When Do You Need an Immigration Attorney?

Seeking professional advice from an experienced immigration attorney can save you a lot of time and frustration, especially due to the complexity of the United States’ immigration system. Immigration law is extensive and insanely complicated. Professional assistance is recommended and often needed when it comes to cases that deal with visa applications, green cards, citizenship, deportation issues, naturalization and employment for undocumented people. You may also be able to qualify for a work visa, u-visa and even entertainment visas, this however depends on your individual case. So the question is, When Do You Need an Immigration Lawyer?

• If you don’t know what your options are, consultations with lawyers are usually offered to get a better understanding of what options you may have. If you’ve never consulted with an immigration attorney and have explained your case specifically, you’ll never know what options you may have. An experienced immigration attorney can help layout those options for you so that you can have a full understanding of the circumstances relating to your immigration case.
• If you are in immigration court proceedings, many people think that since they are already in the process of being deported there is no legitimate reason to hire an attorney, but most of the time they are actually wrong. Hiring an immigration attorney during court proceedings can help you present a defense by creating a strong argument in your favor. Your immigration attorney can help file all the necessary paperwork and can even present other options like applying for relief from removal, get your case terminated or even determine if you qualify for one of the many visas offered by the U.S. (work visa, u-visa, entertainment visa, etc).
• If you are inadmissible, there is a lot of information out on the internet regarding information about why you may be denied legal entry into the United States, or in other words, considered “inadmissible.” Some of the classes of inadmissibility under USCIS consist of drug traffickers, people with multiple criminal convictions, people that are likely to become a public charge, spies, terrorists, etc. However, if you fall under one of these classes of inadmissibility there can still be a chance you won’t absolutely be prohibited from being able to legally enter the United States. Being found inadmissible deals with multiple complicated factors and it is extremely important that you consult with an immigration attorney if you believe you are categorized as inadmissible.
• If you are overwhelmed with paperwork, hiring an experienced immigration lawyer will help avoid mistakes when filling out the applications and documents. There are tons of different forms one has to fill out for different situations. You have to make sure the applications you fill out apply specifically to your case, whether it deals with a U-visa, work visa, entertainment visa, etc. If you are uncertain about a lot of the information and documentation USCIS is asking for, it’s probably time to hire an immigration attorney.

– Maria Campos Tello