Understanding the Duties of an Immigration Consultant and Immigration Attorneys

US immigration Consultants

If you need help with some of the documents for your USA immigration, you might want to seek the help of an immigration consultant. However, you have to be careful when choosing a consultant to work with. First and foremost, he has to be legit. There are a lot of scamming individuals today who are only out to get your money. This is why you have to make sure that you check on him or her before hiring.

In addition to being legit, he has to be competent. You can refer to his success rates, work experience, educational background and testimonials from previous clients. You can also have an idea of his competence by noticing how he talks and how he carries himself. However, you should not rely on these observations solely. You should also check on the substance of what he is talking about. If he has been doing this for a while, you should expect that he knows the different forms and requirements well.

Moreover, he has to be reliable. It is not enough that he can present you with certificates of recognition or diplomas and the like. You should be able to experience his professionalism first hand. For instance, if you set an appointment with him, he should be on time. Remember, you are his client and he should not keep you waiting. If you have concerns that need immediate attention, he should be there for you. Acquiring US visa or green card is difficult. When you have an irresponsible consultant, this will not help you at all and will only give you additional cost and expenses.

Proper assessment and complete evaluation should be done before confirming the services of an immigration consultant. You don’t want to have a connection with a consultant that has had bad services. You cannot risk you application with a consultant that has too little success rates, at the same time; you can’t have the services of consultant that do not offer enough time to prioritize you. Always remember to have them in balance.  

When do you need an immigration consultant?

US immigration is tough. This is why many seek help. However, you need to get the right kind of help. If you need someone to help you fill out forms from the USCIS, then an immigration consultant will suffice. He will also help translate the forms that you have difficulty understanding. He may even fill out the form for you with the information you have provided. After filling out the form, it is important that he has completed the section under preparer.

Immigration consultants are also very important in aiding you with the procurement of your US visa requirements. The US visa applications may require several documents and consultant should be ready to have a great deal of expertise over these. This should also be true for US application forms. Consultants should know the answers that lead to good approval ratings from the immigration officers and consuls.  

 

Immigration consultant vs. an immigration attorney:

You should bear in mind that an immigration consultant is not an immigration lawyer. This means that there are many instances wherein the services of a consultant will not be enough. This is especially true for legal cases. Here are some of the duties that the immigration consultant CANNOT do:

• Represent an immigrant in an immigration proceeding.
• Legal advice on the type of US visa to apply to.
• Give advice to prepare you for your interview with an immigration officer.

The said consultants should not claim that they are experts in terms of giving legal advices to immigrants. This is strictly prohibited by law. Additionally, they should not charge any fee higher than what their respective State law allows.

If you are applying for immigration visa and you do not understand the USA visa application form, then hire an immigration consultant. However, if you need more legal advice and help, start looking for a competent immigration attorney.

 

US immigration attorney: Finding the Right one

Here are some tips to help you the right US immigration lawyer for you:

1. Check out the American Immigration Lawyers Association or AILA. This is a national association of lawyers who are well versed with the immigration law. This means that you are certain to find a competent lawyer to work with. Look for members of the association within your area. After that, do an individual check of the lawyers in your list.
2. Get referrals for your friends, office mates or relatives. If you know someone who hired an immigration lawyer, get the information about the lawyer and see if he can help you with your visa, green card application or other issues.
3. Talk to the lawyers, either personally or through phone. Present your case and ask if they have dealt with similar scenario before. Bear in mind that there are many immigration cases that exist in the country and many lawyers have handled them. There is a good chance that your case is not similar with others. This is why you need to check if the lawyer has encountered or handled a case like yours in the past. Talking to them will help you make your choice.
4. Verify the credentials of the person you are about to hire. Validate them. You should also check with their previous clients or the previous cases they handled.
5. Compare the fees they charge. How much will it cost you to hire him? Does he charge by the hour or does he have a fix rate. You should also inquire about any additional charges that the process would cost you so that you can make the necessary preparations.

You will need different types of help when you encounter US immigration problems. If your worry only concerns about the different forms to fill out and their translation, then working with an immigration consultant is enough. However, if you need legal assistance and advice regarding your application for green card through marriage or other issues about American visas, then look for an immigrant lawyer.

Immigration lawyers have more in depth knowledge in the immigration processes, especially for immigration laws. US immigration schemes and processes may be confusing and immigration legalities are quite cumbersome. You should always have a great deal of support for these tasks. You can also have both Immigration consultants and Attorneys if you see it fit.