Frequently Asked Questions
How can I protect myself if am undocumented?
Do not answer any questions about your status; say only “I need to speak to my lawyer.”
If you have valid immigration status documents, show them.
Do not show false documents or lie.
Do not say anything about where you were born or how you entered the U.S.
Do not ever carry papers from another country. They will be used against you.
If you are at your home, do not let them in or open the door. Ask to see a warrant signed by a judge.
Have a plan in place for a family member to call and hire an attorney. Ask the attorney about their experience in immigration law and where they are licensed. Remember: notarios are not attorneys
If I have a package ready, can you just review it for me?
No. Our representation is generally considered full service. There are too many factors involved in immigration that could affect your case and we are careful to protect the interests of our clients. There are too many potentials for liability problems involved in piecemeal review. As the Ninth Circuit has stated, “we have warned that because ‘immigration laws have been termed second only to the Internal Revenue Code in complexity . . . [a] lawyer is often the only person who could thread the labyrinth.’” Hernandez-Gil v. Gonzales, 476 F.3d 803, 809 (9th Cir. 2007). We take our professional and ethical responsibility over a case very seriously. This is your future and a simple mistake or overlooking an important detail may cost you time, money, and possibly your legal status in this country.
What should I bring to the consultation?
Any paperwork for your immigration case (i.e. prior petitions for you or your parents, immigration court documents, old/current work permits, receipts from immigration, etc.)
Court records if you have been arrested
Police reports if you have been a victim of a crime
Dates and details of all entries and exits to the U.S.
Dates of births, marriages, and divorces
How long is the consultation?
Generally, you can expect to take about 10-15 minutes filling out the forms after which you will be meeting with the attorney. The consultation with the attorney will generally be between 20 and 30 minutes, though it may be shorter or longer depending on the complexity of your case.
If I don’t want you to know my information can you still do the consultation?
No. In order to do the full case analysis to determine your eligibility or potential problems you might face, we need all the information asked of you. The purpose of the consultation is to see if we are a good fit to work together on your case. Part of that is the trust between the attorney and the potential client. If you don’t feel comfortable providing the information to our office, we are not the best fit for you and you should find an attorney that you do feel comfortable with.
Why can’t you quote me over the phone?
Providing a quote without knowing anything about your case would be irresponsible. Our fees are based on roughly the amount of time we will be working on your case. Because every case is unique, a full consultation is required to properly evaluate the needs of your case.
Do you charge for the first consultation?
Your first consultation is free of charge if it is scheduled during normal office hours Monday through Friday. There is a $150 charge for Saturday morning appointments. There is also a charge for the second consultation unless you are bringing documents that the attorney has specifically requested in order to complete the consultation.
Why can’t I consult about a case for my adult son or daughter, niece, cousin, friend?
For confidentiality reasons, we cannot discuss a potential case with anyone who is not a direct party to the case. For a proper case evaluation, we need a lot of specific information that you may not be aware of. Finally, immigration cases can oftentimes take a long time. The purpose of the consultation is to see if our office is a good fit for your needs and if we can work together during the time that your case will be pending. We put a lot of effort into the immigration cases that our office takes on and would like to see the same interest from our clients.
If I live far away, in a different state, or in a another country, can I still have a consultation?
Yes. You would need to send us an email initiating contact. We will respond with a form that you would need to fill out. Once we receive the form from you completed in its entirety, we will schedule a Skype consultation with you.
If I live locally, why can’t I have a phone consultation?
We are interested in protecting the confidentiality of those who come to our office. In-person consultations are generally the best way to ensure confidentiality and evaluate whether we are the best fit for your needs.
Why is my friend’s case moving faster than mine?
Every case is different. We do our best to get cases processed in our office as soon as possible, but we do not have control over USCIS or the government’s processing times. If a case is taking too long, we will try to inquire with USCIS, but you should be aware that there can be a government delay in processing immigration cases that is outside of our control.