SEEKING PROFESSIONAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE
YOU should be aware that no attorney can absolutely guarantee the ultimate success of any immigration matter, and you should beware of any individual who asserts he or she can do so. The multitude of administrative regulations and federal statutes that apply to U.S. immigration related matters are not only complex and frequently amended, but they are also subject to constantly changing interpretations by the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Department of State, and by federal courts.
The much preferred time to seek professional legal assistance is before any documentation has been filed with a government agency. If an immigration benefit has been applied for and denied, it is often very difficult and sometimes impossible to obtain a new favorable decision or reversal on appeal. A competent immigration attorney will analyze your specific fact situation and advise you of all legal options available, the implications and consequences involved in each, and how to best proceed according to your own personal circumstances and priorities. By first obtaining the best legal assistance available, clients will often save not only money, time, and personal frustration, but they will also insure the best possible success in obtaining the immigration benefits they are seeking.
The axiom “you should only expect to get what you pay for” is as applicable to competent legal representation as it is to most every type of service or product. Fees usually vary among attorneys depending upon their qualifications, experience, and legal skills. Attorney fees are based primarily upon the type and extent of legal services to be rendered. These include research, preparation, and presentation of your case before the appropriate government agency(ies) or tribunal(s). Quality legal representation is not cheap, but it is often invaluable. Unfortunately, some learn too late the truism of the expression: “A bad doctor's mistakes sometimes result in a burial, but a bad immigration lawyer's are usually deported.”
You should select only an immigration firm in which you can have confidence, and whom you believe will provide you with the best possible legal representation.
Should you wish our firm to represent and assist you, you should expect to have an initial consultation with us. At your initial consultation, we will evaluate and discuss your case with you. After we evaluate your case, we will also quote and discuss our fees.
Basic Considerations:
* U.S. immigration laws and policies are complex and often contradictory.
* Family reunification and business-employment enhancement are the basic philosophical foundations for the U.S. system of immigration.
* Each immigration case is unique and the availability of benefits will depend upon the individual's particular circumstances, objectives, nationality, and qualifications.
Citizens, Nationals and Aliens
THERE are several distinctions one should be aware of initially. Persons physically present in the United States are considered either citizens or nationals of the U.S., or they are aliens. There are two classes of legal aliens: non-immigrants who are admitted to the U.S. temporarily, and immigrants who may reside in the U.S. permanently. Immigrants are also referred to as permanent residents or “Green Card” holders. A lawful permanent resident may become eligible for naturalization as a U.S. citizen. This is usually after maintaining lawful permanent resident status for five years (three years if married to a U.S. citizen), provided he or she meets all other statutory requirements.