The United States immigration process is far from straightforward or quick. Depending on your reasons for immigrating and your country of origin, successfully navigating the process can be tricky and even disheartening. Although hiring a lawyer isn't a necessary part of immigrating to the United States, it can offer many potential benefits. Even if you've decided to retain the services an attorney, it can be hard to know when to introduce them into the process. While many people believe that an immigration attorney will help them the most during the application and interview process, the most significant benefits often come much sooner.
Let Your Counselor Counsel You
When most people think of lawyers, they think of courtroom legal battles. These contests are certainly an essential part of the job for many lawyers, but they are far from the primary duty of those engaged in the legal profession. In fact, the most crucial thing that most lawyers do is to advise their clients. Advice of this nature is especially vital in complex legal areas, such as immigration law. Immigration is a hot button topic in the United States, and there is an endless array of rules and regulations that govern legal movement into the country.
Many people attempt to navigate these complex waters on their own, but providing advice and support early in the process is one of the most vital and underappreciated services performed by attorneys. By consulting with an immigration attorney before you begin the process, you can ensure that you get started on the right foot. Attorneys can often provide advice that can help you to avoid common pitfalls, some of which may delay your process by months or even years.
Begin The Process Together
In addition to explaining the best immigration options available for your particular case, your attorney can help you to file the initial paperwork to get the process moving. This help can be especially crucial if you are attempting to obtain permits to work in the US or you have other special requirements. Mistakes during this phase tend to be the most likely cause of delays or rejections, so it can be helpful to have an ally who understands where applications often go wrong. In some cases, the most expeditious path to immigration and citizenship may be one that isn't clear without significant experience in the system.
Don't Ignore The Value Of History
Of course, your attorney will also assist you once you begin the process in earnest. If necessary, they can join you for interviews and help you to file any additional paperwork that may be necessary. While you can hire a lawyer later on to help you with these tasks, the benefits of working with the same attorney from the beginning are innumerable. By building a history together from the beginning of your immigration case, your lawyer will have the best chance of understanding any unique problems that you may face so that you can overcome them together.
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