Six Questions You Should Ask Any Immigration Attorney Before You Go To A Free Consultation
Six Questions You Should Ask Any Immigration
Attorney Before You Go To A Free Consultation
By James A. Welcome
Immigration laws are quite complicated. Effective representation of clients before U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services or U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement requires experience, skill, creativity and perseverance. Oftentimes, the old saying “you get what you pay for” is directly applicable to immigration representation. It does not matter whether you live in Connecticut, Massachusetts, or even California. This does not mean that someone must pay an arm and a leg to find a good immigration lawyer. However, immigration matters can be expensive because they can become complicated and cases can last a number of years in certain situations. Unlike in personal injury cases, not many immigration attorneys conduct free consultations due to the length and complexities involved with any immigration client initial interview.
Decisions in your immigration matter, whether it be for asylum hearings and applications, applications for family visas and permanent resident cards, or even deportation proceedings can have an impact on your future. It is good to be cautious and educated when you search for an immigration lawyer to represent you. Here are a few questions you should consider before you decide to go to a “free consultation” with an immigration lawyer:
- If I hire you, will you attend all of my court dates or immigration appointments with me?
- How long have you been practicing immigration law?
- Have you ever had a case that is similar to mine, and if yes, what was the result?
- What are your fee schedules like? Will I know how much you will charge me for my case in the beginning or will I keep receiving new charges every month?
- If you are not successful with my case, are you comfortable handling appeals of decisions made by either USCIS or by the Immigration Court and have you had experience doing so?
- Have you ever been disciplined for attorney misconduct?
These are some suggestions. Oftentimes, you will not have the opportunity to get answers to all of these questions over the phone. You should still ask these questions of any immigration lawyer. There is nothing wrong with asking to find out if this particular lawyer is the right lawyer for you. With immigration matters, there is a lot to lose if you are not careful in the beginning.
We are here to provide the legal representation that you deserve. If you are unsure as to whether or not you have a case or if you have questions or would like a consultation, contact Connecticut Immigration Law Attorney James A. Welcome