Immigration Lawyer Or DIY: Comparing Your Options

You are never required to hire an immigration lawyer if you are seeking to enter, change your current visa status, or remain in the United States. However, in complex cases such as those involving criminal charges, loss of legal status, or potential deportation, an attorney is a must.

Choosing to remain or relocate to the United States can be a costly endeavor in itself, let alone the cost of hiring an immigration lawyer. So is this added expense absolutely necessary or can you do-it-yourself successfully? Whether or not you require an attorney depends on the complexity of your case. If you've spent any period residing in the country illegally, are facing deportation, or have breached any part of your visa, you shouldn't risk the DIY route. However, if you've followed regulations and are prepared to invest the research and time required to properly fill out the documents, you might be able to skip the attorney. 

Permanent Resident to Citizen:
After living legally residing in the USA on permanent residency for a period of five years (three if still married to a US citizen), you may apply for citizenship. There are many benefits to becoming a citizen including expanded rights and no fear of visa revocation. Prime candidates are those who've mastered the English language and have no criminal history. In these instances, filing on your own behalf is less expensive and fairly straightforward. If you have been convicted of even just a misdemeanor, you will need an immigration lawyer to assist you with the process. It may be tempting to simply maintain permanent residency status, but you are facing great risks of deportation in the future. 

Fiancé and Marriage Visas:
There are enough sham marriages and engagements that officials have greatly tightened the rules. Be prepared to have sufficient evidence to prove the validity of your relationship such as shared expenses, proof of residency together; clear long-term commitments (children or joint ownership of property), as well as personal artifacts (photographs, notes, gift receipts, etc.). If you have been married for several years and cohabitating with sufficient evidence, an immigration lawyer is likely unnecessary, but the process still won't be a breeze. If you have difficulty producing such documentation or have been residing in the US illegally before entering the union, it is highly suggested to seek legal representation. 

International Adoption:
When bringing home an adopted child, you'll need either the assistance of a family or immigration lawyer that has specific experience in this field. The rules will vary greatly by country of adoption and the process is complex, with a heavy application load from not just the US, but the other country as well. To protect your rights as well as your adopted child, don't tackle this monumental task without strong legal counsel. 

Waiting times for visas can be excruciatingly long in some categories. For example, siblings of US citizens have a current backlog of a minimum of eleven years, so applying as early as possible is recommended due to the delays. Relations to citizens are always favored to those of permanent residents, so securing citizenship quickly can help reduce the waiting period to bring over family. If you have any questions or are unclear, you may wish to consult with an attorney who can advise you for a small fee.

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