U.S. immigration law is federal, constantly changing and unforgiving of mistakes: a wrong form, a missed deadline or an undisclosed arrest can mean years of delay or a permanent bar. An immigration lawyer identifies every path available to you, prepares applications that get approved and represents you before USCIS, the consulate and the immigration court. Only licensed attorneys and DOJ-accredited representatives may give immigration legal advice — not “notarios.”
What a immigration lawyer does
- Evaluates eligibility for family, employment, humanitarian and other categories
- Prepares and files petitions and applications with USCIS and the State Department
- Represents you at interviews, in immigration court and on appeal
- Analyzes criminal and immigration-history issues before you file anything
When you need a immigration lawyer
- You want to sponsor a spouse, parent, child or sibling
- You received a Notice to Appear, denial or Request for Evidence
- You have any arrest, prior removal or unlawful-presence history
- An employer wants to sponsor you, or you want to start a business
Questions to ask before you hire a immigration lawyer
- Are you a licensed attorney or DOJ-accredited representative?
- What are all my options, not just the one I asked about?
- What risks does filing create for me or my family members?
- What are the total fees, including government filing fees, and the realistic timeline?
Common questions
What is notario fraud?
In Latin America a “notario” is a lawyer; in the U.S. a notary public is not. Non-lawyers who prepare immigration paperwork for a fee often file the wrong applications and cause denials or removal. Verify any representative on the state bar website or the DOJ accredited-representative roster.
Find a immigration lawyer near you
Choose your state to see listed firms and the official bar directory for verifying any lawyer’s license.
- Alabama
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- District of Columbia
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- Kentucky
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