid attorney feedback: concerns we identify, why they matter, and information that may need clarification.
- A discussion of next steps: corrections or additional records to consider, and whether further legal work is recommended.
Not included in the $500 fee
- Preparing, completing, rewriting, or making corrections to your application for you.
- Filing your case, paying government fees, or contacting USCIS, a consulate, or another agency on your behalf.
- Monitoring your case or deadlines, answering later government notices, or attending an interview or hearing.
- Additional meetings, follow-up work, or ongoing representation.
- Advance reading, a written legal opinion, or marked-up forms unless separately agreed before booking.
A one-hour review is not an unlimited review of every page or issue. It does not certify that your application is complete, error-free, or certain to be approved. A large packet or complex history may require a separate engagement. You remain responsible for corrections, filing, and deadlines unless HLG separately agrees to handle those tasks.
Benefits of attorney review before you file
When you have prepared your own immigration application, a fresh legal perspective can help you understand what deserves attention before submission. The value is both identifying potential problems and explaining their significance in the context of your circumstances.
- Address avoidable problems earlier. Discuss gaps, inconsistent answers, or unclear supporting evidence while you still have an opportunity to address them.
- Understand the reason behind a concern. Ask why an answer or document matters and how it relates to the application you plan to file.
- Prioritize your next steps. Discuss what you can work on yourself and what may require additional research, records, or attorney assistance.
- Recognize when to pause. If the documents raise a question that cannot be responsibly evaluated during the appointment, we will explain what needs further attention.
Our goal is to help you make informed decisions and minimize avoidable risks. The review cannot eliminate every risk, prevent every request for evidence, or guarantee an outcome.
Why choose HLG for your document review?
Immigration paperwork represents something personal: your family, your work, and your future. HLG is led by Richard T. Herman, Esq., an immigration lawyer with more than 30 years of experience. Our approach combines that depth of experience with an approachable conversation about your individual circumstances.
We listen patiently and explain plainly
You should feel comfortable asking questions and saying when something is unclear. We listen to your concerns, ask follow-up questions, and explain the issues in language you can understand. Preparing your own paperwork does not mean you should have to navigate every uncertainty alone.
We tell you what we see
We discuss strengths, gaps, and concerns honestly. If something worries us, we will tell you. If we need more information or cannot answer a question within the review, we will explain that too. A useful review may confirm parts of your approach, identify work still needed, or show why a different strategy deserves consideration.
Get to know a team you can contact in the future
A document review can be a first step in getting to know Richard and the HLG team. You can experience how we listen, explain concerns, and work with you. If a problem later arises with USCIS, immigration court, or ICE, you will have a familiar firm to contact to discuss what help may be available.
Future assistance depends on the circumstances, attorney availability, and a separate agreement. The review does not include ongoing monitoring, emergency coverage, or representation in a later matter. If you receive a notice or have an urgent issue, contact us promptly and confirm that HLG has agreed to handle it; do not assume the earlier review covers the new matter.
We want you to succeed—and reduce avoidable risks
We care about helping you move toward your immigration goals. That means giving candid advice, including when the prudent next step is to pause before filing. We will explain the reason for any recommendation for additional work so you can make an informed choice. Success is the goal; honest advice is what we can commit to.
How the document review works
- Choose the right appointment. Choose online, Cleveland, or Columbus below. Contact us first if you have a deadline, need language assistance, or want a specific attorney. If you are still deciding what to apply for, start with a consultation.
- Prepare your complete packet. Organize the forms, supporting records, government notices, and your questions. Include any required English translations with the original-language records, and flag translation or certification questions for your attorney. For an online review, follow HLG’s instructions for sending the packet, preferably as one or two readable PDFs.
- Meet with your attorney. Explain your concerns and review the materials together during the scheduled hour. Tell the attorney about prior filings, adverse decisions, and other facts that could affect the advice.
- Discuss what comes next. Ask which corrections or records need attention and whether further work is recommended. Additional review, preparation, or representation requires a separate agreement on scope and fees.
Have a large packet or a deadline approaching? Call before booking. Confirm that the service and appointment timing fit your situation. Scheduling a review does not extend a government deadline.
Which appointment should you choose?
| Your situation | Best starting point | Fee and scope |
|---|---|---|
| You need advice about eligibility, risks, or possible strategies. | Initial consultation | $200 for one hour. |
| You have prepared forms and evidence and want attorney feedback before filing. | Document review | $500 for one hour; scope depends on the packet and issues. |
| You want the firm to prepare or handle your case. | Immigration representation | Scope and fees are quoted separately. |
Review the included services and exclusions before booking. Any work beyond the agreed one-hour review requires a separate agreement on scope and fees.
Green card applications and other documents to ask us about
Tell us what you have prepared so we can confirm suitability and match you with an attorney. Examples include a marriage-based green card packet, adjustment of status application, supporting financial records, I-751 evidence, naturalization application, or consular-processing documents.
Business, employment, and other substantial petitions may require more extensive work. If you received an RFE, denial, or other government notice, contact us to determine whether you need a notice-response or denial consultation instead of a routine pre-filing review.
Disclose arrests, prior removals, immigration violations, earlier inconsistent answers, and any pending proceedings when arranging the appointment. The lawyer may recommend resolving a legal question before continuing with the packet.
Richard Herman and the attorneys on your side
You can request Richard T. Herman, Esq. or another attorney whose experience and language skills fit your needs. Tell us your application type, any deadline, your preferred attorney, and the language you would like to use. We will confirm the right appointment and availability before you book.
Vania Stefanova, Esq.
Family immigration · Deportation defense · Citizenship
Vania leads HLG’s Immigration Litigation Division. Her experience includes family petitions, naturalization, removal defense, and appeals before the Board of Immigration Appeals.
Languages: English, Russian, and Bulgarian. She also has a working knowledge of French, Serbian, Croatian, and Macedonian; confirm the appropriate language arrangement when scheduling.
Luis C. Villarroel, Esq.
Family immigration · Deportation defense · Citizenship
Luis leads HLG’s Columbus-area office in Worthington. You can discuss family immigration, naturalization paperwork, and deportation concerns with him. His criminal-law background is also relevant when an immigration history includes arrests or court records.
Languages: English and Spanish.
Tameem Ansari, Esq.
Family immigration · Deportation defense · Citizenship
Tameem assists with family immigration, citizenship and naturalization matters, and deportation concerns. His experience also includes asylum and visa applications, along with a background as a prosecutor.
Languages: English, Dari, and Pashto.
Ruijie “Jessica” Zhang, Esq.
Business immigration · Work visas · Employment-based green cards
Jessica’s experience includes H-1B, L-1, and O-1 matters, PERM labor certification, and EB-1 and EB-5 immigration. She works with employers, professionals, and investors, and also handles family immigration and naturalization.
Languages: English and Chinese, including written Chinese.
These practice areas describe the attorneys’ broader experience. A document review covers only the agreed materials and scheduled hour; court representation, petition preparation, and other work require a separate agreement. Complex business petitions or urgent court matters may need a different appointment.
Online, Cleveland, or Columbus
Online appointments are available for U.S. immigration matters, including for clients elsewhere in the United States or abroad. In-person reviews are available at HLG’s two Ohio offices.
Cleveland
408 West Saint Clair Avenue, Suite 230
Cleveland, OH 44113
216-696-6170
Cleveland office information
Columbus / Worthington
6660 North High Street, Suite 3E
Worthington, OH 43085
614-300-1131
Columbus office information
Document review questions
Does the attorney complete the application for me?
This appointment is for reviewing work you have prepared. If you need forms prepared, substantial revisions, or the firm to handle the filing, ask about a separate engagement.
What should I bring?
Bring the complete packet, relevant immigration records and notices, a short history of your case, and a prioritized list of questions. Include every page of any notice that affects your filing. For an online meeting, confirm the delivery instructions before sending your documents.
Will one hour be enough?
That depends on the packet’s size and the issues involved. Tell us what you need reviewed before scheduling. A long or complex submission may require additional work under a separate agreement.
Can I use this service if I prepared forms through an online platform?
You can ask HLG to review the materials you prepared yourself or with another service. Provide the complete forms and evidence and explain what assistance you have already received. We will confirm the appropriate scope.
Does a review guarantee approval or faster government processing?
No. The purpose is to evaluate the materials and concerns within the agreed scope. The government decides the application; a review does not guarantee approval or change its processing time.
Choose your document-review appointment
$500 · One hour. Select your meeting format. Check the calendar’s time zone before choosing a time.
Want Richard or another specific attorney? Call 216-696-6170 before booking to confirm the appointment. The Columbus calendar currently lists Luis Villarroel; the online and Cleveland calendars may assign an available attorney.
Need help choosing? Compare consultation and document-review options.