The US has always been a country of immigrants from the very beginning. The first settlers were immigrants, and many people who came later were too. Today, millions of people living in the United States are foreign-born. Almost half of all Americans are either immigrants or children of immigrants.
According to the CIS Report, the year 2022 has seen the highest number of foreign borne residents in the US. Around 47.9 million immigrants were recorded in September 2022 who are living in the US either legally or illegally. If you also plan to apply for a green card, you will need a good immigration lawyer.
Choosing an immigration lawyer is one of the hardest decisions you will make. As a client, you want to be confident that your lawyer has all of your information, understands what’s at stake, and is willing to fight for you.
You don’t want to hire someone who doesn’t have the time, experience, or passion to fight for you. But, on the other hand, you don’t want to be represented by someone who doesn’t know all the rules, regulations, and laws surrounding immigration law.
Here are some questions to ask yourself and points to discuss when making this important decision.
Experience
When choosing a lawyer, look for someone with experience with your particular situation. For example, how long have they been practicing immigration law? Have they handled many cases similar to yours? If so, how many and what was the outcome of these cases?
Wouldn’t it be great if you get a lawyer who is himself an immigrant and has all the experience, ups and downs himself? The Lopez Law Firm is one such immigration law firm in Charlotte, NC, with immigrants as lawyers.
They have expertise in all the areas of US immigration and laws of Charlotte immigration court. In addition, they believe in helping immigrants from anywhere in the world to get their Green Card and achieve their dreams in America.
When you hire such a firm, you will see the difference in working style from other lawyers who do not have much experience handling immigration clients.
You must feel comfortable with your attorney and confident in his/her ability to represent you in court. Therefore, you must interview several lawyers before hiring one to determine which lawyer best meets your needs.
Immigration Laws They Work With
If you’re looking for an immigration lawyer, knowing which countries and visa types they specialize in are important. Immigration law is a very specific area of law, and not all lawyers are the same. There are even different areas within the field of immigration law that require knowledge specific to their area of specialty.
For example, some attorneys focus on Canada-specific visas and Canadian citizenship applications. Others focus on UK citizens applying for work or marriage visas, yet another subset handles international adoption cases.
According to Pew Research Centre, only 77% of the immigrants in the US were legally living in the year 2020, and the remaining immigrants were living in an unauthorized way. Thus, when you are choosing an immigration lawyer, make sure that you are amongst those who are staying legally.
You should also ensure that your attorney is up-to-date with recent changes made by each country’s Home Office so they can provide you with the best advice possible regarding your situation.
Specialization
A lawyer’s specialization is another important factor in choosing the right immigration lawyer. Specialization means that your immigration attorney has more knowledge about what happens when a person from your country applies for permanent residence or citizenship status in the United States.
According to IBIS World, 13,115 Immigration Lawyers & Attorneys are working in the US as of 2022. It is an increase of 3.1% from the year 2021.
As you may already know, some lawyers specialize in many different areas of law. When it comes to immigration lawyers, you should make sure that you hire one who has experience working with people from your country or situation.
For example, someone who has worked with people from Mexico before or specializes in immigration in North Carolina. It is because different states of the US have different immigration laws.
Availability
Find out when the lawyer’s office hours are. If you’re used to working during business hours, making sure your lawyer is available at those times is important. In addition, ensure that the attorney is available outside normal business hours. Immigration matters often require immediate attention, especially if you have an upcoming interview or hearing with immigration authorities.
Sometimes, even a few hours’ delay can be costly or disastrous for your case. You must have someone on your side who is always willing to take calls and respond to emails during off-hours and regular business hours. Check if they offer online consultations and scheduling options that work best for you.
Credentials and Memberships
When you start your search for a lawyer, be sure to ask-
- What professional associations does the attorney belong to?
- Is membership in one of these organizations required or preferred to practice law?
- Are they members of an organization that represents immigration attorneys?
- Can you trust them if they’re not members of such an organization?
Testimonials
Testimonials are a great way to get an idea of what the lawyer is like. You can ask for testimonials from previous clients or even people who have previously worked with the lawyer. Testimonials should be taken with a grain of salt. There’s no way to know whether they’re authentic without talking to the person who wrote them yourself.
If you can find someone who worked closely with your potential immigration lawyer, they’ll be able to give you an unbiased opinion of their personality and work ethic.
Location
It’s important to find a lawyer who is close by so that you can meet with them in person. Depending on your case, this might be easier said than done. If you have a complicated case and can’t make it into the office, make sure your lawyer is available by phone or video chat.
The tips above should help you pick a lawyer you’re happy with and trust him or her to help you build a better future for yourself or someone you love.
Conclusion
Hopefully, this article’s information has helped you make a better decision about choosing an immigration lawyer. Remember that all of these are important factors, but don’t let them scare you away from talking to someone who might not have them yet.
Remember that they will be there for you throughout your case and help guide you through it. A good attorney will know what questions to ask, which could help save.
