If an attorney represents you, then they will handle all the details of your case. They file the paperwork and deal with any issues that may arise.
If you have a consultation with an attorney, they should give you legal advice so you can make more informed decisions regarding your legal matter. However, they do not represent you, they don’t do the paperwork, and they don’t file the case.
Attorney Consultation
The first step to any legal matter is determining the best way to move forward with your case. Some questions you might wonder could include:
- Is it best to get a fiancé visa or to get married first and then apply for my Green Card?
- What kind of work visa is the best option?
- What are the expected wait times for the government to process the case?
These can be complex questions, and the answers depend on both your specific situation and current government trends. For example, a few years ago, USCIS processed fiancé visas relatively quickly. Today, however, processing times for fiancé visas are much slower. This means that we may recommend other options first before filing for the fiancé visa. An immigration attorney can help you determine the best options for your specific situation.
Once you consult with an attorney, you will have a better understanding of how you should move forward with your immigration case. The attorney will give you a quote for how much they would charge to represent you in your case and file all the complex paperwork for you. A good immigration attorney will not pressure you to hire them quickly; they will give you time to consider your options.
Before your consultation, prepare a list of questions and bring all pertinent legal documents to your appointment with the attorney. This helps the attorney better understand your personal concerns regarding the immigration case. Additionally, if you prepare well before the consultation, then you will be able to make a more informed decision regarding the steps you want to take in hiring an attorney or filing by yourself.
Please note, if you have a consultation with an attorney and then you decide to file your forms by yourself, then the attorney will likely not be able to help you if future issues arise in your case. For example, if you receive a Request for Evidence (learn more about RFEs here) or other notice that isn’t very clear, then the attorney you initially consulted with won’t be able to assist you unless you decide to hire them for the rest of your case.
Attorney Representation
If you decide to hire an attorney after your initial consultation, then the attorney will represent you for the entirety of your specific immigration matter. For example, if you hire an immigration attorney to help you file for an adjustment of status for a Green Card, then the attorney and their team will:
- File the paperwork and supporting documents
- Submit any additional evidence or petitions that may be required after the initial submittal of your case
- Submit inquiries to the appropriate departments if your case is taking an abnormally long time to process
The attorney will represent you through the process until you receive your physical Green Card.
The attorney cannot do all of this if you have only consulted with them—you will have to take care of any issues on your own.
Additionally, with official attorney representation, you can ask for legal advice at any time regarding your immigration case instead of having to schedule consultation after consultation, which could prove to be more expensive. Furthermore, if your case is taking an extraordinarily long time to process, then the attorney can submit an inquiry with the appropriate department to try and quicken your process.
Law Office of Timothy Jones
Here at the Law Office of Timothy Jones we are happy to help you with your immigration matter. Whether you want an initial consultation, a second opinion, or full legal representation, we can help!
Consultation Services
Attorney Jones would be happy to give you legal advice to help you learn about the immigration processes specific to your situation. Even if you already have a current attorney handling your case, we can still provide a second opinion so you know you are receiving the best service for your needs and circumstances. During (or shortly after) your consultation, Attorney Jones will give you a quote for our services if you decide that you want fill legal representation.
Green Card Reviews
One special service that Attorney Jones offers is a Green Card review. When you are ready to submit your own Greed Card forms and documentation that you have prepared yourself, you can contact our office to schedule a review. Attorney Jones will review your documents and give you advice regarding anything you should change or any additional information you should include to strengthen your case.
This Green Card review is similar to a consultation because Attorney Jones does not represent you in your case, but scheduling the review can give you peace of mind so you know that you are submitting the correct forms and supporting documentation. However, if something tricky happens after you submit your immigration application on your own, Attorney Jones is not responsible for fixing the issue unless you decide to hire him for full legal representation throughout your immigration matter.
Legal Representation
Attorney Jones has represented clients from all over the world. He and his team have handled a variety of immigration cases. We can represent you for many immigration matters, including:
- Green Cards for spouses
- Fiance Visas
- Employment Green Cards
- Citizenship and Naturalization
- Asylum and Other Relief
- H1-B Visas and H2-B Visas
- And many more!
Give us a call and ask about other services and we will do our best to help you.
When we represent a client, we stick with them through their whole immigration process. We will support you and file all the necessary forms needed to ensure success in your immigration case. Attorney Jones and the legal assistants are happy to answer your questions and concerns regarding your case. We are in frequent contact with our clients so they are always up to date regarding their immigration status.
If you want to learn more about how we can help you with your immigration case, contact us today and schedule a first-time consultation with Attorney Jones so you can decide if we are a good fit for your immigration needs.
