Questions to Ask Your Immigration Attorney

Questions to Ask Your Immigration Attorney

When a need arises to deal with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), most people should opt to retain the services of an experienced immigration lawyer. At Kriezelman Burton & Associates, we help clients in the Chicago area navigate the complex immigration system, and we are here for you should you need these services.

Whether you come to us or to any other immigration lawyer, the most important thing is to make sure you understand fully what the immigration process entails and, specifically, what needs to be done to successfully address your specific situation.

To do this, you want to ask questions, and below are some of the most important questions you should ask and get answers to:

• Ask the lawyer about their experience handling immigration cases in general and specifically handling cases like yours. The range of cases under immigration law is wide, and each requires specific knowledge of the applicable law, strategies to successfully pursue the needs of the client, and often making sure the lawyer handling the case is on top of any new developments in the law or USCIS policies. Asking and being satisfied that the attorney you are talking to has the requisite experience to handle your case is the first step in the right direction.
• Ask the lawyer how much of their practice is dedicated to immigration law cases. The idea here is to make sure you retain the services of a lawyer who spends most, if not all, their time handling immigration cases. In fact, you are better off retaining the services of a lawyer whose concentration in their practice is immigration law. This is important because U.S. immigration is complex and constantly changing, so it requires focused practice and not a general practitioner dabbling in the area, which can have dire consequences for you.
• Ask about who will be handling your case. Even in firms that concentrate their practice on immigration law and nothing else, it is important to know your case will be handled by a specific attorney at the firm who will therefore have a better understanding of your case as opposed to having different lawyers in the firm handling the case who may or may not be familiar with the facts and details of your case. If it is a solo practitioner, you want to make sure they will personally be handling your case or closely overseeing and supervising the handling of your case in matters typically handled by office staff.
• Ask about what the lawyer will specifically do to resolve or address your immigration needs. An experienced immigration lawyer will usually provide this information even without you asking but make sure you ask questions to fully understand the process and what the lawyer will do to help you successfully navigate it. 
• Ask about costs related to your case and how they will be billed and paid.

Speak with a Trusted Immigration Attorney

If you are in the Chicago area and need the services of an experienced immigration lawyer, contact us today to discuss your options. We are based in Chicago but also take cases in Indiana, Wisconsin, and Michigan.