A green card allows people out of the US to stay and work there permanently. As it is a land of opportunity for a lot of people, every year, the US receives millions of green card applications.
But not all the applications are accepted. As a green card holder will be a lawful permanent resident of the US, they check the background carefully and make sure an applicant completely fulfills the requirements.
Thus, applying for and getting a green card is not easy. You’ll have to focus on every single detail to make sure that you qualify for the card. The person who can make it a bit easy for you is a green card lawyer.
What is a Green Card Lawyer?
A green card attorney or lawyer is an immigration attorney who helps people prepare their application for a green card, meet all conditions, and submit it properly for the best result. From the beginning, they guide an applicant through the process that ends in a successful application submission.
As immigration lawyers, they focus on other types of visa processing too. But choosing someone with a specialization in green card is always recommended.
Reasons to Hire a Green Card Lawyer
Applying for a green card doesn’t require hiring an attorney to help you. Still, most applicants prefer to hire someone to get help with the application process. The most common reasons are-
Lack of Legal Knowledge
The requirements for a green card are not simple. Anyone residing outside the US finds it more complex as they are not familiar with legal terms and definitions used in the US. In such cases, an immigration lawyer can help a lot. They can make things easier for you.
Unfamiliarity with the Process
Being a resident of a different country, most applicants are unfamiliar with the process they need to go through for a green card. On the other hand, lawyers have an idea about everything regarding this. So, applicants seek assistance and hire immigration lawyers.
Processing Time
Because of unfamiliarity with the process, applicants face a lot of difficulties from the beginning. Thus, it takes a long time for Green card lawyers to process documents from many applicants every day. So, they know it well. They can help their clients by making the process faster.
Things Green Card Attorneys Do for You
The task of green card attorneys is to help you apply for a green card. But this statement doesn’t elaborate on everything they do for the clients. Let’s know how they can help you.
Understanding the Requirements
You need to meet a lot of requirements to be selected for a green card. Lawyers can help you check all the requirements and ensure you’ve understood everything. Without understanding the prerequisites, you can arrange the necessary documents.
Arranging the Documents
Documents are one of the most important things in the whole process. They judge and examine an applicant based on the documents submitted. So, having all the required documents in your file is a must.
Lawyers can help you understand the exact documents you need and organize them properly.
Filling out Paperwork
Mistakes in paperwork are a big issue in a green card application. So, you must submit papers ensuring they are error-free. Lawyers can help you with it. They instruct you to fill out the paperwork properly.
Avoiding Missing Deadlines
Deadline is also an important factor in this case. You don’t want to miss any deadline because the application process will fail if you do so. Lawyers take note of the deadlines and remind you about them in meetings. Thus, they help you stay in the process.
Avoiding Scams
As a green card is a desired thing for most people, scammers take the opportunity to scam applicants in many ways. Because of not knowing everything properly, you can be a victim easily. But lawyers can save you from such scams.
This is the reason you must share everything with them.
Knowing Latest Information
Information and requirements can change anytime. Lawyers know the latest information about changes in requirements. So, they can help you by providing the latest information about green cards and help you manage your application based on that. This reduces the chance of failing.
Preparing for the Interview
You can’t get a green card if you don’t participate in the interview. There, you’ll face an immigration officer asking about yourself.
Your lawyer can help you prepare for the interview. They help you with the possible questions you may face in the interview. Also, they can give you some sample answers to the questions. Some may help you by arranging mock interviews.
Appealing if Denied
In case your application is denied, you can appeal for reconsideration. In some cases, an appeal can help you get the card.
Lawyers can help you by evaluating your application and proceeding to appeal if everything is okay. Also, they assist you through the appeal process.
Choosing Alternative
If your application is denied, you may still have the option to get a visa. Besides the green card, the US offers several types of visas. Your lawyer can aid you in choosing a different visa based on your papers. There are several other options you can try. Lawyers can choose the best alternative.
How to Hire a Green Card Lawyer?
Hiring a good lawyer is a process. It takes some time and effort but brings you the best options. Here’s the process.
Step 1- Picking Options
First, you need to pick some names with whom you can start. If anyone from your friends or family moves to the US with a green card, you can ask them for suggestions. Also, you can ask search engines for some suggestions. Searching ‘best green card lawyer’ can help you find some capable immigration lawyers.
Make a list of around 10-15 lawyers you pick.
Step 2- Evaluating the Options
Now, based on online presence, you’ll evaluate them. Look for their websites. You’ll find most of them easily as you’ve picked them from search results.
Check their expertise, experience with green cards, success stories, success rates, etc., to understand their capability. Based on your understanding, rank them.
Also, you should search for reviews on service review websites. Most reviews there are unbiased and give a better picture of the service.
Step 3- Direct Discussion
Once you’ve ranked them, pick the top 5 for this step. You’ll meet them via video call to discuss everything at this stage. Reach them through e-mail and fix a schedule. Most of them offer free consultations for the first meeting.
Discuss the requirements and your qualifications. Also, ask them what you need to do, the papers you require, and more. Ask about their experience and to share some success stories.
Don’t leave the meeting without discussing the fee. This is a must because not understanding the fees and fee structure may drive you to a wrong decision.
Step 4- Picking One
After discussing all the options, you need to pick someone.
Try to hire someone experienced with green cards—experience matters. Also, your picked lawyer must have good communication skills.
Also, the cost is a huge consideration. Experienced lawyers may cost you higher. But they can save you from costly mistakes.
Questions to Ask a Green Card Lawyer
In the first meeting, you must ask some questions to the lawyer. These questions help you understand the situation and their capabilities.
What else do I need to be qualified for a green card?
This question helps you understand the requirements you still need to fill out to be eligible for a green card. So, ask this question after talking about your profile and qualification. They’ll suggest the rest you need to fulfill.
Do you have any success stories of someone with similar qualifications?
A success story of someone with similar qualifications gives you a sense of security. So, ask this question.
They can help you stay confident by sharing the success story of someone with a similar profile.
How can you help me in the process?
Some green card attorneys help with everything in the process. On the other hand, some offer only a few specific services. Thus, ask them about their support.
Don’t forget to ask about additional support if your application is denied. In this case, some lawyers may offer you an appeal service for free.
How much is your fee?
The fee is an important factor when it comes to hiring a lawyer. Discuss the fee properly before ending the meeting, as it helps you decide. Ask about their fee, how to pay, and when to pay. Have a clear idea about it.
Wrong ideas about fees can result in unwanted and confusing situations you don’t want to deal with. So, don’t forget to ask this question.
Cost of Hiring a Green Card Lawyer
Here I’m discussing the typical range of fees that green card lawyers charge. It’ll give you a clear idea about your possible cost.
Green card lawyers charge one-time or hourly. In the case of hourly rate, the typical range is around $150-$350 per hour. They keep track of the hours they work on your file, and you have to pay based on that.
However, if the first meeting is not free, you’d have to spend around $50-$100 for that.
The typical range of one-time charges is around $800-$1,500. If you apply for everyone in your family, the fee usually doubles. So, it can be anywhere between $1,500 and $3,000.
The fee depends on several factors, including the type of green card and the location you want to go. Another common influencer for the fee is experience. Experienced attorneys ask for higher fees as they can help you better and save you from costly faults.
The complexity of your case affects the lawyer’s fee too. The fee increases if you can’t fulfill all the requirements or your profile is too close to the minimum range, as they need to spend more time on your file to make it more presentable.
If You Can’t Hire a Green Card Lawyer
Don’t worry if you can’t afford an immigration lawyer for green card. As a lawyer is not mandatory for the application, you can prepare your file and submit it yourself. You just need to put in some effort.
Check all the requirements from the official website and match your profile with that. You’ll get most of the points. So, don’t worry.
Then, check YouTube videos about green cards and the application process for a better understanding. You’ll have a lot of questions. Note them.
After arranging everything, schedule a meeting with an immigration lawyer to discuss your confusion and questions. Show them your profile and everything you’ve arranged. Then, ask for suggestions about your next step.
Thus, you can only take a lawyer’s help to discuss your confusion. This will help you save a huge amount.
After arranging everything, schedule another meeting to discuss if you’re ready to submit your application. If everything is okay, apply for it.
Then use online resources to prepare for the interview.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Does hiring an attorney for a green card increase my chance of qualifying?
Yes, it does. They don’t have a direct influence on the selection, but they can help you by improving the overall quality of your application. However, you need someone experienced for that. An experienced attorney helps you improve the application quality multiple times.
Do I need to hire an attorney from the state I want to go to?
Though many attorneys work with green cards of all states, hiring someone from the specific state you want to go to is better. States have some requirements that change over time. Legal professionals of that specific state know better about the state’s specific requirements. Thus they can help you with accurate information.
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Are there specific lawyers for green cards?
You won’t find someone who works only on green cards. They are immigration lawyers with a focus on all types of immigration. However, you’ll find someone who is specialized in green cards. They may work with other types of visas too, but they mostly focus on clients who apply for green cards.