If you have decided to begin the immigration process to the US there are a lot of legal regulations that need to be taken care of. There is no shortage of paperwork and the application itself needs complete attention in order to be filled correctly. It therefore becomes quite imperative to ask for the help of a professional.
Many mistakes can be avoided just by taking professional help. This is where an immigration lawyer comes in. In this article we will be discussing the benefits of getting an immigration lawyer and how much it will cost approximately per hour for the entire process.
What is an Immigration Lawyer?
Immigration into the US is not a cakewalk because of multiple legal rules and regulations. The application and documentation needs to be perfect in order to get a good outcome from the process. An immigration lawyer helps in special cases that require additional assistance. The right assistant can make or break your case so make sure that the immigration lawyer handles all the details and prevents any and all mistakes.
An imigration lawyer is somebody who specializes in the legal intricacies of the immigration process. They know the common practices and rules to help complete the process without any issues. That being said, there are some cases where one might not need a lawyer. But these cases are rare as mostly people want legal support. To know more about immigration lawyers in brooklyn, visit this site.
When is an immigration Lawyer Needed?
If you are convinced that the application process is simple enough to handle on your own, there is no need for assistance. A simple application of immigration is very different from somebody who would want to stay in the country to prevent the risk of being deported.
The more complex or complicated an application gets, the more it will require the experts of a professional to sort everything out. As somebody who does not want to risk the process it would be wise to hire a professional as a precautionary decision.
What are the Charges?
The charges a lawyer will charge are contingent on multiple factors that are subjective from professional to professional. One needs to check the fees of different firms especially if they are operating on a strict budget. Before engaging with any professional try to go with a free consultation which gives you a fair idea of how they practice.
Only after feeling comfortable with the entire process should you move forward and hire them. Some firms will have a free consultation while others might charge you for it if you do not take them as your legal representative. Other lawyers have the provision of charging individuals for every consultation they offer.
It is work spending money on initial consultations to find the right person for the job. Be open to pay a certain fee without assuming that the services will be free. Make sure to not sign any binding contracts and tell you are absolutely sure about a particular expert. The initial consulting session can cause anywhere between 100 to 400 USD.
In the first session, one usually talks about why they want to hire a professional. It is during the initial consultation that one can ask the details of the pricing structure. Since the cost of the initial consultation is pretty high, try to shortlist only 2 to 3 lawyers. Compare the prices and how they approached the entire process before finalizing a deal.
The rate after hiring can be very different from the initial consultation. The hourly rate for an immigration lawyer typically ranges between 100 to 150 USD. While the hourly rate falls in the previously mentioned range some forms may also ask for a flat rate to get done with the entire process. Both are fairly common so make sure to have an idea about the entire thing. There are many additional factors on which the pricing structure depends but it is largely subjective.
Variation in Pricing Structure
The fees to be paid will be discussed beforehand but you can get a fair estimation of what impacts the structure. Following is a list of all the factors that directly impact the fees of an immigration lawyer:
- The basic pricing structure depends on the type of application they will be assisting with. For instance, an L1 Visa will cost different than the application for a Green Card. The applications for different services are complex in different ways which is why the fees will be contingent on the application.
- The immigration lawyers have a wide range of expertise as they can represent you in court for a deportation charge. On the other hand, they are also hired to assist with the submission and completion of the application process.
- The more reputed a lawyer is, the more they will charge for their services. The experience of the lawyer in a field indicates how they will negotiate and work for you. If you want the best, be ready to pay accordingly.
- The geographical location also impacts the rates. Big cities in urban areas usually have a high pricing structure for all kinds of legal services. Small towns work better for somebody who has a strict budget. The pricing structure also depends on how much the competitors are charging, so it may vary from state to state.
The Takeaway
Immigration lawyers charge only as much as their experience and expertise demands. The application for a visa will be very different from that of a green card so the pricing will also depend on the services one asks them for. Be ready to pay for the initial consultation during the shortlisting process to get a fare idea of how the entire assistance will be approached. Do not hesitate to ask all the questions that worry you from the beginning. Many factors impact the cost of hiring a reliable professional so do your research.
