Source Law

  • HOME
  • Our Team
  • Services
  • Contact
  • HOME
  • Our Team
  • Services
  • Contact

Blog

Don't Need a Lawyer? You May Be Right.

9/18/2016

0 Comments

 
DON'T NEED A LAWYER? YOU MAY BE RIGHT.
Picture


In this day and age, there is so much information available online. From official websites such as www.uscis.gov to legal self-help sites like www.nolo.com. So why pay hundreds or thousands of dollars for an attorney? I agree!

During consults with potential clients, I will occasionally meet a couple who brings a neat stack of pre-filled immigration forms and supporting evidence. They ask me to represent them in their one-step (family petitioning and adjustment of status) process. As I review the documents, I find a few minor errors, but find that the application as a whole is nearly 95% ready to mail. I point out the couple's errors, then tell them, "You can hire me to submit this for you, but frankly, I think you can do it yourself."

While I don't want to turn away business, I have an obligation to you to advise  you on what is best for you. If that means that I must tell you that you're wasting your money on hiring an attorney to represent you, then so be it.

The folks I usually recommend to "do it yourself" usually share the following characteristics:
  • The applicant has never committed any crimes or immigration violations.
  • The applicant is not in a rush to file
  • The applicant is very organized and methodical in his/her work
  • The applicant is SO careful and detailed, that they seek help on even small things
 
Then there are the folks who come into the consultation just to double check and are told that they should not file their application without an attorney:
  • The applicant has had negative contacts with law enforcement (regardless of whether it was a juvenile delinquency issue, or if the case has been "cleared")
  • The applicant that has overstayed in the U.S. or has entered without lawful status before
  • The applicant has little to no evidence of his/her claims
  • The applicant who has had travelled in and out of the U.S. frequently
  • The applicant who have had many petitions filed for him/her
  • The applicant whose identification documents don't match (two different names)
  • The applicant who has been issued a Request for Evidence (RFE) or a Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID) 
 
While you may not need a lawyer, it is always in your best interest to have a consultation. Immigration filing fees have increased significantly over the last few years. For a $100, you can rest knowing that you are eligible, filed the right petition, to the right place, and are on your way to obtaining the benefit you seek.

On more than one occasion, I have met the proud parents of a U.S. citizen, who can not understand why their application for  a green card was denied. Within minutes, I was able to determine why they were ineligible. I spent the rest of the time during the consult explaining why they were ineligible, and brainstorming alternative options for them.

Whether you choose to self-represent or hire an attorney after the consult is entirely up to you. Just don't flush thousands of dollars and months of your life applying for something you were never eligible for in the first place.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Kim Le is an immigration attorney from Portland, Oregon. She is the owner of Le Immigration Law, LLC.

    Archives

    December 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    January 2017
    October 2016
    September 2016

    Categories

    All
    U Visas

    RSS Feed

Picture


Source Law
8305 SE Monterey Avenue Suite 205
Happy Valley, OR 97086
Telephone: 503-517-0054
​Fax: 503-462-7955

Disclaimer: The information in this website is not legal advice, and your use of it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Any liability that might arise from your use or reliance on this website or any links from this website is expressly disclaimed. This website is not legal advice, is not to be acted on as such, may not be current and is subject to change without notice. In accordance with rules established by the Oregon Rules of Professional Conduct, this web site must be labeled "advertising." It is designed to provide general information for clients and friends of the firm and should not be construed as legal advice, or legal opinion on any specific facts or circumstances.
​
Photos used under Creative Commons from free pictures of money, kleuske