SpiritOne
Are you heading to meet with an immigration attorney? There is a list of things you want to be prepared for to get the most out of your meeting. Learn more about what an immigration lawyer does.
Immigration attorneys are independent lawyers and are not established with the U.S. Immigration Department. In fact, immigration laws are a tricky domain. While some people can get through the process with some research, others might prefer opting for an expert who specializes in helping people through the complexity of immigration.
We have listed down what you can expect when meeting with an immigration attorney so that you’re better prepared for your meeting.
Consultation Cost and Follow-ups
If you are meeting with a mid-range attorney, they usually charge a base fee of $100 for the first consultation to study your case and build an action plan. Some lawyers even provide a free consultation to seal the deal. If you are lucky, your attorney will provide you with a simple solution and save time and money.
You might have a handful of sessions to work through the paperwork. However, if a case becomes complex and stretches out to numerous court hearings, they will probably start charging you on an hourly basis.
Investigative Questions
Your lawyer will have to ask you a lot of questions regarding your legal standing and personal life. This will help the lawyer assemble all the necessary details to ensure that you get the result you’re looking for. Preparing beforehand for all possible questions and information is the best way to get the most out of your consultation session. There are several ways to prepare yourself.
-
Do Your Research
Having researched-based knowledge about general immigration laws and what directly affects your case is a smart move. Sometimes, you can come up with a valid point to help your case.
-
Be Composed
It is natural to feel out of place when dealing with something so complicated. Gather any necessary information, such as official details or any possible information that you think might affect your case. Take it a step further and jot down all the questions you want to ask your attorney, and organize your thoughts. This way, you’ll be able to get answers to any questions you may have.
-
Gather Your Important Legal Documents
Most people face this issue when they visit an attorney’s office. Your attorney might ask for any legal documents or any official papers that may prove to be important in your case. To make sure you have everything you need, bring along any document or papers linked to your legal or official status. Better yet, call the attorney’s office and ask them what documents you’ll need to bring along for your consultation.
Seek Possible Outcomes
After you and your immigration attorney are through the questions and answers segment, the attorney will begin work on your case. When they are ready for it, they will move forward to explain your case and possible solutions. They will discuss what options you have and what steps they can take to help your case.
They might only tell you the best possible ways to deal with your case, so remember to ask them all possible outcomes. The lawyer might not be aware of what lengths you are willing to go to, so make sure they’re aware of this.
Sincere Policy
An extremely important factor to remember is that you have to be true and sincere with your answers. If the lawyer asks you about something that you are not comfortable with, tell them. Hiding anything that your lawyer wants to know is never going to help your case. As they are only there to help you, hiding or lying about anything will only make things worse for you.
In some cases, people go as far as trying to convince the attorney to help them make fake documents for immigration. If you do this, your attorney might ask you to leave without warning – they might even report you. So even thinking about giving it a chance is not a sensible thing to do.
Write Down Important Details
The immigration laws can be difficult to comprehend, and the solutions are no different. Depending on your circumstances, your case can be dealt with quickly or extended over a long period of time.
Your lawyer might tell you essential details regarding the nature of the case, and there could be a swamp of technicalities, dates, and other factors that can be hard to remember. Write down all details and important feedback that the attorney gives you and ask questions if you’re unclear about anything.
Hire Wisely
The first consultation session is for the immigration lawyer to see whether or not they can help you with your case. If they decide to take your case, they will tell you an action plan and how long it will take to conclude.
However, the first session is not only for them to figure out whether to take your case or not. It is also about your preference regarding the lawyer. When you go in there, make sure you ask the lawyer to answer questions like their client history and what type of cases they have dealt with – and their success ratio. This will give you a better idea of whether to go with them as your lawyer.
Take Away
Your first meeting with an immigration attorney is as important as a job interview. It is a chance for you to make an impression that your case is worth the attorney’s time and effort. Help yourself and make sure you provide all the required information.
These are the possible factors that you can look forward to in that meeting. Therefore, make it count by being prepared for any contingencies, as mentioned earlier.
