When you or someone you love is hoping to immigrate to the United States or obtain a temporary visa, you may find yourself in need of an immigration attorney. However, there are many immigration costs you must take into consideration when making the decision to apply for a green card.
Not only do you need to cover costs mandated by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), but you may also need to be prepared to pay for your immigration lawyer’s services. The amount you can expect to pay will vary widely on a case-by-case basis. Here is more about when you might need to hire a Duluth immigration lawyer and factors that could impact how much your legal fees cost.
When to Call an Immigration Lawyer for Help
Although many immigration matters do not require legal representation, there are certain circumstances in which having an experienced immigration attorney advocating for your rights is critical. Some instances in which it may be in your best interests to have an immigration lawyer on your side include:
- You have an emergency immigration issue
- Your initial immigration application has been denied
- Your I-130 Petition has been denied
- You made a mistake on your initial immigration application
- Removal or deportation proceedings have been initiated against you
- You are not sure whether you qualify for a visa
- You have previously been deported from the U.S. and are interested in returning
- You have been offered employment by a U.S.-based employer
These are just a few examples of when it may be necessary to hire an immigration attorney. Although the cost of working with an immigration lawyer may be intimidating, once your lawyer carefully examines the circumstances of your case, you can get a better idea of how much you could expect to spend to achieve your immigration goals.
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How Do Immigration Lawyers Charge Clients?
Many individuals seeking green cards or filing applications for citizenship are unsure of how immigration lawyers will charge them. Some may charge clients on an hourly basis, while others will charge flat fees. The majority of immigration attorneys use flat fees for standard services such as applying for naturalized citizenship or a family green card.
With flat fee arrangements, you will not have to worry about paying extra for additional work your immigration case might cover. Flat fees also allow you to budget more accurately so you can cover your immigration costs without winding up in financial ruin.
It should be noted that even if you are working with an immigration lawyer on a flat fee, there will likely be a clause that states your attorney may charge more if your case requires additional work or unexpected issues arise. If your attorney needs to prepare additional paperwork, conduct additional research, and represent you in unexpected proceedings, you may need to be prepared to pay more for your legal representation.
Immigration Lawyers May Charge for an Initial Consultation
Even though many respected immigration attorneys will meet with you for a free consultation, there are several that are also likely to charge you an initial consultation fee. If a prospective immigration lawyer is charging a consultation fee, be prepared to pay, but never sign a contract until you have met with a lawyer you feel confident in.
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Factors Impacting Your Immigration Attorney’s Fees
Several factors can impact how much it will cost to cover your attorney’s fees. Whether your lawyer is charging you a flat fee for their services or is billing you by the hour, the following factors could determine the total cost of your legal representation:
Your Immigration Case Is Complicated
The more complex your immigration case is, the more you can expect to pay your attorney, especially if you are being billed by the hour. If there is a considerable amount of paperwork or multiple hearings are necessary, your attorney may need to charge more.
Your Immigration Case Is Straightforward
In straightforward immigration cases, the costs of your attorney and sees may not be expensive. For example, if you already did most of the immigration paperwork on your own and needed an attorney to review it, this may be more affordable than cases that are extremely complex or drawn out.
Your Immigration Case Has a Limited Deadline
If your immigration case has a tight deadline, your attorney may need to charge more, depending on when you contact them for help. For example, certain immigration requirements include applying for your visa within several months or one year of entering the United States.
However, if you did not know about this deadline, waited until the weeks or days before the expiration date, or are hoping to file your application after the deadline has passed, your immigration lawyer may have no other choice but to charge you at an increased rate so you can meet these deadlines and avoid removal proceedings.
Your Immigration Case Is Likely to Take a Considerable Amount of Time
After reviewing the specific details of your case, your immigration attorney will gain insight into how long it might take your application to be approved. If we determine that your immigration application will not be resolved in a timely manner due to your extenuating personal circumstances, we may need to go with an hourly rate as opposed to a flat fee. This way, we can accommodate your case as needed over time.
Your Immigration Case Has Unique Circumstances
The more unique your circumstances, the more you can expect to spend for an immigration attorney. For example, if you are immigrating from a country of origin with inherently difficult immigration laws, you have an unusual or extensive criminal history, or your case is otherwise unusual, you should expect to pay more for the services of an experienced and knowledgeable immigration attorney.
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Consult an Experienced Immigration Attorney for Help Today
In most cases, having a dedicated immigration attorney working on your case is the best way to ensure you are in compliance with federal immigration laws and expedite the processing of your application. However, cost is often a factor that influences whether you can afford to hire the legal representation you need.
Find out how much you could expect to spend for an immigration attorney when you reach out to Barrios Virgüez to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with an experienced immigration lawyer at our firm. You can reach us through our quick contact form or by phone to get started as soon as today.
Call or text 678-888-2222 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
