Overview:
Documented outlines 4 key issues for immigrants searching for authorized assist in the U.S.—together with the significance of avoiding notarios, the way to discover a certified immigration legal professional, and your authorized rights.
By Documented NY through Haitian Occasions workers
In case you are searching for to vary your standing in america, it is necessary that you just work with a trusted lawyer or accredited consultant to allow them to legally help you along with your case and provide help to higher perceive the authorized course of. Working with a notary or anybody who just isn’t approved to offer authorized recommendation can damage your probabilities of gaining asylum or one other authorized standing within the U.S.
This text covers 4 essential subjects that you need to take into account when on the lookout for a lawyer that will help you along with your immigration case.
- Who can legally assist me with my immigration case?
- What are the advantages to working with a lawyer?
- How can I discover a good lawyer?
- What are my rights once I’m on the lookout for a lawyer to work with?
This article originally appeared at Importami.com. This data just isn’t an alternative to authorized recommendation from a professional legal professional or accredited consultant. This story was final up to date March 14, 2025.
Who can legally assist me with my immigration case?
There are solely two kinds of immigration professionals that may present authorized recommendation and provide help to along with your immigration case:
- Attorneys. A lawyer (also called an legal professional) is somebody who is aware of quite a bit in regards to the legal guidelines and guidelines for individuals who wish to keep within the U.S. legally. They can assist clarify these legal guidelines to you and reply any questions you may need. They’re additionally somebody you possibly can belief that will help you by the method, and all the pieces you talk about along with your lawyer can be non-public.
- Accredited representatives. An accredited consultant just isn’t an legal professional, however they’re acknowledged by the Division of Justice and the Board of Immigration Appeals, and so they can symbolize you earlier than each DHS and Immigration Court docket if totally accredited.
A notary, or a notary public, just isn’t a lawyer within the U.S. Notaries can’t legally provide help to along with your immigration case. Within the U.S., a notary is somebody who prevents fraud by reviewing paperwork and ensuring they’re actual. If somebody tells you they’re a notary who can give you authorized assist or recommendation, you shouldn’t belief or work with them.
What are the advantages to working with a lawyer?
Working with a lawyer is helpful in your case as a result of they will:
- Hearken to your story: A lawyer determines which authorized pathway is greatest for you and helps you inform your story to the individuals who make choices about your case in immigration courtroom.
- Make it easier to fill out the best paperwork: There are a variety of varieties and paperwork that you’ll want to fill out while you’re making an attempt to remain within the U.S. legally. A lawyer can assist you just remember to’re filling out the best varieties and that you just’re doing all the pieces accurately.
- Characterize you in courtroom: A lawyer can be your advocate and provide help to make your case at courtroom hearings.
- Advocate for you and your rights: A lawyer will ensure that your voice is heard and that your rights are protected.
How can I discover a good lawyer?
To discover a good lawyer, you will need to work with somebody who has expertise in immigration regulation. You need to use the American Immigration Lawyers Association website to seek for a member who has the specialty wanted in your immigration case. You’ll be able to test if a lawyer is licensed to apply in your state by following these steps:
- Click on the American Bar Association website
- Discover and click on on the state the place you reside and click on the hyperlink to your state’s bar affiliation
- Enter the legal professional’s title or bar quantity to see their profile
- The profile can have primary contact data, whether or not the legal professional can apply regulation, and if they’ve had any moral points.
Listed below are some extra ideas that will help you select an excellent legal professional:
- Overview and ask any questions earlier than signing a contract. The contract ought to be supplied in your most popular language and defined to you. You might have the best to ask for clear explanations.
- Don’t signal something you don’t perceive.
- Perceive what types of aid you’re making use of for and the charges that can be charged. This ought to be clearly defined within the contract and embody a fee plan, if wanted.
- Ask to see your legal professional’s licensing paperwork to verify they’re respectable.
- Ask for references from different purchasers they’ve labored with.
- Ask for copies of varieties and paperwork submitted in your case.
Additionally Learn: Pro-Bono Lawyers And Free Legal Services in New York Immigration Courts
What are my rights once I’m on the lookout for a lawyer?
When you find yourself on the lookout for a lawyer or an accredited consultant that will help you, you will need to know your rights. It doesn’t matter in case you are paying the lawyer or if they’re serving to you without spending a dime (free providers are also called “professional bono”), they’ve the identical tasks. Keep in mind that you’ve got the best to:
- Hearth your legal professional or accredited consultant. In case you are not happy with the lawyer’s work, you should not have to stick with that lawyer.
- Search a second opinion in your case. You should not have to decide to the primary lawyer you meet with. It is suggested to speak to a number of attorneys earlier than deciding which to go together with.
- File a criticism in case your lawyer or accredited consultant has violated any guidelines. You’ll be able to start to file a criticism with Stop Notario Fraud.