How do I choose a lawyer?
Most of the large law firms in Canada do not provide immigration services. The area is generally covered by lawyers who practice independently.
Choosing a good lawyer requires research, and may include the following:
Referrals/References
This is the most reliable factor. Clients who have had a good experience will refer friends and relatives. A good lawyer should be able to put forwarded satisfied clients as references.
Specialization
Canadian immigration policy undergoes continuous change. A specialist, generally defined as having more than 10 years of full-time experience, is more likely to be abreast of those changes.
Experience
me lawyers are vastly experienced. This does not automatically translate to expertise, but it is an important factor.
Contract
This is required by all Professional Orders. You should receive a detailed written contract from your lawyer.
Funds “in trust”
Applicants should make fees payable to the lawyer or law firm “in trust”. This is a condition demanded by Professional Orders. Client fees are held in a separate trust account monitored by the Professional Order. This provides a good indication the lawyer in question adheres to current rules. Applicants should be cautious about making any payment to a corporate entity, regardless of the recipient.
Working with an Immigration Attorney
Immigrants should take an active role in the immigration process. An attorney can help guide an immigrant through the procedure and make any required legal arguments, but the immigrants must supply the facts. This typically means going through files and getting copies of all the necessary documents to the attorney’s office. The most successful cases are the ones where immigrants work with their attorneys to compile the necessary information and make the proper filings in a timely fashion. This section contains resources and tips to help immigrants assist their attorneys as they make their case before the USCIS.
Learn About Working with an Immigration Attorney
The Role of an Immigration Attorney
If you’re planning on entering the U.S. or you’re dealing with an immigration issue, it may be in your best interest to consult with an attorney. This article explains a number of situations in which you should seek legal help.
Immigration Intake Questionnaire
Your attorney will need to know a lot about you and your immigration history in order to best prepare your case. This intake questionnaire will help you organize your information for when you meet with an attorney.
Documents To Show Your Attorney: Applying for Citizenship
If you’re planning to apply for U.S. citizenship, you’ll need to fill out and file a number of documents. This checklist will help you ensure that you have all of the required documents when it’s time to file.
Benefits of Hiring an Immigration Lawyer to Represent You
As anyone that’s gone through the process will tell you, navigating any area of immigration law is not an endeavor you’d want to go through alone. There is an extensive paperwork process that goes along with immigration that even natural-born U.S. citizens would struggle with, let alone immigrants from other countries for whom English is not their first language.
The truth about U.S. immigration is that many potential immigrants are not clear about everything required of them during the process, and this lack of information becomes a barrier from get into the country and staying there legally. Don’t let poor or insufficient legal representation be the reason you or your loved ones have to be uprooted from their homes. Here are 7 ways you can benefit from hiring an immigration lawyer to represent you throughout this complicated arm of the legal system:
1. A Good Immigration Lawyer Avoids Mistakes
Filing the correct paperwork is an important part of the processes of acquiring a visa, getting a loved on residence in the United States, and finalizing your marriage to an immigrant, among other procedures. This paperwork is usually extensive and complicated, and without the help of an expert, there are lots of opportunities to make mistakes that sink your entire application permanently.
An experienced immigration attorney can walk you through the correct steps to apply for work permits, marriage licenses and citizenship, without allowing mistakes that derail your chance to get these crucial documents authorized by the proper parties.
2. They Are Seasoned by Experience
One of the most important benefits that hiring an immigration lawyer can offer is less tangible than the others. The help of an expert that has experience making immigrants’ dreams into realities cannot be understated.
You see, it’s invaluable to hire someone that’s done it before for thousands in the same position as you find yourself now. It’s one thing to understand the law; it’s another to understand how to find success for your clients.
3. Immigration Attorneys Can Maneuver the Permits and Regulations
A good immigration lawyer is an expert on all the procedural maneuvers necessary to get you where you want to be. Whether that’s obtaining work permit in the United States, acquiring permanent residency or full U.S. citizenship, an expert immigration attorney is a veritable expert on what you need to make that happen.
Maybe you’ll be able to make it through the process on your own but there’s a good chance you’d have something missing on your various applications that ties them up in the complex regulatory system, or causes them to be rejected entirely. Why leave your future up to a gamble?
4. They Can Explain Your Options to You
No matter what you’re situation is, you have options. Your expert immigration attorney can lay out these options in front of you, making sure you understand the full scope of your circumstances. Whether you’re facing deportation or something else, your situation is likely very sensitive, and urgent. Isn’t it important that you understand those options that you can take moving forward?
5. An Immigration Lawyer Can Advise You As a Permanent Resident
Even after obtaining a work visa or permanent U.S. residency, immigrants still have special laws that apply only to them. If you don’t follow these laws during your time in the country, you could be deported before your visa is expired or after acquiring permanent resident status. A skilled immigration lawyer can help understand these laws so you don’t endanger your status as an immigrant with residency in the United States.
6. A Lawyer Can Help You Find a Legal Job
Immigrants have a more difficult time trying to find legal employment than the average American, let alone a job that earns a competitive salary in the United States.
An immigration lawyer can assist you in the process of applying to jobs, interacting with human relations staff, and seeking employment opportunities. As an immigrant, you probably aren’t familiar with all the tools available for Americans to find jobs; luckily for you, your immigration lawyer probably is, or at the very least can guide you to hiring and recruiting resources.
Ways An Expert Immigration Attorney Can Help
The United States is a country of immigrants – it is a diverse melting pot of cultures and peoples. In fact, between 98-99% of US citizens are related to an immigrant. Despite the nation’s storied history and global roots, immigration continues to be a controversial issue amongst both citizens and political leaders. Further, current immigration structures are likely to change within the coming years, and migrating to the US permanently will probably become more difficult. Enforcement policies have already become more strict, with ICE intensely guarding US borders and conducting deportation raids. Considering this, the best tool in your arsenal is the knowledge that an expert immigration attorney can provide.
Above all, immigrants facing court proceedings are more likely to experience successful outcomes if they have legal counsel. This article lists some of the most prominent reasons why you may need to consult with an immigration lawyer. If you don’t see your specific situation below, that’s okay – this list is not exhaustive.
You Are Applying For Asylum.
The application process for potential asylees is complicated and can take months (or even years). Any error or omission on any paperwork or evidence can lead to delay or denial of an asylee’s application. Further, all asylum seekers must be able to prove that they face credible threats of violence, harm, or imprisonment upon return to their home country. Typically, a government official will interview a potential asylee to determine credible fear. This process is often stressful for applicants, as they have to relive potential trauma and discuss personal histories with a stranger. But a lawyer can protect an asylee’s rights, ensuring a fair application and interview process. Additionally, skilled lawyers provide support, both emotional and legal, during stressful interview proceedings.
You Want To Apply For A Green Card.
A green card is the gateway to permanent residence in the United States. Green cards provide lawful permanent resident (LPR) status to qualified foreign nationals for a limited amount of time. But, only certain people can apply for green cards, based on several eligibility categories. If you are unsure if you are eligible to apply for a green card, an experienced immigration lawyer can help.
Depending on your status, applying for a green card can be fairly straightforward or very difficult. Processing times vary depending on application type and submission location. No matter the situation, a lawyer will provide insider knowledge and keen insight. An immigration attorney can:
- Let you know if you are eligible for a green card;
- Explain any bars to eligibility that may prevent you from applying;
- Help you sponsor a loved one’s green card application;
- Guide the application process, including completion and submission of paperwork;
- Represent you should any questions or concerns arise; and/or
- Ensure your rights are protected.
You Currently Have Special Immigration Status.
Special immigration status is often provided through government-designed programs or initiatives. Examples of these are the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program. While these programs provide a multitude of benefits, at this time they do not provide a direct path to permanent legal status and, eventually, citizenship. This unfortunately means that those who possess special status are often vulnerable to changing government opinions or priorities. Recently, the Trump administration has attacked both TPS and DACA, leaving beneficiaries of both programs unsure of their futures in America. If you fear losing your special immigration status, don’t lose hope. An expert immigration attorney can help identify potential paths forward and defend your rights.
Reasons Why You Need An Immigration Lawyer
Do you plan to work or live in Canada but are in a quandary, wondering whether it would be best to hire an immigration lawyer? Immigration entails lots of paperwork and a deeper understanding of the country’s procedural bureaucracy. Therefore, navigating immigration laws, issues and procedures is a serious matter that you wouldn’t want to go through alone.
Here are five reasons why you need to hire an immigration lawyer to help you seamlessly maneuver through Canada’s complex legal system:
Equipped with knowledge, experience and expertise
A seasoned immigration lawyer can easily walk you through the nitty-gritty of immigrating to Canada. Being well-versed in immigration laws, procedures and constantly updated about recent regulatory changes, he can explain a number of options unique to your case. Whether it is working legally in Canada, obtaining a permanent residency or citizenship, or getting a spousal visa, he can help you fully understand your circumstances.
Handle documentation requirements
Filling out forms and other documents correctly is crucial in your application. Mistakes can result in your application being turned down entirely. By having a professional guide, you will ensure that all the requisite documentation is complete, correct, and submitted on time to be approved by the authorities.
Track your case
Tracking your petition once all the requirements have been submitted to the concerned agencies is the full responsibility of your immigration lawyer. He can make inquiries and quickly act if there are requests for additional information or clarification. He can even help with the appeal process, letting you understand why a petition was denied and how you can proceed with the appeal.
Defend your rights
Hiring an immigration attorney means having someone who knows your entire case and is able to represent you through every step of the process. Your lawyer will have your best interests at heart, defend your rights when communicating about your case, and protect you from being exploited or abused.
Help you legally live in the country
It is every immigrant’s dream to obtain permanent residency or citizenship in any country they choose to live. While an attorney can help immigrants find a job legally, citizens on a working visa remain subject to laws that are only applicable to them. They can even face deportation before their visa expires. An immigration expert can assist and guide you in obtaining a permanent residency, protect you from endangering your residency status, or suggest a path towards citizenship.
