How to Choose an Immigration Lawyer

If you've decided that you want to immigrate to the United States, you might want to hire an immigration lawyer. A professional can expedite the process, assist you with paperwork and answer important questions. Since the process can be extremely stressful, you might feel better knowing that an immigration lawyer is working on your behalf to make sure you can eventually become a U.S. citizen. Follow these tips to hire a competent attorney.

Require Membership

The purpose of hiring an immigration lawyer is to gain access to experience you wouldn't have had otherwise. For this to work, however, you'll need an attorney who specializes in immigration law. My advice is to choose a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. At least, when you take this route, you'll know that your counsel is dedicated to this area of the law, which is important.

Compare Rates

There are probably dozens of immigration lawyers who are members of the AILA and live in your area, but each will handle business a little bit differently. You might want to hire an attorney who charges slightly higher fees, but has more experience; or you might want to hire a brand new attorney who's just getting his feet wet so you can pay a bit less. Whatever the case, find out how the attorney bills (hourly, flat rate, etc.), and whether there will be extra charges tacked on to your bill.

Find References

If you aren't sure how to choose an immigration lawyer, ask friends or family members if they can give you a reference. Sometimes it's easier to go with an attorney someone else has used and respected before, rather than someone you've never heard of. After all, you're putting your citizenship status in the hands of another individual, and you don't want to make a mistake.

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