What types of immigration cases do lawyers typically handle? Experienced immigration attorneys handle a wide range of cases, including those revolving around citizenship, asylum, visa services, and appeals. When looking for the right attorney to handle your case, make sure you select a lawyer who understands your needs and knows how to approach your case.
For help with an immigration case in Chicago, call Khalaf & Abuzir, LLC, at 708-694-3859 to schedule a consultation with one of our attorneys.
What Are the Most Common Types of Immigration Cases?
So, what types of immigration cases do lawyers handle? There are many types of immigration cases that immigration attorneys cover. The following are some of the most common:
Asylum and Refugee Cases
If you face persecution or have experienced persecution in your country of origin and need to escape to the U.S., you can either seek asylum or refugee status. If you are in your country at the time of seeking immigration into the U.S., you would apply for refugee status. If you are already in the country or at a U.S. port of entry, you may qualify for asylum.
Family-Based Immigration
If you want to enter the country on a family-based visa or sponsor another close relative who wishes to immigrate, an attorney could help you apply for these visas. For instance, individuals could apply for F4 visas for siblings, F3 visas for married children, or F1 visas for adult unmarried children.
Naturalization and Citizenship
Once you’ve gained lawful permanent resident (LPR) status in the U.S., you may wish to apply for citizenship by undergoing the naturalization process. In Illinois alone, there are 384,925 LPRs who are eligible to naturalize.
This process involves many steps and can take a long time to complete, but an attorney can assist you with the application process and ensure you’re able to successfully gain citizenship through the proper channels.
Other Visa Applications
An immigration attorney can help with applying for other visa types, depending on the nature of your visit or stay in the U.S.
For example, an attorney can help you if you’re not sure how to apply for a K-1 visa, which enables a foreign citizen to marry an American citizen in the U.S. within 90 days of arriving in the country.
He or she could also help you apply for a wide range of other immigrant or non-immigrant visas. Another example is an H-1B visa, which allows foreign citizens to gain temporary employment in the U.S. as non-immigrant workers. Other visas enable citizens to temporarily live and work in the U.S. as artists, athletes, tourists, or people with other good-faith purposes for entering the country.
Applying for visas and waiting for approval can be a daunting and time-consuming process, but the right attorney could work with you to simplify the entire process and increase your chances of getting approval from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) or other agencies.
Removal and Deportation Defense
If you face deportation and removal from the U.S., whether due to illegal immigration to the United States or potentially unfounded issues with your existing immigrant status, an attorney can defend you during removal proceedings to help keep you in the country.
Appeals
If USCIS or another agency denies your application, or you wish to appeal another decision related to your immigration case, your lawyer could appeal the decision by taking your case to the appropriate courts.
How to Know Which Type of Visa Is Right for You
There are many types of visas that you can apply for in the U.S., depending on your desired status and the purpose of your entry. Specifically, you can select from a range of immigrant and non-immigrant visas.
With so many visa types, it can be difficult to identify the right one, which is why it’s often in your best interest to work with an attorney. A lawyer can determine which visa to apply for based on the nature of your visit.
Why Hire an Immigration Lawyer?
There are several advantages to hiring an immigration lawyer to handle your case.
These include:
- Ample Experience: One of the main reasons to hire an immigration attorney is to get someone with experience on your side to help you with your case. A reputable lawyer will know how visa processes and other types of immigration cases work to help you secure a successful outcome.
- Protected Rights: A good lawyer will have a deep understanding of your rights as an immigrant or nonimmigrant in the U.S. and work to protect them. In the process, he or she could defend you against civil rights violations or abuse.
- Legal Advice: In the event of removal proceedings, appeals, or other cases, an attorney can give you sound advice on how to proceed. Your attorney may also be able to work with you in the long term to continually provide advice as needed.
- Expediting Application Processes: If you want to apply for any type of visa in the U.S., your lawyer could assist with the application process, keeping all information correct while increasing your chances of getting approval without issue.
The key is finding the ideal lawyer to represent you based on your needs. A reliable lawyer will learn about your case and determine whether he or she is a good fit for you. The attorney may then decide to help you proceed with a visa application or another matter.
To consult an experienced and knowledgeable immigration attorney in Chicago, contact us today at Khalaf & Abuzir, LLC.
