New York has a rich history built on immigrants. From an eclectic cultural scene to culinary excellence to global marketplace opportunities, it has much to offer people from all over the world. Whether you are already living in New York and are interested in updating your immigration status or if you are ready to take the next step and move to the country, it’s important to have a skilled and knowledgeable New York immigration lawyer on your side.
After locating an immigration lawyer who can optimally take on your New York immigration case, you will likely have a consultation as well as frequent meetings with them throughout your case. To most effectively leverage an immigration lawyer’s services, it is important to communicate clearly with them about your concerns and expectations. It is also critical to ask the right questions. By being inquisitive before and after hiring your immigration lawyer, you can increase your chances of optimizing your case outcome.
Considerations During an Initial Consultation: Questions to Ask an Immigration Lawyer
The initial consultation with an immigration lawyer is a critical time to get to understand the services that the immigration lawyer specifically provides, as well as their case record, current resources, and pricing. The consultation may take place online or in person. Some questions that can help you better understand whether they are a good fit for your case include:
- What are the services that you provide, and how are they relevant to my case?
- Can you show me previous successful case outcomes for immigration cases that are similar to mine?
- Are there other people in the firm who will be working on my case? What will their role be?
- What are your pricing schemes? Do you charge hourly or prefer lump-sum payments?
- Are there reduced fees or pro bono options?
Pay attention to how the immigration lawyer answers your questions. If they seem to be dismissive or do not thoroughly answer all your questions and address your concerns, then they might not be the right attorney to represent your case. Choose a lawyer whom you feel comfortable with and who has a strong record with cases similar to yours.
What to Ask Your Immigration Lawyer After Hiring Them
After you have hired your immigration lawyer, you will likely have many questions that are important to your case. Therefore, it’s important to work with a legal representative with strong communication skills. After hiring a lawyer, the questions that you will be asking will be more specific to your immigration experience and less about the firm’s services and logistics.
Whether your case is related to a family-based immigration visa or involves challenging a deportation order, there are certain questions that you can ask to get a better idea of what to expect during your case, including:
- What are the general steps of my immigration case?
- What is the general timeline from the start to the end of my case?
- What does a positive outcome look like for my case? A negative outcome?
- What documents do I need to provide you with to start the process?
- What are the general requirements that I need to meet?
- Are you concerned about any part of my case details? What is your strategy to address that?
By continuing to ask thorough questions about situations that arise as your case proceeds, you can ensure that you and your immigration lawyer are continuing to work well together. As a general rule, your immigration lawyer is likely to answer or address most of your questions before you even ask them.
FAQs
What Should I Not Say in an Immigration Interview?
During an immigration interview with United States Customs and Immigration Services, it is important to only answer the questions that are asked of you. Remember to be formal and polite when answering questions. Breathing before the interview and going over your application can help ease nerves during the interview, which can allow you to better express yourself. Importantly, do not say anything that could imply that you are not of good moral character.
Can a New York Lawyer Help Me Get a Visa Faster?
A NY immigration attorney may be able to help you get a visa for the United States more easily. However, they are not able to manipulate the process in any way that could inorganically speed it up. Nevertheless, by ensuring that you meet all the requirements for a visa, you will not waste time applying for something that you do not have a chance at getting. Furthermore, by ensuring that your documentation is thorough and correct, with adequate supporting evidence, an attorney can help you avoid delays in processing.
What Questions Should I Ask an Immigration Lawyer?
You should ask an immigration lawyer questions that are general to the law firm’s functionality, values, history, services, and costs, along with questions that are more specific to your case. This can help you understand whether you can have optimal case outcomes with the firm and attorney. It can also let you know whether the lawyer has a good understanding of the area of immigration law that your case is in.
Should I Hire a New York Immigration Lawyer?
Whether you should hire an NY immigration lawyer is dependent on varying factors. These include the complexity of your case and your existing knowledge and experience with immigration law and its associated bureaucratic processes. A NY immigration lawyer can analyze the details of your case and help guide you toward an optimal immigration pathway. They can also walk you through each step of your immigration journey.
Reach Out to a Compassionate and Skilled New York Immigration Lawyer Today
At the Law Offices of Robert Tsigler, PLLC, our dedicated immigration team believes that no question is a bad question. Our immigration attorneys have years of experience helping people from around the globe achieve their American dream in New York. We are here to discuss your case and answer all the pertinent and ongoing questions that you may have. We can then build up a strategy that addresses your concerns and goals. Contact an experienced immigration lawyer from our firm today to get started.
