There are good ones and there are bad ones. Immigration attorneys often are an extremely helpful, indispensable asset for an immigrant seeking to file a petition for a Visa or green card, avoid deportation or work in the United States. Many Immigration Lawyers are very hard working, honest professionals who genuinely want to help you.
On the other hand, there are some "not-so-helpful" immigration lawyers whose only intention is to generate as much business as possible, charge large fees and do little to actually help their clients. Here are some tips to avoid the latter group.
Avoid Lawyers That Approach You at USCIS or Other Immigration Offices
Many "high volume, low value" immigration attorneys will prowl the hallways of immigration officers attempting to solicit business. This is a red flag of a shady lawyer. Any good immigration attorney is probably going to be too busy practicing real immigration law and working for their clients to spend their time trying to get new clients this way.
Watch Out for "Visa Consultants", or Petition Preparers
While not lawyers, they still prey on foreigners who need help with the immigration process and offer little value other than a typing service. If you can read this article, then you don't need a petition preparer.
Be Wary of an Immigration Attorney with a $2,000 Suit
While this is not a "red flag" per se, immigration is not the most lucrative of legal areas in which to practice law. For a corporate, or civil injury attorney, success is likely measured in dollars, but an immigration attorney likely works endless hours for clients that are not particularly wealthy.
A $2,000 suit may be a sign of unusually high fees, and not a reflection of legal skills or commitment to clients.
Unethical Advice
Be careful of an immigration attorney that tells you to lie on an application, or to a USCIS officer. Not only is this unethical and illegal, he or she is probably just trying to usher your case along to collect a fee, with no regard for your personal wellbeing.
Be Skeptical of Unrealistic Promises
Not even the best attorneys can guarantee success. Ultimately, the outcome of you case is up to an immigration judge, the Department of Homeland Defense and/or USCIS. Any attorney claiming he or she has a 100% success rate and guaranteeing you a particular outcome may need to be more closely evaluated.
Talk to More than One Attorney
While most good immigration attorneys will likely be pretty busy, you should be able to talk to them and their office staff to get a sense of their commitment to clients as well as their overall demeanor and impression of honesty.
Talking to several attorneys will give you some basis for comparison before choosing the one who will be representing you and your interests. It will also give you a chance to "feel out" various attorneys to get a sense of their personality and work philosophy to determine if they will be a good fit for you.
Warning Issued by the Justice Department
Prompted by numerous cases of immigrants being swindled by immigration "consultants" or "notarios" in Los Angeles, the department of justice posted a notice in USCIS buildings and court houses warning would be US visitors and residents to be weary of using these non-attorney services.
Click on the image to the right to see a pdf of the warning posted by the Department of Justice
