Today’s immigration system is stricter and more daunting. Navigating it on your own could leave you prone to making mistakes that could negatively affect your green card application and other immigration procedures. That said, the more you should consider hiring an immigration lawyer in NYC for a smoother and less stressful application procedure towards permanent residency, immigration relief, and US citizenship. But how do you hire the right immigration lawyer? Look into these things to determine their credibility and expertise before hiring them:
Years of experience – Find out how long they have been helping immigrants in New York. Determine their success rate, too, particularly the ratio of their successful cases to the number of years they have been in practice.
Practice areas – Make sure that the immigration lawyer in NYC specializes mainly in immigration law. Their practice should revolve around immigrant and non-immigrant visas, consular processing of immigrants, asylum, deportation and waivers, naturalization, and citizenship. Verify their experience in handling those types of issues.
Number of cases they are working on at a time – If the lawyer tends to take on a lot of clients, they may not be able to provide the personal attention you deserve. Efficient immigration lawyers work only a small number of cases at a time. Moreover, make sure that the lawyer is the one who will be preparing and handling your case themselves.
Cost – Hiring an immigration lawyer in NYC will cost some money, but know what you will be paying for. Ask them if RFEs (Request For Evidence) is inclusive in the price. You could also look for a money-back guarantee, especially if they are confident in your case’s success. Discuss about payment plans, and make sure it is flexible enough for you.
Transparency – Make sure that the lawyer is easy to talk to and that they are completely honest and transparent with your case. They should be able to keep you up-to-date with your case.
Client feedback – Testimonials can reveal certain qualities of an immigration lawyer in NYC that were not mentioned on their website or profile. They can also reveal their experience in working with that lawyer. So, consider looking up client reviews to learn more about the lawyer, but take them with a grain of salt.
About the Author:
This content is written by Patrick Klauss, Esq, who is an immigration lawyer and a partner at Berd & Klauss, PLLC. The firm specializes in immigration & immigration-related issues and handles everything from immigrant visas to deportation and waivers.
