Skip sidebar and go to page body
Today, when national security is at the forefront of current events and immigration regulations are constantly in flux, resolving your immigration matters can often be more difficult than it seems. Improper filings can lead to delays, denials, or even deportation from the United States and the appeals process is difficult and costly.
When you need to resolve an immigration matter quickly and efficiently, enlisting the assistance of a competent immigration attorney is often the best place to start. Please review the links below for more information about why the assistance of a qualified immigration attorney is important, and how you can find an attorney who has the knowledge and experience necessary to ensure the success of your case.
Immigration is not Just Filing Forms
How an Immigration Attorney Can Help You
Choosing an Immigration Attorney
Many people mistakenly believe that they have a simple yes or no question or a straightforward case, and that it is not necessary for them to seek legal advice. However, in immigration, nothing is as straightforward as it seems. Many situations involve hidden circumstances that, if left unaddressed, can unfavorably affect an applicant’s case and immigration status in the United States.
It is important to have the counsel of an attorney who explain your legal options clearly and take your case from inception to completion successfully. Filing paperwork alone without obtaining legitimate, professional advice and assistance is an enormous risk. The consequences of wrongly assuming that your case is simple and straightforward can be devastating.
Resolving your immigration matter requires more than the preparation and filing of forms. To begin with, determining immigration eligibility requires in-depth knowledge of current immigration laws, policies, and procedures. Different kinds of immigration cases involve different eligibility criteria and require various evidence and documentation, and need to be filed with different offices according to current law and procedure. The instructions on forms do not always accurately reflect recent changes in immigration law and policy and cannot determine your eligibility for a specific immigration benefit or decide the best avenue for you.
Relying on information from the Internet and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website is also not advisable, as the USCIS website cannot provide individualized information about legal options and eligibility. In addition, USCIS customer service representatives are not required to be educated in immigration law or to advocate on behalf of immigrants. Free advice, even from USCIS, does not offer the protection and security that a competent immigration attorney can provide.
Many clients are unaware that their cases may require extra steps in order to be successful. A good immigration attorney will make sure that clients are aware of their options, any possible consequences, and any extra additional legal measures that may be required for the success of their case. Competent legal advice is invaluable, especially when such high stakes are involved for you, your business, or your loved ones. It is important to consult a licensed immigration attorney before filling out any immigration forms on your own.
An immigration attorney can help ensure the success of your case by analyzing the facts, determining your eligibility, explaining possible benefits, and, finally, identifying all available legal avenues. It is the attorney’s responsibility to stay informed regarding immigration law and current regulations and to keep you informed of your case status and progress. A competent immigration attorney will complete and file your case properly in order to avoid delays and negative consequences. Immigration attorneys are also held to high ethical standards by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Like a doctor, your immigration attorney is required to keep all information about your case confidential. All the information you share with your attorney is protected by attorney-client privilege, and may not be revealed to third parties without your consent. Also like a doctor, a good attorney will “prescribe” the best legal avenue for you, and will look out for your best interests. If no viable options exist, a good immigration attorney will not mislead you into filing a case that could be detrimental to you, your family, or your business.
One of the first steps in choosing an immigration attorney is to find one who specializes in immigration law. Since immigration laws and regulations are complex and require comprehensive knowledge, specialization in immigration law helps ensure that the attorney is focused on the ever-changing federal laws and the many complex nuances of immigration policies. At Lopez Law Group, we focus solely on immigration and citizenship law in order to devote our work completely to our clients’ cases.
In addition to finding an attorney who specializes in immigration law, it is equally important to make sure that your attorney is a registered member of the State Bar in the state where he or she practices, and that the attorney is in good standing. In the State of Wisconsin, you should visit the State Bar of Wisconsin to verify an attorney’s qualifications. At the State Bar’s website, you can confirm that Attorney Glorily A. Lopez is a member in good standing with a spotless record of practice. Moreover, qualified immigration attorneys will also be licensed to practice in federal courts. Attorney Lopez represents clients at both state and federal levels, and will represent clients in court if required.
To help ensure that the immigration attorney you choose has good credentials and a sound record of practice, you should also make sure that the attorney is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). AILA is the largest organized group of immigration lawyers in the U.S., and members of AILA have the tools to keep themselves informed of changing immigration laws and regulations. AILA also offers and online attorney referral system through which they recommend attorneys in your area.
Before deciding to retain an attorney, you should call the attorney’s office to discuss his or her qualifications, as well as your questions and the circumstances of your potential case. You should ask questions about the attorney’s credentials, experience, areas of practice, and previous examples of success with your type of case.
You should never rely on the advice of a notary public or any other professional who claims to have knowledge of immigration law but is not an attorney. These individuals are not licensed practitioners of immigration law, and entrusting them with your case is a serious risk. Notaries do not possess the required legal education and experience to competently assist you with your case. It is against the law for notaries and foreign lawyers who are not licensed in United States to provide legal advice for U.S. immigration cases. Only a licensed, properly trained lawyer or accredited representative should assist you with your case, even if they are simply helping you complete forms. Likewise, you should also never rely solely on the advice of someone who claims to have gone through the process before. It is important to realize that situations which may seem similar are often very different, and the procedures and laws applicable to one case are not always the same for another.
For more information, please read “Don’t Be a Victim! Protect Yourself and Your Family” (En español) from the American Immigration Lawyers Foundation (AILF).
When choosing an attorney to assist you with your immigration matter, be wary of:
Be sure to never...
Be sure to always…
