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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We hoped and prayed for this day, not knowing if it would ever come. Deportations are incredibly scary and overwhelming. We wanted to give a very special thank you to Jennifer Peyton of Chicago for securing this victory for us! With Jennifer on our side we were able to get our loved one back. On behalf of our family, thank you. When we started this journey, we had hoped and…
Matthew Kriezelman, first of all, thank you very much; you and your team are the best immigration lawyers in Chicago. I had a great experience—your professionalism was outstanding, and you were always there whenever needed. I give you five stars for the wonderful work you and your team did. Thanks again.
Hay momentos en la vida en los que una familia siente que el mundo se detiene. Nosotros vivimos uno de esos momentos y, en medio de la incertidumbre y el miedo, tuvimos la fortuna de encontrar a la abogada Sheila McNulty y al paralegal Rafael Rodríguez . Nos escucharon con empatía, nos guiaron con paciencia y defendieron nuestro caso con un profesionalismo, una dedicación y una calidad humana realmente excepcionales.…
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