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How to Prepare for Your First Meeting with an Immigration Lawyer
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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.
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My aunt was recently detained by ICE and sent to El Paso, Texas to the East Montana Detention Facility. This place is essentially a prison in the middle of the desert, and the majority of the detainees here get deported. My family and I interviewed a dozen immigration attorneys around the country to help my aunt, and we decided to hire Kevin Raica, an attorney with Kriezelman Burton and Associates.…
Our case was very difficult, and at times it felt like there was no way out. My wife was detained for a long period of time, and it was an extremely challenging experience for our family. Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC truly changed our situation. I would especially like to thank our attorney, Brittni Rivera, as well as Natalia. They were attentive, honest, and always ready to help. It was…
I cannot recommend Kevin Raica highly enough. He helped me successfully obtain my U.S. green card, and the entire process was smooth and stress-free because of his expertise and dedication. From start to finish, Kevin was professional, organized, and extremely knowledgeable about immigration law. He made sure every document was prepared correctly and took the time to explain each step clearly. Anytime I had questions, he responded promptly and made…
Great experience with this attorney office. They helped me with my I-751 waiver after divorce. Kevin was very professional, and supported me through the interview. Everything went smoothly and my case was approved. Highly recommend!
We contacted Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC, based on a recommendation, when my wife was detained by ICE. Attorney Khiabett Osuna handled our case, and it turned out to be the right choice. From the very beginning, she proved herself to be a caring and competent professional, clearly explaining the process. You can tell she's truly invested in each case and achieving results for her clients. We've also heard of…
I would like to express my gratitude to Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC, and especially to attorney Khiabett Osuna, who handled my case. I contacted them based on a recommendation and have never regretted it. From the very beginning, she demonstrated high professionalism. I could tell she was genuinely committed to the outcome and was doing everything possible to protect her client.
Mr. Kriezelman, Mr. Burton and Ms. Erin Cobb, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for handling my case. Your knowledge and dedication to my case is truly appreciated. Thank you.
I highly recommend Brittni Rivera. We are very grateful to her and the entire team at Kriezelman Burton & Associates. Your dedication, responsiveness, and compassion made an enormous difference during an incredibly difficult time. Serving as the liaison between Brittni Rivera and our friend in ICE detention, I saw firsthand how tirelessly she worked guiding us through the process, answering every question, and never losing sight of the humanity at…
Andrea C. Ochoa is truly the best of the best. ❤️ Our family went through one of the most difficult and frightening experiences of our lives when Feruz was detained by ICE. We felt lost, scared, and unsure of what would happen next. From the very beginning, Andrea brought us not only her professionalism and deep legal knowledge, but also something even more important — hope. She guided us through…
Thank you Matthew for all your help with my case. Highly recommend
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