Los 10 mejores abogados de inmigración en Chicago

Chicago es el hogar de algunos de los más cualificados y experimentados abogados de inmigración del país, porque hay varios motivos para que esta ciudad haya atraído a los mejores abogados de inmigración, comenzando su gran cantidad de población nacida en el extranjero (casi 1,6 millones), siguiendo con un grupo de destacadas escuelas de derecho y muchas otras razones de peso. Todo esto ha inspirado a muchos habitantes de Chicago a dedicar sus carreras ayudando a los inmigrantes y también ha atraído a abogados de inmigración de todo el país.

Los mejores abogados de inmigración en Chicago

Richard Thomas Herman

Richard Thomas Herman, es un abogado de inmigración con más de un cuarto de siglo de experiencia, fundador de Herman Legal Group, un bufete de abogados de inmigración con alcance nacional.

El bufete ha sido designado «Mejor Firma de Abogados» por el U.S. News & World Report en base a las evaluaciones de clientes y compañeros de profesión. Herman Legal Group representa a clientes de todo el país desde sus oficinas en Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, Nueva York, Pensilvania, Florida, Texas e incluso Canadá.

Gerald Cipolla

Gerald Cipolla ha manejado miles de peticiones de inmigración para clientes de Chicago, así como para sus clientes internacionales repartidos por todo el mundo. Él es un conferenciante frecuente sobre temas de inmigración en la radio, los medios de comunicación impresos, y seminarios legales. No es un abogado de «todoterreno»: su práctica se dedica por completo a la ley de inmigración de los Estados Unidos.

Christopher Helt

El distnguido abogado Christopher Helt, fundó The Helt Law Group LLC. Además es una referencia como abogado de inmigración de defensa de la expulsión (deportación) además de gozar de prestigio nacional. Cuenta con una amplia experiencia representando a inmigrantes ante el Tribunal de Inmigración de los Estados Unidos, los tribunales federales de los Estados Unidos y el Departamento de Seguridad Nacional.

Margaret W. Wong

Margaret M. Wong es la fundadora de Margaret W. Wong & Associates LLC, una de las principales firmas de abogados de inmigración de Chicago que ha servido a la comunidad de inmigrantes durante más de 50 años. La firma ofrece servicios integrales de inmigración a través de múltiples abogados de inmigración. La Sra. Wong es profesora adjunta en la Facultad de Derecho de la Universidad Case Western Reserve.

Richard Hanus

Richard Hanus fundó The Law Offices of Richard Hanus hace 30 años en Chicago para ofrecer servicios de inmigración a empresas y particulares. El Sr. Hanus es un conferenciante de la Asociación Americana de Abogados de Inmigración (AILA), así como un orador frecuente sobre temas de la ley de inmigración.

Michael D. Baker

Es el fundador de las Oficinas Legales de Michael D. Baker en Chicago desde el año 2007. El bufete ofrece servicios de inmigración y naturalización a particulares, así como a empresas y escuelas. El Sr. Baker proporciona servicios integrales de inmigración.

Alen Takhsh

Con la creación de Alen Takhsh Law, P.C, basada sobre el principio de proporcionar una representación compasiva a sus clientes, tanto si sus problemas son sencillos como complejos. Alen no sólo ha ayudado a sus clientes a solicitar una amplia variedad de beneficios de inmigración, sino que también ha representado a clientes ante la Oficina Ejecutiva de Revisión de Inmigración (EOIR).

Christopher Helt

Christopher Helt es un abogado de inmigración de Chicago, reconocido a nivel nacional que fundó The Helt Law Group, LLC. Representa a clientes principalmente en las áreas de Chicago, Memphis y Atlanta. El Sr. Helt aparece regularmente ante los tribunales de inmigración, el Departamento de Seguridad Nacional, y los tribunales federales de los EE.UU. en nombre de sus clientes. Se graduó en la Facultad de Derecho de la Universidad Loyola de Chicago.

Scott D. Pollock

Es el fundador de Scott D. Pollock & Associates, P.C. en 1985. Entre sus clientes se encuentran no sólo individuos sino también empresas y organizaciones, tanto dentro de los Estados Unidos como en el extranjero. Sus servicios integrales de inmigración que proporcionan una atención personalizada y un conocimiento magistral de la ley de inmigración de los Estados Unidos.

Young Ah Ri

Creador desde 2007 del bufete de abogados de inmigración, Young Ah Ri Law Office. Ofrece servicios integrales de inmigración que incluyen la inmigración basada en la familia y el empleo, y atención a los inmigrantes que buscan protección bajo la Ley de Violencia contra la Mujer (VAWA) y los procedimientos de ciudadanía estadounidense, entre otros muchos servicios.

Póngase en contacto con un abogado de inmigración con experiencia para saber más sobre Chicago, Illinois, como destino para los inmigrantes, y para discutir cualquier pregunta o problema legal de inmigración.

Immigration Lawyers in Buffalo

[fsn_row][fsn_column width=”12″][fsn_text]

[/fsn_text][/fsn_column][/fsn_row]

Top Ten Immigration Lawyers in Detroit

If you were looking for the right legal professional to handle your immigration case in Detroit, you have probably come across many results. By adding simple words “immigration lawyer near me,” the results may narrow, but you can still be confused about the right pick.

The reason is that Detroit hosts some of the best law offices and border attorneys in the state, and it is usually hard to make a choice. Because of the good law schools in the area, closeness to Canada, and the second-busiest crossing between- the Detroit–Windsor Tunnel, along with rich immigration history, many prominent immigration law firms have settled in Detroit.

That’s why we vetted some of immigration law offices for you and made a list of top-ten immigration law firms in the Detroit area.

Herman Legal Group

Specialized in immigration law, this Dearborn immigration law firm has tremendous experience consisting of decades of advocating for and defending the rights of immigrants from all over the world.

This law office will provide you with professional legal help in all aspects of immigration law, including family, employment, investor, deportation defense, and citizenship.

These knowledgeable lawyer speak 12 different languages and offer brief consultation by phone, which puts them on the top of the list for persons who seek a trustful legal professional to handle their case.

Alan Reiter, PLLC

The Law office of Alan Reiter deals with nothing but immigration law. Having more than 20 years of experience, this lawyer will work with you toward the best possible outcome in your immigration case.

Office location makes it easier to reach the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services’ (USCIS) Detroit District Office, the Detroit Immigration Court, and United States-Canada border crossings. Their practice areas are naturalization, green cards, K-1, K-3, work, and temporary visas.

Butzel Long

With significant practices in Litigation, Corporate, Labor & Employment, this law firm is one of the oldest in Michigan.

It has more than 155 attorneys across the state. When it comes to immigration expertise, Butzel Long law firm is the most experienced with Citizenships, Employer Compliance, Green Cards, and Temporary Visas.

Walker and Associates

This boutique law firm serves Detroit citizens, individuals, and businesses in all areas of Immigration Law. Having a total of 40 years of combined legal experience, they provide representation in all family immigration matters, “green card” acquisition, and U.S. citizenship, and employment-based immigration matters.

These professionals have a great deal of experience in representing individuals who are placed in removal/deportation proceedings before an immigration judge.

Legalquest Network, Law Office of Rathi and Associates, PC

With multiple offices across the state, this law firm obtained over 50 years of litigation experience. In immigration matters, immigration lawyers in Southfield Michigan provide services such as getting a green card and becoming a permanent resident of the United States.

They will help you on the path of the naturalization process and assist you with every type of visa, including those for family, work, travel, and all others. Their lawyers speak multiple languages such as English, Gujarati, Hindi, Punjabi, and Spanish.

Dhade and Associates

Dhade, and Associates provide 100% full service in immigration law. By assisting individuals with immigration challenges, their services include the following areas: family and business immigration, Canada immigration, and citizenship appeals. Although located in West Bloomfield, Michigan, they help their clients throughout the state.

Sufen Hilf

A highly respected immigration lawyer in Troy who obtained her J.D. diploma at Michigan State University is a former native of mainland China fluently speaking mandarin Chinese.

With extensive experience in business and family immigration, naturalization, asylum applications, and removal (deportation) proceedings, she serves her client with the license to practice in the State of Michigan, Immigration Court, and Federal District Court.

Garbuzov Law Firm, PLLC

With a proven track record of representing clients in a wide variety of immigration matters, Gurbazov Law Firm obtains outstanding results in a timely and orderly fashion.

Although not providing free consultations, this law firm will offer a flat-fee in-office consultation where you can get a 1.5-hour consultation for a small consultation fee.

Mirque Law PLLC

This immigration lawyer in Grand Rapids, provides clients with creative solutions and forceful advocacy and competitive prices.

The immigration practice relates to permanent residency and non-immigrant business and employment visas, family-based immigration, waivers of inadmissibility, citizenship, and naturalization, and complex deportation and asylum cases.

The Law Firm of Shihab & Associates, Co., LPA

Offering services in Columbus Ohio, Cleveland Ohio, Southfield Michigan and Washington, DC, the Law Firm of Shihab & Associates is founded by a foreign-born attorney and has family and friends who have gone or are currently undergoing the complicated U.S. immigration journey. They represent small and large corporations, individuals, and families in immigration matters.

Personal Qualities You Should Look for in an Immigration Lawyer

Reading a lawyer’s resume can only tell you so much about him. One of the main differences between successful and unsuccessful immigration lawyers is the possession of certain intangible personal qualities that can make all the difference in your case. Below is a description of a few of the most important traits that an immigration lawyer should possess.

Empathy

Empathy is probably the most important quality you should look for in an immigration lawyer. Does he really care what happens to you? The sad reality is that some lawyers do, and some lawyers don’t. If you don’t consider yourself a good judge of people, bring along someone who is when you meet the lawyer for a consultation. Client reviews are also helpful in this regard.

Empathy is especially important when you are paying a flat fee for a defined service such as a visa application, because your lawyer will make the same amount of money regardless of whether you win or lose, and he can always blame immigration authorities if you are rejected.

It is also particularly important if you are paying by the hour to avoid deportation — after all, your lawyer knows that if you are deported, he will probably never see you again anyway.

An Eye For Detail

Even a small error in an immigration case can cause big problems. In a worst-case scenario, an error could do irreparable damage. Even if the error can be corrected, it might delay the processing of your case for an unreasonable amount of time.

Many immigration applications require a large amount of paperwork, resulting in numerous opportunities for a small error to result in cascading negative consequences.

One way you can gauge a lawyer’s attention to detail is by speaking with him about your case, which you will have a chance to do during a consultation with him. Never forget — a little nerdiness is a good quality in an immigration lawyer.

Strong Communication Skills

Strong communication skills are a must for any lawyer. A good immigration lawyer needs both written and oral communication skills. Two of the most important communication skills are clarity and persuasiveness.

• Clarity: A good immigration lawyer should be able to take a complex issue and express it in plain language that you can easily understand. You are probably going to have to make some decisions concerning your case, and you can’t make good decisions if you don’t understand your own case. Although the lawyer may need to use a few trade terms, speaking “legalese” is not helpful.
• Persuasiveness: Just about everything that you are likely to ask your immigration lawyer to do boils down to persuading US immigration authorities to either do something or to refrain from doing something. When you speak with your lawyer, do you find him persuasive? If he doesn’t persuade you, he is unlikely to persuade US immigration authorities.

In addition to general communication skills, it would be nice if your lawyer speaks your native language. It is worth noting, however, that one of the most common mistakes made by immigration clients is overestimating the significance of a lawyer being able to speak their language.

All other things being equal, your lawyer being able to speak your native language can be quite helpful. It will do you little good, however, if his legal skills are poor.

Calculated Pessimism

Pessimism might seem like a strange quality to include on a list of the traits of choosing the best immigration lawyer, but it definitely belongs. It is part of the job of an immigration lawyer to think of everything that could possibly go wrong and to create a contingency plan for dealing with every single one of them.

If your lawyer is constantly blowing sunshine at you, consider seeking a second opinion.

How Long Does it Take to Become an Immigration Lawyer?

Immigration lawyers are general practice lawyers who choose to focus on immigration law. Since the US does not offer separate licenses for different legal practice areas (with limited exceptions), an immigration lawyer is typically entitled to practice in any area of law, and many immigration lawyers do exactly that. Be wary of this type of “jack of all trades” lawyer.

Immigration lawyers perform the following tasks, among others:

• Prepare visa, permanent residency, adjustment of status and citizenship petitions;
• Fight deportation proceedings instituted against their clients;
• Represent clients in a variety of matters before US immigration courts;
• Obtain immigration benefits for the loved ones of US citizens and permanent residents; (a foreign spouse, for example);
• Help US employers hire and retain foreign workers; and
• Prepare applications for political asylum and other humanitarian immigration benefits.

Educational Requirements

Before you can go to law school, you are going to need to complete a four-year bachelor’s degree at an accredited college or university. Although a few US law schools occasionally accept students who have not completed a bachelor’s degree, this practice is the exception rather than the rule. An aspiring immigration lawyer can major in any undergraduate subject he pleases because law schools accept students from a wide variety of educational backgrounds.

Law School

After completing a bachelor’s degree, an aspiring immigration lawyer must take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and apply for acceptance at one of the 200 accredited US law schools. Law schools do not offer specialties in different legal practice areas, although some do offer postgraduate degrees focusing on particular areas of law.

Although an aspiring immigration lawyer should seek to enroll in as many immigration-related courses as possible in law school, this is not a formal requirement — in fact, many US law schools do not offer a single course in immigration law. A law student will need three years of full-time study to graduate with a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree.

Admission to the Bar Association

An aspiring lawyer must pass a state bar exam, which covers virtually all major areas of law. The bar exam itself might not contain a single question relating to immigration law. Pass rates range from 44 percent (California) to 79 percent (Missouri). If the candidate fails the exam, he can try again — most states offer the bar exam twice a year.

The candidate will also have to meet certain other requirements, such as an evaluation of his moral character and fitness, to be licensed as a lawyer. Candidates who graduate in May are usually licensed by December of the same year, assuming that they passed the bar exam on their first try.

Once the newly-minted lawyer is licensed, he is legally entitled to practice in almost any area of law (patent law is a notable exception). The lawyer will be subject to annual Continuing Legal Education (CLE) requirements to maintain his license to practice.

From High School Graduate to Licensed Attorney

All told, an aspiring immigration lawyer needs a total of seven years of full-time study after high school to obtain a Juris Doctor degree. He will also need a few more months to pass the bar exam and meet local bar association requirements. Those who pass the bar exam on their first try can be licensed as attorneys about seven and a half years after graduating from high school.

Professional Requirements for Immigration Lawyers

Most US law schools offer few if any courses in immigration law. Additionally, immigration law is ignored on my state bar exams and bar review courses. Because of this, and because few immigration cases are published, the typical immigration lawyer’s knowledge comes from hands-on practice experience. The lawyer may start his career in a junior position at an immigration law firm, work his way up, and perhaps even open his own law office.

Immigration law is one of the most politically sensitive areas of law, and it can change with astonishing rapidity. Changes in immigration law have proceeded at a dizzying pace during the Trump administration, for example. It is for this reason that when you select an immigration lawyer, you should choose a candidate with recent experience in immigration law.

Specialty Certifications and Professional Recognition

Some states offer specialist certification in particular areas of law, and these certifications may require a period of additional study. These certifications do not grant an attorney a superior right to practice law in that specialization. Instead, it reassures his clients that he is knowledgeable in that particular field. Only four states offer specialist certifications in immigration law, and Ohio and Michigan are not among them.

Other private organizations, such as Martindale-Hubbell, Super Lawyers, and Avvo.com, rate lawyers based on client and peer evaluations. Some of these organizations offer awards and honors that are only granted to immigration lawyers with a minimum number of years of experience.

Jurisdictional Freedom

Immigration law is federal law, not state law. As a consequence, obtaining a license to practice law in any state will entitle you to practice immigration law anywhere in the United States without taking the time to join that state’s bar association. If you were licensed in California but live in Kentucky, for example, you can practice immigration law in Kentucky without breaking any laws or ethical standards.

Practicing US Immigration Law Overseas

If you wish to practice overseas, as some immigration lawyers do, you are likely to need a license to practice US law from your overseas jurisdiction. You are likely to need to prove that you are licensed to practice law in the United States and that you have accumulated a certain number of years of practice experience back home.

Five Questions to Ask When Interviewing an Immigration Attorney

Some immigration lawyers offer free consultations, while others charge a fee. Either way, it would be best for you to look at your consultation not only as a chance to seek advice about your immigration case, but also to interview the attorney to find out whether he is a good fit for you. The following are some tips on selecting and interviewing immigration lawyers.

• Any lawyer you consider should be a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), an organization of around 15,0000 attorneys that is dedicated to providing resources to US immigration lawyers. Although AILA membership proves very little about the quality of the lawyer, lack of membership in AILA could mean that the lawyer’s specialty lies elsewhere and that he only occasionally takes immigration cases.
• Interview more than one immigration lawyer. Become familiar with their online presence, and do your best to find reviews of their performance that have been submitted by their previous clients. Reviews from clients with the same problem that you have are particularly relevant.
• Prepare carefully for your consultation, to give the lawyer a chance to prove his competence. Assemble basic information about your case as well as related documentation (birth certificate, visa applications, documents you received from US immigration authorities, police reports, court documents, etc.).
• Prepare a written list of questions to ask the lawyer, and refer to the list during your consultation so that you don’t forget anything.

Cross-Examining the Attorney

The following five questions are essential, although you may need to ask other questions as well.

How Many Cases Have you Handled that are Similar to my Case?

Immigration law is a broad field, and a lawyer who is good at family-based immigration petitions might be barely competent when it comes to employment-based immigration petitions or deportation proceedings. Ask the lawyer to describe the case strategy he used in cases he has handled that are similar to yours.

What are my chances of success?

To some extent, this is a trick question. If the lawyer purports to offer you a guarantee of success, eliminate him from consideration. What you should be looking for is a nuanced and conditional answer that gives you odds, not certainties. The lawyer should also be able to give you advice on how to strengthen your case.

How long will it take to complete my case?

The answer that you might most want to hear is also the answer that should raise the most concerns. In most cases, the quicker the lawyer promises to resolve your case, the less realistic his estimate is likely to be — and the less trustworthy he is likely to be. Immigration cases usually take time. This is not always the case, but it usually is. A good immigration lawyer should offer a plan of action with an estimated timeline.

Will you be handling my case personally?

Many immigration lawyers pass off their cases to paralegals and other non-lawyers, examining the case in-depth only immediately before it is submitted to immigration authorities. In other words, the lawyer you hire may know very little about your case until very late in the process. Select a lawyer who will take personal responsibility for your case and who will be able to answer your questions.

If you decide to accept the involvement of paralegals or other non-lawyers in your case, you should insist on being provided the name of a contact person in case you have questions.

How much are your fees?

Immigration lawyers typically do not work on a contingency basis (where your obligation to pay is conditioned on the lawyer winning your case). Instead, you pay an immigration lawyer to exercise his best efforts, and from there on out you simply take your chances. An immigration attorney may charge an hourly rate or a flat fee, and some offer monthly payment plans.

Immigration lawyers are more likely to charge a flat fee for a visa application rather than for immigration court proceedings because the time it takes to file a visa application is more predictable than the time that might be required to, say, fight deportation proceedings. In any case, you will need to read and fully understand the fee agreement before you sign it. Pay particular attention to any upfront retainers you might be required to pay.

Want to Win? How to Choose the Best Immigration Lawyer for You?

Introduction

Navigating the US immigration landscape has never been easy, with its maze-like complexity and its ever-changing policies and regulations. Since 2016, however, the landscape is starting to look more like a minefield than a maze. When trying to make your way across today’s immigration battlefield, who will you choose to handle your case?

Sometimes the best way to find the right answer is to ask the right question. Would you choose an advocate who just graduated from law school to lead the charge for you? Do you want someone who is laser-beamed on your wallet?

Or do you want someone who selected immigration, among many other more lucrative fields of law, because he is passionate about helping people who wish to immigrate to the United States?

What exactly does it mean to say that someone is an “immigration lawyer”?

The field of immigration includes many imposters — “consultants,” “notarios” and others who offer legal advice and fill out forms for people without fully understanding the legal complexities involved in answering even a single innocent-sounding question. What you need is a licensed lawyer who has passed the bar exam and has been admitted to the bar association of at least one US jurisdiction.

Since federal law governs immigration, it doesn’t matter which jurisdiction your immigration lawyer is licensed to practice in, as long as it is US state or possession, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.

As long as the attorney holds a license in one of these jurisdictions, it doesn’t matter exactly where. If you live in California, for example, and your attorney is licensed to practice in Idaho, for example, the fact that he is not licensed to practice in California won’t matter.

Of course, saying that someone is an immigration attorney is a lot like saying they are a physician — just as some physicians are a lot better than others, some attorneys are a lot better than others. You should also pay attention to specific areas of practice. Is the experience of the attorney limited to employment visas, for example, family-based petitions, deportations/removals, or some other area? It matters.

What does an immigration lawyer do?

Following is a very general outline of what a good immigration lawyer can do for you:

• He can help you understand the nature of the benefit you are seeking. You might find, for example, that the benefit you are seeking comes with hidden liabilities. You might even change your mind and try a different option after your immigration attorney clarifies the pros and cons of various immigration benefits for you.
• He can analyze the details of your case to spot risks and issues that you might have missed. You might, for example, be in danger of being declared a “public charge” without even realizing it.
• He can develop strategies to mitigate risks that you might face — being forced to return home while waiting for your application to be adjudicated, for example.
• He can help you to make crucial decisions by providing relevant legal advice. Should you get married overseas and wait for your spouse to be issued a US visa, for example — or should you sponsor your spouse for a fiance visa, get married in the US, and have your spouse seek permanent residence in the US? Decisions like these entail very different risks, and you must get them right.
• Collect the appropriate documents and prepare them in a manner that is likely to be acceptable to the authorities — finding a suitable translation agency to translate your birth certificate, for example.
• Help you respond appropriately to Requests for Evidence, which are requests for additional documentation and information that you may receive after you file your application. Failure to reply with an appropriate and timely response could ruin your chances of securing the benefit you are seeking.
• Help you prepare for your visa interview. Considerable coaching may be required for this so that you do not become flustered during the interview and answer in a manner that raises unjustified suspicions. Your attorney can help you become familiar with what to expect.
• A thousand other potential services that are too numerous to mention here.

How much does an immigration lawyer charge?

Immigration attorneys offer a variety of fee structures, including:

• Hourly rates. Most immigration attorneys charge between $100 and $700 per hour for their services. Hourly rates are most common when the attorney represents the client during immigration law court proceedings — removal proceedings, for example. The reason for this is that the total cost in terms of the attorney’s time is at its most unpredictable when clients have to deal with proceedings in court.
• Flat fee: Many immigration attorneys offer a flat fee for various services. An attorney is most likely to offer a flat fee when the benefit is well-defined, and it is relatively easy to predict the amount of time required. The attorney may charge a flat fee of $2,000 to $10,000 for certain types of visa applications, such as family-based visa applications.
• Under these circumstances, the fee is typically non-refundable — you are paying the attorney to submit a robust application on your behalf, not for a guarantee that your application will be approved. The fee will be the same regardless of the outcome of your application.
• Initial consultation: Immigration attorneys differ on their approach to consultations. Some offer consultations by telephone, while others charge a nominal amount ($50 to $100 on average) regardless of whether the consultation takes place by phone or whether it occurs in the attorney’s office.
• Another factor you must consider is the opportunity cost of not hiring an immigration attorney. If the attorney you are considering is competent, failure to hire him could increase the chance that you will not receive the immigration benefit you desire.

Remember, you don’t always get what you pay for when it comes to immigration lawyers — some of the most reasonably priced attorneys can be among the best, while some of the most expensive can be among the worst. Thoroughly investigate any attorney you are considering retaining, and let price constitute only one factor that you consider.

Red Flags

Unless you know what to look for, there may be immense hidden costs in hiring the wrong attorney. Below are some red flags to watch for:

• Does the attorney carry legal malpractice insurance? Typically, states do not require attorneys to carry legal malpractice insurance — in fact, only Oregon requires all of its attorneys to carry this type of insurance. Carrying malpractice insurance may cause the attorney to raise his rates to pay monthly premiums, but it also protects you if he makes a mistake.
• Does his fee agreement look intelligible? Read it carefully, and have another attorney review it if necessary, to avoid nasty surprises down the road. Be particularly attentive to any discrepancies between what the attorney tells you in person, and what you read in his engagement agreement. In the event of a discrepancy, the terms of the engagement agreement are likely to prevail.
• Is the attorney promising too much? Any attorney who purports to offer a guarantee of success is someone you should reject. Responsible attorneys don’t deal in certainties — only probabilities.

Do I need Immigration Attorney?

Attorneys cost money, and not everyone can afford to pay one. You are not required by law to be represented by an attorney for any immigration matter, even a deportation hearing. You are legally entitled to handle every aspect of your case yourself.

Nevertheless, retaining a qualified attorney is likely to vastly improve your odds of obtaining the immigration benefit you seek. Immigration law is deceptively complex, and critical issues often surface in places that someone untrained in the field (even an attorney trained in another area of law) would never suspect.

When you don’t need an immigration attorney?

There are few factors which, when taken together, might lead you to conclude that you either don’t need an attorney at all or require something less than full representation. Some of these factors are listed below:

• You speak and read English fluently;
• The legal research you need to perform is not overwhelming (in other words, you won’t have to become an expert to maximize your chances of qualifying for the immigration benefit you are seeking);
• You appear to be eligible for the benefit you are seeking;
• You have no criminal record and no record of problems with US immigration authorities (visa overstays, removal proceedings, etc.); and
  the stakes are low (you are seeking employment authorization for your spouse to make a little extra money, for example)

Even if several of these factors apply, however, the problem is that you may need an attorney to examine your case to tell you whether or not you need his services — perhaps it is not as straightforward as it appears. Never forget that there are few if any situations in which retaining an immigration attorney won’t at least improve your odds of obtaining the benefit you seek.

Do I need full legal representation in my immigration case? Unbundling

Legal representation is a spectrum. On one end of the spectrum is full representation — think of an elderly client who cannot even read immigration forms in English, for example. On the other end of the spectrum, you have cases where the client prepares an immigration application entirely on his own and has the attorney look over it and correct any errors before he passes it on to US immigration authorities.

In between these two extremes lies something called partial representation, an arrangement designed to save money for the client by delegating only particular tasks to the attorney. The process of substituting partial representation for full representation is known as “unbundling.” The legal fees you save through unbundling will be proportionate to the degree to which you are willing to handle certain aspects of your case on your own.

How do I choose a good immigration attorney?

Now that you understand what immigration lawyers do, how much services cost, and what you should expect of a good immigration lawyer, it is time to discuss just how you should go about choosing the right attorney for you.

Word of mouth

Generally speaking, the best way to find the right attorney for you is through word-of-mouth advertising. If any of your friends or relatives have used an immigration attorney before, speak to them. Their personal experience with a particular attorney can tell you more about the attorney’s quality than anything in the mass media is likely to.

Recognition by clients and peers

It is the job of specific organizations to rate attorneys on their competence. Some of these rating services rely primarily on assessing the attorney’s reputation among his peers, while others rely more heavily on client reviews. Pay attention to both types of ratings, because they both matter.

Following is a list of some of the most prominent lawyer rating services along with a description of how they can help you narrow your search for immigration lawyers to a shortlist:

• Avvo: Avvo gives each lawyer a numerical score on a scale of 1 to 10 based on the information in that lawyer’s profile.
• Super Lawyers: The Super Lawyers designation depends on peer reviews and independent research by the organization.
• Martindale-Hubbell: The Martindale-Hubbell is probably the world’s most prestigious legal rating service. The top rating is AV, which signifies both competence and ethics, as assessed by peers and clients.
• Best Lawyers in America: The Best Lawyers in American publishes a rating system based purely on peer reviews.

Narrowing It Down to a Shortlist

Narrowing down your selections to a shortlist might require that you meet personally with the lawyer. Some lawyers will charge you for a consultation, while others won’t. Even if you have to pay, however, it is better to pay a little to find out you don’t trust the attorney than to pay him a lot to prove that your initial mistrust of him was fully justified. Below are some of the issues you are going to need to address:

• Are the law office’s legal fees and various costs transparent and reasonable?
• What is your gut feeling? Is the attorney looking out for you, or himself?
• Would you enjoy working with the immigration lawyers in this firm? Did you make a human connection? This intangible factor is more important than you might think.
• Is your attorney able to “think outside the box” when it comes to an immigration law issue, or does his mind work in a straight line?
• Who will do the work on your case — partner, a junior associate, or even a paralegal?
• Do the immigration lawyers in the firm you are considering care about your predicament? Caring is an essential intangible factor in determining the quality of a law firm.

Remember that now is no time to skimp on cost, at least if the immigration benefit you seek is important to you. If you needed neurosurgery to remove a brain tumor, you wouldn’t choose a brain surgeon based solely on price. Likewise, don’t make the same mistake when choosing an immigration attorney to help you obtain green cards for you and your family.

Portrait of the ideal immigration attorney

The following checklist is a fictional construct — no single attorney meets all of them. Nevertheless, they should help you formulate a general idea of what qualities are most important in an attorney so that you can make sure that the attorney you select is the right one for you.

• He is a member of AILA, the American Immigration Lawyers Association. AILA membership is a bare minimum qualification necessary to keep up with rapid changes in immigration law. Although membership in AILA does not guarantee the quality of an immigration lawyer, you should be suspicious if your candidate attorney is NOT an AILA member. Failure to join AILA could indicate that the attorney only dabbles in immigration law while his real practice lies in a completely different field of law.
• He works on a flat fee basis for well-defined projects such as visa applications, and his prices are reasonable. Too low of a price might mean the lawyer is unaware of the complexities of the case.
• He has been named a Super Lawyer at least once, and preferably on multiple occasions.
• He is a member of the Best Lawyers in America.
• He is a member in good standing of his state bar association, and he has never been disciplined by the bar or been the subject of a client complaint.
• He enjoys a good reputation in his local community.
• A friend or associate of yours has recommended the lawyer or his law firm.
• He or his law firm can provide multiple client references.
• He focuses his practice on the area you are concerned with — employment-based immigration, for example, as opposed to removal/deportation proceedings.
• Immigration law is his primary or only area of practice. Ignore “jack of all trades” law firms who practice immigration law on the side.
• He enjoys the benefit of extensive experience: The more years of practice the attorney has, the better. Experience is especially important in immigration law, where most immigration law and policy is unwritten.
• His law firm has a low paralegal/attorney ratio: One or two paralegals per attorney is ideal. Law firms that employ ten or more paralegals per attorney should raise your suspicions — who will be working on your case anyway? Make sure your case will not be delegated entirely to paralegals.
• He is not overburdened with work already. Overwork is a particular problem with sole practitioners and law offices with only two or three attorneys.
• He returns your emails and calls promptly and communicates clearly. Lack of communication is the number one complaint of clients against their attorneys (and not just immigration attorneys either).
• He has published frequently and extensively on immigration law, preferably with prestigious publications. An extensive publication history indicates that your attorney’s expertise is widely respected.
• His promotional materials provide actionable information instead of pure advertising copy or hype. Check out the recent posts on his blog, because this factor can tell you a lot about the attorney’s competence and character. If his written promotional materials leave a bad taste in your mouth, how will immigration authorities view an application he submits on your behalf that is attempting to promote your eligibility for an immigration benefit?
• His engagement letter is easy to read and understand because it is free of fine print and legal jargon. Avoid law offices that offer one-sided agreements that offer their clients virtually nothing. Don’t treat the engagement letter as an afterthought, because it could end up meaning everything. Make sure that you fully understand it before you sign it.
• He is a native speaker of your language. Sharing your native language is not a necessity, however, and overemphasizing linguistic and cultural affinity could leave you with a terrible attorney who just happens to share your native language. Many immigration law offices rely almost entirely on this one factor to attract clients. All other things being equal, however, the better you can communicate, the better your chances of success will be.
• He and the other attorneys in his law office observe the highest ethical standards, by reputation and by your personal experience with him. Remember, an attorney who would be willing to cheat someone else (US immigration authorities, for example) on your behalf is also likely to be ready to cheat you on his behalf. Remember also that a dishonest attorney could get you indefinitely excluded from the United States.

About Richard Herman

Richard Herman has been practicing law for more than a quarter of a century now. He has helped over 20,000 clients make their dreams come true, and the world has noticed. Anyone can write advertising copy. Not just anyone, however, has received the independent acclaim of both clients and peers that Richard Herman has:

• He earned an “AV” rating by Martindale Hubbell, the highest rating for skill and ethics based on reviews from peers and judges;
• He was awarded Lead Counsel rating in Immigration Law by the Lead Counsel Review Board (2013);
• He received both the Clients Choice Award and a Top 10 rating for immigration lawyers on the law website, AVVO;
• He was listed in the 2015 edition of Best Lawyers in America;
• He has been listed as a Super Lawyer for ten years in a row; and.
• He has published extensively in third-party publications. Check out his recent posts in the Huffington Post for a sample.

Happy Halloween to All of Our Friends (In 7 Languages!)

Happy Halloween from the Herman Legal Group to all of our clients and friends!  We hope you enjoy saying “BOO” in seven languages!  While immigration to the U.S. may be particularly scary at the moment, our immigration attorneys are ready to scare the monsters, ghosts, and goblins that may be lurking in the halls at U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Service and U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement!

Halloween is one of our favorite holidays, celebrated each year on October 31.   The tradition of Halloween goes back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain.  People would create large bonfires, wear outrageous costumes, in an effort to ward off ghosts.  Later, in the 8th century, Pope Gregory III declared the first of November as the day to honor all saints.  From then on, All Saints Day integrated many of the traditions of Samhain.

The evening before All Saints Day became known as All Hallows Eve, and later Halloween.   Over time, Halloween became a time for kids to go trick-or-treating, carving up pumpkins into jack-o-lanterns, As time Over time, Halloween evolved into a day of activities like trick-or-treating, wearing scary and funny costumes, carving jack-o-lanterns, parties for young and old alike, and of course, eating sweet and fun food!

At our headquarter immigration law office in Cleveland, Ohio, we try to maintain our sense of humor and perspective.  It’s important for all children around the world to have fun and celebrate their local holidays.  It’s also important for adults to never lose that sense of childhood wonderment.

When it’s time to open up your front door, and the kids yell “trick or treat!” —- it’s time to smile and share the goodies!

Happy Halloween!

 

Best Immigration Lawyers in Detroit

Immigration lawyers in Detroit are happy to discuss matters with their clients. They will talk face to face to see what the desired goal is. Some people want to become US citizens, others want to attend school and then go back to their home country. Either of these two clients will benefit from the assistance of a qualified lawyer. The immigration process is not easy because there is a lot to do. Paperwork must be filled out correctly and filed in the right order otherwise it will be rejected. This can be very frustrating for those working on their own.

Immigration lawyers in Detroit are all too familiar with the process and will work with their clients from beginning to end. They will help to keep the client on track and moving forward. In addition, an experienced lawyer will make sure that their clients have realistic expectations as the immigration process will not happen overnight.

It takes time and determination to get through the system as there could be unavoidable setbacks. An immigration lawyer who has many years of experience, both in and out of the courtroom, is the best advocate to their clients.

Immigration law is a serious area of practice. Qualified lawyers in Detroit understand the importance of protecting their clients and have gone to great lengths to not only learn the law but also to learn how to speak different languages.

This is extremely helpful because it closes down some of the language gaps that exist when people from other countries enter the US hoping to become citizens. If you or someone or you know someone who is looking to enter the US, contact the experienced immigration lawyers in Detroit immediately.

Help With Immigration

An immigration attorney in Detroit has a very important job. They help people from other countries enter the United States legally. Hiring an attorney will make the immigration process a lot easier. The legal counsel will be the immigrants’ point of contact and help with all the things required by law to enter the country. Immigration takes a long time and going through the process alone can take even longer. This is not a task that anyone should take on alone. The first step to entering the US legally is hiring a qualified attorney.

People want to enter the US for a variety of reasons.

Those that are looking to attend a university must obtain a student visa just like some who wish to work in the US must get a work visa. Likewise, individuals who wish to marry a US citizen need a fiancé visa. Sometimes people just want to make a new life in the States. All of these scenarios will benefit from the assistance of an experienced attorney. The attorney will understand the difficult road ahead and will work hard to help make the path a little clearer.

This is very important because one wrong step in the immigration process can result in a lot of time lost. It already takes a long time to gain legal entrance into the US but to misunderstand the paperwork and file it incorrectly could be disastrous. Having an attorney to help with paperwork can make all of the difference.

They will bridge the communication gap, help fill out the paperwork, and get it filed correctly the first time. This can save time and money in the long run. Hiring an attorney might seem like a waste of money when in fact it is actually an investment in your future.

A qualified immigration attorney will understand the unique needs of immigrants. Many attorneys are multilingual so they can overcome the language barrier that often hinders the immigration process.

They have compassion for the issues that would be immigrants and their families face. They do their best to interpret the law and follow it exactly in order to make the process as easy as possible. There is no one better qualified to stand before a judge with their client than an immigration attorney from Detroit.