SERVING AKRON & SUMMIT COUNTY
Akron Immigration Lawyers
A clear immigration plan for your family, work and future.
Herman Legal Group represents Akron and Summit County clients in removal defense, family immigration, green cards, work visas, citizenship and waivers. Founded in Cleveland in 1995 by Richard T. Herman, HLG serves the Akron area through remote consultations and its Cleveland office.
Call 216-696-6170 · Multilingual team · More than 30 years of immigration practice
Richard T. Herman
Founder · Immigration lawyer
Serving families and employers across Northeast Ohio
Professional Recognition
Recognition relates to the individual attorney. Explore Richard’s credentials and recognition. Past results and ratings do not guarantee an outcome.
Longstanding connections to Akron
Richard has spoken multiple times in Akron, including appearances at the University of Akron, Akron Roundtable and International Institute of Akron. His local work brings immigration law into a wider conversation about families, entrepreneurship and the community’s future.
Akron Roundtable: the organization’s speaker archive documents Richard’s February 18, 2010 presentation at Quaker Station, featuring his work as co-author of Immigrant, Inc.
University of Akron: the university’s September 14, 2017 seminar agenda names Richard as moderator of a session featuring personal stories from immigrants and refugees.
These appearances document community engagement; the organizations are independent of HLG and do not endorse our legal services.
Akron and regional media: Akron Roundtable’s archive cites Paula Schleis’s December 28, 2009 Akron Beacon Journal article, “Book Explores Immigrants’ Role in U.S. Economy,” about Immigrant, Inc. Richard also contributed commentary on immigrant entrepreneurship to Ideastream’s February 15, 2012 public-radio feature, “Changing Gears: Immigration.”
A University of Akron law graduate leads our immigration litigation team
Vania Stefanova earned her J.D. at the University of Akron School of Law and heads HLG’s Immigration Litigation Division. Her work includes removal defense and appeals before the Board of Immigration Appeals.
For an Akron family confronting a court notice, that experience is relevant to the questions that matter: what the government alleges, which deadlines apply, what evidence is missing and what relief may be available. Case assignments and attorney availability are confirmed when representation is arranged.
Meet our immigration lawyers · Read Richard’s attorney profile
Start with the immigration problem you need to solve
A court notice or detention
Tell us the next hearing date and bring the complete notice. We evaluate the court history, possible defenses and custody issues.
A family member’s green card
We examine the family relationship, entry history and whether the case may proceed in the United States or through a consulate.
A job, career or business
We connect the proposed job and the person’s qualifications with available visa categories and a realistic filing sequence.
Deportation and removal defense for Akron residents
A family petition or other pending application does not, by itself, resolve an immigration court case. Removal defense requires a separate review of the allegations, deadlines, immigration record and potential relief.
HLG evaluates matters involving asylum and other protection, cancellation of removal, adjustment of status, waivers, prior removal orders, missed hearings and immigration consequences of criminal charges or convictions. Eligibility and the proper procedure depend on the facts and current law.
If a family member is detained, gather the A-number if known, detention location, hearing information, immigration notices and available criminal court records. Tell our team immediately about any deadline. Whether a custody hearing or another custody challenge is available requires an individual legal analysis.
An Akron resident’s hearing may be at Cleveland Immigration Court or another assigned location. Follow the actual notice and verify the hearing format through EOIR’s court and hearing information. Requesting a consultation does not extend a filing deadline or excuse an appearance.
Family immigration and marriage green cards
Marriage to a U.S. citizen may create a route to a green card, but it does not automatically grant lawful status. The first task is to determine which process fits the person’s immigration history.
For Akron couples and families, HLG reviews relative petitions, marriage green cards, fiancé visas, adjustment of status and consular processing. We look at prior entries and departures, earlier filings, marriages, denials and any court proceedings before recommending the next step.
Two people with the same family relationship may need different strategies. Someone admitted with a visa who overstayed may face a different adjustment analysis from someone who entered without inspection. An approved I-130 establishes one part of the case; it does not decide every admissibility or green-card question.
Family immigration services · Akron marriage green card information · USCIS immediate-relative guidance
An Akron client’s path from a troubled marriage to U.S. citizenship
An Akron client came to Herman Legal Group after his marriage to a U.S. citizen deteriorated following the filing of an I-130 petition and I-485 green card application. HLG pursued a self-petition under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). The lengthy case also required an I-601 waiver.
After that process, the client was approved for a green card. He later became a U.S. citizen.
Why the full immigration history matters: this case required addressing both the basis for permanent residence and a separate waiver issue. A marriage-based filing was only the starting point for the legal work that followed.
Anonymized HLG case summary confirmed by Richard T. Herman. Identifying details are omitted. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Employment immigration for Summit County employers and professionals
A work-visa strategy must fit the job, the employer, the applicant’s qualifications and the timing. Choosing a category before reviewing those facts can create avoidable problems.
HLG evaluates H-1B, L-1 and O-1 matters, PERM labor certification, I-140 petitions, EB-1 categories and EB-2 National Interest Waivers. For Akron-area employers and international professionals, the review may also need to address a change of employer, dependent family members, travel and a future permanent-residence plan.
We ask practical questions early: Who will employ and supervise the person? What duties will the position involve? Is there existing work authorization? Does the proposed start date allow time for the required process? A job offer alone does not authorize employment.
University of Akron students: plan before the next transition
For international students, legal questions often arise when a government notice, prior immigration problem or transition from study to work extends beyond routine school paperwork. HLG advises on student immigration matters, status questions, employment authorization and potential longer-term pathways.
Students should stay in contact with the University of Akron’s Student and Scholar Immigration Services for school-administered requirements. Coordinate legal advice with your designated school official when appropriate, and confirm the authorization required before starting employment.
Citizenship, waivers and complicated immigration histories
Review the record before naturalization
Before filing for citizenship, we examine the relevant immigration history, travel, residence, taxes, criminal records and the basis on which permanent residence was obtained. A seemingly simple N-400 can raise questions about events from years earlier.
Identify the exact problem a waiver must address
A provisional unlawful-presence waiver addresses a specific ground of inadmissibility; it is not a general cure for every immigration issue. Prior removal, alleged misrepresentation or criminal grounds may require a different analysis. Bring complete decisions and notices.
Immigration waiver services · USCIS provisional waiver guidance
Local resources for Akron and Summit County immigration matters
Akron and Summit County clients may need to travel to the Cleveland area for an immigration appointment or hearing. USCIS, ICE and Immigration Court are separate agencies with different roles. Always follow your individual notice, including its address, room, date and hearing or appointment format.
USCIS Cleveland Field Office
Anthony J. Celebrezze Federal Building
1240 East 9th Street, Room 501
Cleveland, OH 44199
USCIS handles immigration-benefit applications and interviews, including many green-card and naturalization matters. This Cleveland address appears in USCIS’s published office event information. Confirm your destination through your appointment notice and the official field-office locator. Biometrics may be scheduled at a different Application Support Center. Do not mail an application here unless its filing instructions direct you to do so.
ICE Cleveland check-in office — Brooklyn Heights
925 Keynote Circle
Brooklyn Heights, OH 44131
216-749-9200
ICE lists this as its Cleveland check-in location under the Detroit Field Office, with Northern Ohio coverage. Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) handles enforcement, supervision and removal matters. Check the official ICE check-in directory and your reporting instructions before traveling. A USCIS filing or consultation request does not cancel an ICE reporting obligation.
ICE government attorneys are separate from your lawyer: the Office of the Principal Legal Advisor’s Cleveland office is listed at 925 Keynote Circle, Room 201. OPLA represents the government in removal proceedings; it does not represent you.
Cleveland Immigration Court
801 W. Superior Avenue, Suite 13-100
Cleveland, OH 44113
Immigration judges at EOIR hear removal cases and decide applications for relief within their authority. Use the official Cleveland Immigration Court page and your hearing notice to verify location and instructions. Your particular case may be assigned to another hearing location or an internet-based hearing. A pending case with USCIS does not, by itself, excuse a scheduled court appearance.
International Institute of Akron
The International Institute of Akron’s immigration legal services program is a local resource. Contact the organization directly about eligibility, availability and fees.
What to bring to your consultation
Start with your goal and the earliest deadline. A useful first review depends on the record, including facts that may seem unrelated to the current application.
- Passport, visa, I-94 record and green card, if available.
- USCIS notices, hearing notices, denials and copies of prior applications.
- A timeline of entries, departures and important immigration events.
- Complete court records for arrests or criminal charges.
- Family, employment or school documents relevant to the question.
Confirm the consultation fee and scope when booking. Any further representation should be covered by an agreed scope of work and fee arrangement. Government filing fees are separate.
Questions about immigration representation in Akron
Does Herman Legal Group have an office in Akron?
HLG serves Akron and Summit County from its Cleveland office and through remote consultations. We do not maintain an Akron office. Confirm the meeting location when scheduling an in-person appointment.
Can HLG help with deportation proceedings for an Akron resident?
Yes. Our immigration litigation team handles removal defense and Board of Immigration Appeals matters. We first review the hearing notice, immigration history, deadlines and potential forms of relief. The hearing location and format depend on the actual case.
Can marriage to a U.S. citizen fix an overstay or unlawful entry?
Marriage may provide a basis for a family petition, but it does not automatically grant status or resolve every immigration problem. An overstay after admission and an entry without inspection can lead to different legal analyses. Prior removal orders and other inadmissibility issues also matter.
Which USCIS office handles applications from Akron?
Use your USCIS appointment notice and the official USCIS office locator to confirm your location. Interviews, biometrics and mailed filings can involve different destinations. Do not go to an office simply because it is closest to your home.
Do University of Akron students need to work with their school or an attorney?
Students should work with the university’s designated school officials for school-administered immigration matters. An immigration attorney can separately evaluate legal complications, prior immigration history, government notices and a transition to another immigration category.
How much does an immigration consultation cost?
Confirm the consultation fee and what is included when booking. Fees for further representation depend on the scope and complexity of the matter and should be addressed in a written agreement. Government filing fees are separate from attorney fees.
Do you offer multilingual assistance?
HLG has a multilingual team. Tell us your preferred language when requesting a consultation so we can confirm the assistance available.
How long will my immigration case take?
There is no single processing time for Akron. Timing depends on the application, agency or court, visa availability and individual circumstances. We help identify the relevant timeline and deadlines; no lawyer can guarantee a government decision date.
Speak with an immigration lawyer serving Akron and Summit County
We serve Akron, Cuyahoga Falls, Stow, Tallmadge, Fairlawn, Barberton, Hudson and communities across Summit County. Remote consultations make it possible to begin with a review of your situation; in-person meetings can be arranged at our Cleveland office.
Herman Legal Group — Cleveland office
408 West Saint Clair Avenue, Suite 230
Cleveland, Ohio 44113
Akron is a service area. HLG does not maintain an Akron office.