When Should You Hire an Immigration Lawyer?

“Should I hire an Immigration Lawyer to review my legal documents, or should I complete my documents first and have them reviewed by an immigration officer?” Even though you are not required to employ an immigration attorney before applying for a visa in the U.S. hiring one can help you save a lot of time; especially if you take into consideration that Immigration Law changes constantly.

Should you save yourself the aggravation and contact an immigration lawyer? The answer is yes! But, when should you do it? Well, according to the University of New Mexico, “Hiring a competent immigration attorney can help you avoid unnecessary processing delays and many hours of work interpreting immigration procedures, and preparing paperwork and petitions.”

In other words: the sooner the better.

If you look into the immigration process, you will undoubtedly realize that most people who try to go through this process without legal assistance from an Immigration Attorney end up facing constant delays or, worst case scenario, have their visas denied after months and months of hard work. In contrast, people who have hired an immigration lawyer have a much higher success rate.

Hire an Immigration Attorney when...

While we always recommend contacting an immigration lawyer from the get-go, there are several situations when you will definitely need legal assistance from a licensed attorney in your state. Contact an immigration lawyer when:

a) You are unsure about how to fill out important forms: Getting an experienced lawyer to help you fill out your application reduces the chances of a mistake. Any kind of mistake made in an application form, frequently leads to delays, as well as denials.

b) You are involved in deportation proceedings: Whether you are, or have been, involved in deportation proceedings, you must contact an Immigration Lawyer immediately. If your immigration court deportation proceedings have not finished, or even if they have, you won't accomplish anything trying to use the same application procedures as other aliens.

c) You might face inadmissibility issues: One of the most common legal issues immigrants face is inadmissibility. When you suspect the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) or the consulate might claim that you are inadmissible, it is essential that you get legal help before you even start the application process.

Hiring a knowledgeable immigration attorney, completely familiarized with the new immigration laws, can help you avoid unnecessary delays and countless hours of work. But, as with any important decision, you should only hire an immigration attorney after you have done your due diligence. Please, we urge you to do your research and take the time to make the most informed decision.

If you have any further questions, please let us know in the comments section below.