IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY

WHAT IS A GOOD IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY WORTH?"WEIGHT IN GOLD"Comedian Rodney Dangerfield must have been thinking about immigration attorneys when he quipped "We get no respect!" Many people (and even some other attorneys) think that an immigration attorney just "fills out a standard paperwork form for 45 minutes" and mails it to the U.S. Government. These folks feel "Hey, the forms are free on the Internet, and I can do that, and cut out the middleman and save a lot of time and money!".
Click Here for: SOME THINGS WHICH CAN GO WRONG.
Actually, an effective and experienced immigration attorney does a lot more than "fill out a form" or do "paperwork". He counsels a client about immigration options. He formulates a strategic plan to secure an immigration benefit. He prepares and files legal petitions and supporting exhibits. He screens for legal issues and problems even before starting the case. He thus avoids common and often costly mistakes and pitfalls in the process, and accordingly prevents nerve-wracking delays. He provides on-going case status information. He answers a myriad of legal questions from the client throughout the case and afterwards. He resolves any problems or issues with case processing at the Immigration Offices and U.S. Consulates. In short, he offers legal representation from start to finish until the visa or benefit is finally achieved. Furthermore, the reputations of many experienced immigration attorneys are well-known to various Immigration Officials and Consular Officers. This greatly benefits the client's petition by reinforcing to government officials that the case is well-prepared, meritorious and deserving of quick approval.
USCIS (then INS) spokesperson Karen Kraushaar remarked to the media: "Immigration is a mystery and a mastery of obfuscation, and THE LAWYERS WHO CAN FIGURE IT OUT ARE WORTH THEIR WEIGHT IN GOLD." Washington Post, April 24, 2001.
The U.S. State Department, Visa Office (VO), has recognized the critical value of immigration attorneys in the visa process: "In the sometimes complex world of visas, a good attorney can prepare a case properly, weed out "bad" cases, and alert applicants to the risks of falsifying information presented to the Consular Officer. The attorney can help the Consular Officer by organizing the case in a logical manner; by clarifying issues of concern; by avoiding duplication of effort (reducing interview time); and by providing the applicant with the necessary understanding of the intricacies of the visa process thereby easing the pressure on consular sections to provide information to the applicant". Minutes, AILA/VO Liaison Meeting (May 10, 1990), reported in 67 Interpreter Releases, 950, 967, 969-70 (Aug. 27, 1990).
Links to help you select a good immigration attorney:"Finding a Damn Good Immigration Attorney""Finding the Right Immigration Lawyer"
THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT A GOOD IMMIGRATION LAWYER DOES FAR MORE THAN FILL OUT FORMS OR PAPERWORK - A GOOD IMMIGRATION LAWYER MAKES REAL CHANGE IN THE REAL LIVES OF REAL PEOPLE!!!SOME PEOPLE WHO SHOULD CONSIDERUSING AN IMMIGRATION LAWYER BECAUSEOF POTENTIAL PROBLEMS IN CASE PROCESSING
*Petitioners and Visa Applicants who have Past or Present Criminal, Legal, Financial or Marital Problems: Criminal Histories, Lawsuit or Legal Problems, Past Domestic Violence or Sexual Harassment Issues, Medical Problems, Past or Present Bankruptcies or Substantial Debt or Liability which Impacts on Proof of Sufficient Qualifying Income, or Extensive Marital and Divorce Histories, or Legal Issues concerning Father's Permission to Allow Lady Applicant's Minor Children to Use Visas to Exit the Country;*People with Income Issues: Low or Uneven Income, typically Retired Persons, or Self-Employed Workers with extensive deductions which reduce sufficient qualifying income;*People with Inconsistent or No Employment which Impacts on Proof of Sufficient Qualifying Income*People with Tax Issues and Problems which Impacts on Proof of Sufficient Qualifying Income*People with Past or Present Immigration Issues: Previous Visa and Immigration Histories or Current Difficulties, including lady visa applicants with extensive past travel in the U.S., or with relatives in the U.S. without immigration status;*People who Prefer to Avoid Mistakes, Problems, Delays, Worries, and simply don't have abundant extra time, natural expertise or learning passion for the immigration process, and would prefer attorney assistance and can afford the fees.