Immigration has been making many headlines in recent years. Globalization has resulted in a rapid influx of people from one country to another. Presently, there are an estimated 191 million immigrants, with the last 50 years seeing an almost doubling of the immigrant population.With an increasing amount of immigration come increasing challenges and issues surrounding immigration and naturalization laws. One needs to consider many things in order to obtain and maintain the proper immigration status, including: processing requirements and timelines for work permits and visas, different laws from one country to the next, and the ever changing aspects of immigration law. It is always advisable to hire the services of visa lawyers so that careful immigration and visa compliance planning can minimize problems and delays.
It is here that the service of an immigration lawyer comes into the picture. The modern day complexities have shifted the focus to law firms that specialize in immigration issues and nationality laws. There are a number of firms that deal in niche areas such as US immigration laws.
Permanent immigration is the ultimate goal of many people entering or planning to enter the United States. But before this is possible, it is likely one will need a visa.
Immigration lawyers can provide the freedom many people seek to live and work permanently in the U.S. They also can provide the specialized know-how and answers to many questions in their designated field of immigration law.
There are two kinds of visas someone attempting to immigrate to the U.S. can get. One is a permanent visa while the other is the temporary visa. A person who acquires a permanent visa does so without any limit on the number of years they can stay. A person who receives a temporary visa is subject to a yearly limitation. Most non-immigrant visas require you to show that you don't intend to migrate permanently. For a non-immigrant visa, you have to prove that you have a permanent residence in your home country that you don't intend to abandon. Some visas are also of "dual intent" which means you may also attempt to obtain permanent U.S. residence through a green card.
Immigration attorneys assist multinational companies in the legal and orderly movement of their global talent across international borders. They also help obtain the necessary work permits and visas for U.S. domestic employees who need to be transferred abroad both temporarily and permanently.
However many companies prefer to keep a retainer immigrant lawyer, these attorneys can also be consulted on an hourly rate for their legal services whenever the need arises. While hiring an immigration lawyer, check that there might be additional costs such as postage, courier fee and long distance charges.
An immigration attorney can be hired through a reference. You can also contact a State Bar Lawyer Referral Service in your state. Another way to find an attorney could be to consult a yellow pages or advertisements in newspapers however these may not be the best option as the best of lawyers don't advertise their services. The best way to find a qualified lawyer is through referrals from trusted friends, family, and other members of your network.
You can also search for a lawyer on the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) website. AILA is a national association of lawyers and attorneys who teach and practice immigration law, so you can be reasonably certain you're dealing with someone who understands immigration laws and policies.
Regardless of the method you use, make it a point to interview a few before making the final decision. Check if the lawyer is a member in good standing of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. Last but not the least, check the credentials of the immigration lawyers you speak to. Contact your local state bar to find out if your lawyer is licensed and in good standing, and if he or she has ever been subject to disciplinary action.