Strategic immigration counsel for families, professionals and employers—from a law firm founded in Cleveland more than 30 years ago.
Immigration cases are rarely just about forms. A marriage case can determine whether a family stays together. A visa problem can disrupt a career or business. A naturalization filing can expose an issue from years earlier. Our lawyers study the complete history, identify risk before filing and build a plan for what comes next.
Founder · Cleveland Immigration Attorney · 30+ Years
408 West Saint Clair Avenue, Suite 230
Cleveland, Ohio 44113
In-person and remote consultations available. View directions and our Google Business Profile →
Founded in Cleveland in 1995
30+ years of immigration practice
Family, employment and removal representation
Multilingual team serving clients worldwide
Herman Legal Group is a Cleveland-based immigration law firm founded by immigration attorney Richard T. Herman in 1995. We represent people and businesses in family immigration, employment visas and green cards, citizenship, waivers, international student matters, removal defense and complex immigration histories.
The important question is not simply whether an attorney knows which form to file. It is whether the attorney can recognize the legal and factual issues that may determine the outcome before the government does. For help beyond Greater Cleveland, explore our Ohio immigration services and statewide resources. For representation in the Mahoning Valley, see our Youngstown immigration services.
Get a Strategic Case ReviewThese two separate HLG matters illustrate how the legal path depends on the individual history. Names and identifying details are omitted.
A client with Temporary Protected Status and a parole entry obtained a green card through sponsorship by an adult U.S. citizen child.
Why the details matter: Family eligibility and the record of entry must be reviewed together when assessing adjustment of status.
In a separate matter, a U.S. citizen spouse’s I-130 petition was approved first. The client then obtained an I-601A provisional unlawful presence waiver, completed National Visa Center processing and a consular interview, and returned with an immigrant visa before receiving a green card.
Why the details matter: An approved petition and waiver are distinct steps; waiver approval alone does not guarantee an immigrant visa.
Case summaries supplied by Richard Herman. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome; each case depends on its facts and applicable law.
Choose the issue closest to yours. During a consultation, we can evaluate whether a different or combined strategy may be more appropriate.
Marriage green cards, I-130 petitions, adjustment of status, consular processing, fiancé visas and complex family cases involving prior petitions, overstays, denials or removal history.
H-1B, L-1 and O-1 visas; PERM labor certification; I-140 petitions; EB-1 cases; EB-2 National Interest Waivers; and strategies for Cleveland employers and international professionals.
N-400 preparation and risk review involving residence, travel, good moral character, tax issues, Selective Service, voter registration and the history of permanent residence.
Representation in immigration court, including possible adjustment, cancellation, asylum, waivers, criminal-immigration issues, prior orders and missed hearings.
Analysis of unlawful presence, prior removal, fraud or misrepresentation allegations, certain criminal conduct and possible I-601, I-601A or I-212 strategies.
Advice on F-1 and M-1 status, OPT, CPT, changes of status, employment transitions, SEVIS issues and longer-term immigration planning.
Some of the most important legal work happens before an application is filed. We examine eligibility, timing, prior entries and departures, government records, criminal history and the consequences of each available path.
✓ Is the person legally eligible for the requested benefit?
✓ Could an overstay, unauthorized employment or status violation matter?
✓ Is there an earlier removal order or immigration-court history?
✓ Could unlawful presence create a three- or ten-year bar?
✓ Could an arrest, conviction or dismissed charge affect the case?
✓ Are prior applications inconsistent with the current filing?
✓ Could filing one application expose a separate immigration problem?
✓ What is the plan if the government disagrees?
An initial consultation is an opportunity to explain your immigration journey, goals and concerns and to determine whether HLG is the right law firm for your matter. An attorney may review available documents, identify missing information, answer questions and explain the legal process that may apply.
Bring your passport, immigration documents, prior applications, government notices and a basic timeline of important entries, departures and events. Complicated cases may require additional records before definitive guidance is possible. No responsible immigration attorney can guarantee a result.
Schedule Your ConsultationRichard T. Herman founded Herman Legal Group in Cleveland in 1995. His individual professional recognition includes selection to Super Lawyers (2004–2025), an Avvo rating of 10.0 and an AV peer-review rating from Martindale-Hubbell. These credentials recognize Richard individually; they are not awards to every HLG attorney or guarantees of results. His more than 30 years of immigration practice include family and employment immigration, citizenship, waivers, removal defense and complex case strategy.
Richard grew up in Cleveland, earned his law degree at Case Western Reserve University and founded HLG here in 1995. His civic work has included co-founding Global Cleveland and TiE Ohio, with nonprofit board service including the Cleveland Council on World Affairs, Ohio Hispanic Bar Association and LULAC. He co-authored Immigrant, Inc. with Robert L. Smith, connecting immigrant entrepreneurship with the future of cities such as Cleveland. These are historical roles, not statements of current board membership.
Why Trust Richard T. Herman?Local logistics matter, but always follow the address, date and instructions on your individual government notice.
1240 East Ninth Street, Room 501
Cleveland, Ohio 44199
The downtown Cleveland field office handles scheduled matters such as naturalization and adjustment-of-status interviews. Follow the location and instructions on your appointment notice.
Official USCIS office information
Check USCIS processing times: Use the official processing-times tool for N-400 (naturalization), I-485 (adjustment of status) and I-751 (removal of conditions). Select your form, category and the office handling your case, as applicable. Choose Cleveland only when it is the relevant listed office; an I-751 may be handled elsewhere. Estimates change and do not promise a decision date.
801 West Superior Avenue, Suite 13-100
Cleveland, Ohio 44113
Cleveland Immigration Court is in downtown Cleveland, near HLG’s West Saint Clair Avenue headquarters. It is part of the U.S. Department of Justice, separate from USCIS. Follow your hearing notice and check official court information and EOIR case information.
Cleveland Immigration Court: What the Data Shows
TRAC’s August 27, 2026 reports, covering FY2021 through June 2026, report a 79.2% asylum denial rate in Cleveland, compared with 62.9% nationwide. Historical judge-level outcomes vary; case mix, representation, nationality and detention status can affect comparisons. These figures describe asylum decisions, not every court case or an individual client’s chances.
Read TRAC’s report and methodology · HLG’s Cleveland Immigration Court guide
Discuss your immigration court case →
USCIS is part of the Department of Homeland Security and decides many benefit applications. Immigration Court is part of the Department of Justice and handles removal proceedings and certain requests for relief. A person may have matters involving both agencies at the same time.
Immigration law is primarily federal, so attorneys often represent clients outside their home state. A genuine Cleveland presence can still matter for in-person meetings, local agency logistics and community accountability.
✓ Cleveland immigration practice dating to 1995
✓ Physical headquarters in downtown Cleveland
✓ Experience with USCIS, consular and immigration-court matters
✓ Individual, family and employer representation
✓ Multilingual service for Ohio and worldwide clients
✓ Deep ties to Cleveland’s immigrant and civic communities
We serve Cleveland and Greater Cleveland, including Cleveland Heights, Lakewood, Shaker Heights, Solon, Mayfield Heights, Parma, Parma Heights, Westlake and Mentor.
Richard T. Herman is a Cleveland immigration attorney and founder of Herman Legal Group. He established the firm in Cleveland in 1995 and has practiced immigration law for more than 30 years.
Our Cleveland headquarters is at 408 West Saint Clair Avenue, Suite 230, Cleveland, Ohio 44113.
HLG handles family and marriage immigration, employment visas and green cards, citizenship, waivers, international student matters, removal defense and complex cases involving prior denials or immigration violations.
Bring your passport, visa, I-94 record, green card if applicable, prior filings, USCIS or court notices, and documents relating to arrests, prior marriages or other facts that could affect the case.
Fees depend on the type and complexity of the matter, the work required and whether representation is available. After evaluating the case, the firm explains the anticipated scope of services and fee arrangement before an engagement begins.
Often, yes. Because immigration law is primarily federal, immigration attorneys frequently represent clients outside their home state, subject to the rules governing the agency or proceeding.
No. An attorney can evaluate eligibility, identify risks, prepare evidence and legal arguments and advocate for a client, but the government decides the case.
Meet the attorneys whose immigration experience supports HLG clients in Cleveland, across Ohio and worldwide.
Founder · Immigration Attorney
More than 30 years of immigration practice; family, employment, citizenship and complex case strategy.
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Head, Immigration Litigation Division
Removal defense and appeals before the Board of Immigration Appeals.
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Associate Attorney
Ohio-based immigration counsel informed by his own experience as an immigrant from Venezuela.
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Immigration Lawyer
Cleveland State University graduate serving immigrants through the Herman Legal Group.
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Of Counsel
More than a decade of experience in H-1B, L-1, O-1, TN, E-3, PERM and EB-1 matters.
View ProfileImmigration decisions can affect where you live, whether your family remains together, and your ability to work and travel. Herman Legal Group has been based in Cleveland since 1995. We also serve Akron and Summit County clients through our Cleveland office and remote consultations. Let’s identify the strongest next step for your situation.
408 West Saint Clair Avenue, Suite 230
Cleveland, Ohio 44113 · 216-696-6170
View our Google Business Profile and get directions →
Google reviews: 4.8 out of 5 from 232 reviews
For HLG’s Cleveland listing, checked September 8, 2026. Ratings and review totals change.
Read our reviews on Google →
“I had an amazing experience working with Richard and his team throughout my entire immigration journey.”
— Mariam Bustamante, Google review excerpt. Read the full review.
Schedule an in-person or remote consultation. For a government appointment, follow the address and instructions on your USCIS or court notice.
Reviewed by Richard T. Herman, Esq. · Founder, Herman Legal Group · Last reviewed September 2026
