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Home FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions About Attorneys & Fees
We understand that the cost of immigration services can be perplexing, as the cost of legal services may vary widely.  Our office hopes this page can provide answers some of the questions office receives from individuals regarding the selection of an attorney and legal fees that can be expected. 


Beware of Immigration Consultants

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What is an immigration consultant? 
You may find that there are numerous "Immigration Consultants" in your area who advertise their services for immigration matters. The fees charged by immigration consultants are often, but not always, low. The less costly fees charged by immigration consultants often make them appear to be an attractive alternative if you require help with an immigration matter, but are concerned with the amount of money involved. However, you should be warned that immigration consultants are not licensed immigration attorneys, and are not authorized to provide legal immigration advice.  Immigration consultants often do not have the necessary experience or education necessary to properly handle immigration cases. Immigration consultants also do not have ethical obligations as imposed by the State Bar Association upon licensed attorneys.

The consequences of hiring an immigration consultant may be extremely adverse.  Filing an ill-prepared immigration case can cause delays or even irreparably harm your chances of securing immigration benefits. Unfortunately, immigration consultants have accepted payment from unwitting individuals and failed to provide any services at all. In the end, hiring an immigration consultant rather than attorney may not be as cost effective an option as you believed. Many individuals have been forced to retain an attorney and expend substantial amounts of money to correct mistakes made by an immigration consultant.
 

Selecting an Immigration Attorney

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What information should I get about an immigration attorney? 
Prior to retaining an attorney or firm we recommend you research the background of the attorney and firm you are considering hiring. This will allow you to ensure the attorney and firm have a good reputation and experience to appropriately handle your case.  You can visit their website, and contact the local State Bar to verify the individual is an attorney and obtain information regarding their status.  After you have identified an attorney you are interested in working with, you should request an initial consultation with the attorney. The consultation will allow you an opportunity to meet with the attorney, learn more about the firm, ask questions about the services available, and obtain an estimate of fees and costs you can expect to pay for the case.
 

Fees for Immigration Services

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How do most immigration attorneys charge for their services? 
Some immigration attorneys charge fees for their services on a flat or fixed-fee basis while others charge hourly rates. Other immigration attorneys charge a combination of fees depending on the particular circumstances of the case. A flat or fixed-fee agreement requires the client to pay the attorney a set amount of money to represent the client with a particular immigration issue. The benefit of this fee structure is that the client knows the legal costs from the start and can budget accordingly. With an hourly agreement, the client typically pays the attorney a retainer fee to begin work on a case and is charged according to the time spent working on the matter.
 

Need for an Immigration Attorney

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Do I need an immigration lawyer? 
Determining whether you need a lawyer to handle your immigration matter is hard to figure out without being an experienced immigration lawyer.  In general, it is in your best interest to contact an immigration lawyer to discuss your circumstances, and provide you with an estimate on how much it would cost to have the lawyer assist you. However, most lawyers will refer you to a bar association or other nonprofit agency that can assist you for free or for a reduced rate based on your income if you truly cannot afford to retain a lawyer to represent you.
 



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