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

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

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.