Talk To A Chicago Immigration Attorney
312-332-2550
How to Prepare for Your First Meeting with an Immigration Lawyer
Looking for A Specific Post? Search Below
The U.S. offers multiple opportunities for immigrants. However, becoming eligible, applying for, and receiving approval for your desired status can be a challenging and often frustrating journey. Whether your goal is to bring family members to this country, receive asylum, obtain a work visa, or something else, the comprehensive services of a Chicago immigration attorney are immensely valuable. Here are some tips that can help you prepare for a successful initial meeting with an experienced Chicago immigration lawyer.
Collect Documents
Find all documents that could be related to your immigration case. Make copies of them to give to your attorney. Make sure you include:
- Your birth certificate
- Visas or visa applications
- Passports
- Your marriage certificate (if applicable)
- Letters from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
- Any documents you received when you came to the U. S.
Be Honest About any Criminal Records
Your Chicago immigration attorney isn’t here to judge you. They are here to assess your entire situation, including any criminal history, so that they can help you in the best way possible. Concealing a criminal record from them will eventually prove to be a waste of time and money. Be honest from the beginning, understanding that the U.S. immigration authorities will probably require your fingerprints at some point in the process. Doing so can link you to your criminal records, which could cause you to lose your case because you lied. Instead, make copies of all police and court documents and provide those to the attorney as well.
Record Critical Information
Before you meet with the lawyer, take some time to write down the important events, dates, and circumstances that are unique to your case. The more details you can provide, the better. If your goal is asylum, be sure you include specific dates of occurrences and the names of offenders, witnesses, and victims. The attorney will know how to use this information to the benefit of your case. Putting the details on paper before you meet with them can help ensure that you remember everything.
Don’t Be Afraid to Share Information
Give your lawyer as much information as you can upfront. This will help you avoid strategy mistakes or damaging surprises down the road. Even if you don’t think it’s important, share it with your attorney and let them decide what to do with the information. Whatever you tell them will remain confidential.
Write Down Your Questions
Like most immigration clients, you likely have several questions for your attorney. Many people tend to get slightly nervous or caught up in the process of meeting their attorney, which results in them forgetting the questions they wanted to ask. By taking the time to jot them down before you go, you can ensure that you won’t forget and that you can receive timely answers to your most pressing questions.
Schedule a Consultation with Our Experienced Chicago Family Immigration Attorneys
If you are searching for a knowledgeable and experienced Chicago immigration lawyer, look no further than Kriezelman Burton & Associates. Our team of dedicated and reputable attorneys is well-versed in the complexities of immigration law and the challenges it presents to people just like you. We not only serve immigration clients in Chicago but also all throughout Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Contact us today to schedule your confidential immigration case review.
Lo que dicen nuestras clientas
Calificación de 5 estrellas | Basado en 200+ reseñas de clientes satisfechos en Google
I had a wonderful experience working with Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC. From start to finish, the team was professional, knowledgeable, and truly dedicated to guiding me through every step of the process. They made what could have been a stressful situation feel smooth and manageable, always answering questions quickly and keeping me updated. I especially want to thank Khabit for his outstanding support—he was patient, detail-oriented, and went above…
Many thanks to attorney Kevin A Raica and his assistant Rafael Rodriguez for all their help. My immigration case went very smoothly and quickly.
We worked with Kevin Raica from Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC, and I can confidently say he went above and beyond for us. Our process was very long and at times overwhelming, but Kevin guided us every step of the way with professionalism, patience, and dedication. He was always available to answer our questions, explained everything clearly, and made sure we understood our options at each stage. What stood out…
A family friend referred me to work with Maya Flores at Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC to help me with my U.S. naturalization. Despite the current immigration tension, Maya helped make the process smooth and her familiarity with procedure helped ease my anxiety. She submitted the citizenship application on my behalf and let me know what to expect. I decided to retain her service for the civics interview as well,…
I really want to thank Justin and Kamila; they are the best. I waited almost 20 years and no one could help me get my green card and in 4 months they helped me get my permit, and I got my green card in less then 4 months. They are the best. I will always be grateful for what they did for me, thank you Justin and Kamila!!!!
I am writing this review to express my deepest gratitude for the hard work on our case by our Immigration Attorney, Lauren McClure and her Paralegal, Kamila Lada. My Green Card was approved! I know this wouldn't have been possible without their expertise and dedication. They both were extremely helpful, responsive, and guided us through every step of the way. Lauren took the time to train us for our interview…
I am incredibly grateful to Mr. Burton for his outstanding legal assistance in my immigration case, from my first consultation he heard me patiently demonstrating exceptional professionalism, expertise, and a genuine commitment to my case. Immigration process can be overwhelming and stressful, but he and his team provided clear guidance every step of the way, always answering my questions promptly and reassuring me with their deep expertise. Thanks to their…
I had an outstanding experience working with Brittni Rivera. From our very first consultation, she demonstrated deep expertise, professionalism, and genuine care for my case. Navigating immigration processes can be incredibly stressful, but Brittni made the entire journey much more manageable and transparent. She were always responsive to my questions, provided clear guidance at every step, and never made me feel like just another case. Thanks to her hard work…
Highly recommend this firm. I had the pleasure of working with Lauren McClure and she is absolutely the best. She was very helpful and walked me through every step of the process, she is patient and she got the job done. I am very grateful with her and her team for helping me with the process of my case. Thank you so much.
I have worked with Kevin Raica for my VAWA application. Let me tell you he has been AMAZING. Unlike other lawyers Kevin has always went above and beyond for me. Kevin is not in it for the money he is in it to HELP people and make a difference. He has walked me through the entire process and always answers any questions I have no matter what. This law firm…
¡Programe una consulta!
Publicidad de abogados. Esta información está diseñada solo para información general. La información presentada no debe interpretarse como asesoramiento legal formal ni como la formación de una relación abogado/cliente. Los resultados y testimonios anteriores no son garantía ni predicción del resultado de su caso, y no deben interpretarse como tales. Los resultados pasados no pueden garantizar el rendimiento futuro. Cualquier resultado en un solo caso no pretende crear una expectativa de resultados similares en asuntos futuros porque cada caso involucra muchos factores diferentes, por lo tanto, los resultados diferirán caso por caso. Al proporcionar información de contacto, los usuarios reconocen y dan su consentimiento explícito para ser contactados a través de los métodos de comunicación proporcionados, incluido SMS. Se pueden aplicar tarifas por mensajes y datos. La frecuencia de los mensajes puede variar. Responda STOP para optar por no participar.
NUVEW | Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved | Accessibility Notice | privacy policy