Hiring an immigration lawyer is often necessary when navigating U.S. immigration law, which can involve complicated paperwork, strict deadlines, and issues that require an understanding of the law to resolve. Once you find a candidate, you may wonder what questions to ask an immigration lawyer when you first meet them.
Asking the right immigration lawyer questions during an initial consultation can help you decide if the lawyer has the experience, approach, and knowledge necessary to handle your case effectively. We explore 12 questions to ask an immigration lawyer below to provide guidance as you search.
EMP Law offers comprehensive immigration services. Our deep understanding of complex immigration matters and track record of successfully defending clients against powerful opponents set us apart. EMP Law ensures that clients facing deportation, seeking asylum, or applying for visas receive a dedicated, knowledgeable guide through their immigration cases.
1. What Areas of Immigration Law Do You Practice?
One of your first questions for an immigration lawyer should be about what the lawyer does, specifically. You can often find this information on the lawyer’s website. Yet immigration law involves many terms that may be unfamiliar, so it can be worthwhile to ask, even if you read the lawyer’s website.
Immigration law covers many situations, including helping noncitizens apply for immigration benefits like:
- Green cards,
- Temporary visas,
- Humanitarian programs, and
- Naturalized citizenship.
Immigration lawyers may also practice deportation defense. Lawyers who offer deportation defense do not always offer help applying for immigration benefits and vice versa.
2. How Long Have You Been Practicing Immigration Law?
Experience matters when handling immigration cases. Asking about an immigration lawyer’s background ensures you work with an attorney who knows how the system works on the ground, not just in theory.
3. Have You Handled Similar Cases?
Each immigration case is unique, so it is essential to ask whether the lawyer has handled cases similar to yours and what happened. Knowing whether they have handled similar cases gives insight into what working with them might look like.
4. What Are My Chances of Success?
Another priority many clients have among questions to ask an immigration lawyer during a consultation is whether they will “win” their case. While no attorney can guarantee results, an experienced immigration lawyer can assess your case and help you understand how likely it is that you will achieve your immigration goals.
5. What Are the Potential Challenges in My Case?
Knowing potential roadblocks can help you prepare for challenges in your immigration process. An honest and knowledgeable attorney should be able to outline possible complications and how they plan to address them.
6. How Will We Communicate Throughout My Case?
Immigration cases often involve strict deadlines and essential updates that may be communicated to your lawyer. Asking about communication methods, response times, and who you will primarily be in contact with can help you set expectations.
7. What Is Your Payment Structure?
Legal fees can vary depending on how much work your case requires. Ask about the lawyer’s fee structure, including flat fees, hourly rates, and how they will notify you about additional costs that may arise during your case.
8. How Long Do You Expect My Case to Take?
Processing times depend on government agencies such as:
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)—processes most applications for immigration benefits;
- Department of Homeland Security—manages deportation and immigration court; and
- Department of State—includes U.S. consulates and embassies, which issue visas abroad.
Many of these agencies have extensive backlogs, so processing delays are common. An experienced immigration attorney should be able to provide an estimate based on previous cases and processing trends.
9. Who Will Be Handling My Case?
Some law firms delegate cases to associates or paralegals. If you prefer direct involvement from a specific lawyer, ask whether they will personally handle your case.
10. What Do Past Clients Say About Your Work?
The experiences previous clients have had can give insight into the lawyer’s reputation, professionalism, and success rate.
11. How Do You Stay Updated on Immigration Law Changes?
Immigration laws frequently change due to new legislation and policy updates. Immigration attorneys should stay informed through organizations like the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and continued education programs.
12. What Are My Next Steps?
The last of our immigration questions to ask often comes at the end of the consultation: ask what specific things you should do next. That may involve gathering documents such as birth certificates, passports, and financial records to bring in later.
Speak with an Experienced Immigration Lawyer from EMP Law
Selecting the right immigration lawyer is critical to take advantage of all your opportunities and to ensure you have a reliable guide through your immigration case. At EMP Law, our team understands the complexities of immigration law and is committed to advocating for your rights, even if the government is trying to deport you.
If you need assistance with your immigration case, contact EMP Law today to schedule a consultation where you can ask all your questions to ask an immigration lawyer.
Michael provides compassionate, diligent, and creative legal services that are tailored to meet each client’s specific needs. His experience relating to clients from diverse backgrounds makes him well suited for representing his clients across a broad range of legal areas. He practices in the areas of employment law and family law, and is experienced in criminal law.
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