| How Much Does an Immigration Attorney Cost? |
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| | | People seeking work visas, legal resident status or US citizenship must go through a highly detailed application process, and often choose to be guided by an attorney specializing in immigration law. What used to be the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) is now known as the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) which is part of the Department of Homeland Security. | | |
| Typical costs: | - An immigration attorney may charge an hourly rate of $100-$300 or a flat fee covering specific services. Some immigration attorneys charge $75-$150 for an initial 20-30 minute consultation.
- Charges for assisting in filing basic forms for an ongoing immigration case may run $300-$700, plus the USCIS fees. Attorney's fees for preparing a full visa packet average $2,000-$3,000, but can run $4,000-$12,000 or more, depending on the nature and complexity of the case, the location, and the attorney's level of experience.
- A retainer is an up-front fee you pay to hire an attorney. Generally the retainer is either a percentage of the agreed-upon flat fee or the equivalent of several hours work. A lawyer on an hourly basis deducts that rate from the retainer as the work is done; when the retainer is gone, you are billed for more money.
- Some work-visa applicants hire an immigration attorney for an hour's consultation at $100-$300, then file the paperwork themselves using the forms and other resources provided by the USCIS. Often an employer will assist with the visa process.
- While many applicants use the services of an immigration attorney, it is possible to navigate the complex system on your own. The paperback US Immigration and Citizenship is available for $16 and Nolo Press offers books on immigration, visas, green cards and citizenship for $26-$40.
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| What should be included: | - The USCIS provides a brochure on resources for new immigrants written in English or 10 other languages.
- The American Immigration Lawyers Association lists immigration basics and provides a brochure on avoiding scams.
- Some types of visas have annual quotas; your attorney should be able to tell you how many (if any) of a particular type of visa remain at the time that you want to file your application.
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| Additional costs: | - Your lawyer's charges do not include USCIS filing fees of $0-$1,000 per form; total application fees for a visa average $2,000.
- Typically visas take 4-5 months to process; "premium processing" in about 15 days costs an extra $1,000.
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| Shopping for an immigration attorney: | - The University of Wisconsin--Madison gives an overview of how to locate and evaluate an immigration attorney.
- The American Bar Association links to legal resources by state, including free or low-cost legal help, the bar association to check that a lawyer is licensed in that state, and referrals to local lawyers. Referrals are also available through The American Immigration Lawyers Association.
- Your attorney should give you a written schedule of fees; read it before signing and keep a copy for your records. Be sure you understand exactly what is included for the fee; for example, will the attorney accompany you to hearings or just prepare the paperwork? If you need to appeal a decision, is the appeal included or will there be an additional charge?
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Article updated January 2007 |
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Recent Posts |
| Amount: $10,000.00 |
Incompetent & Irresponsible Attorney's
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| Posted by: Munna in Germantown, MD. | Purchased: February, 2005 |
| Firm: Richard W. Moore, Marks & Katz | Additional Services: Filing(s) |
Attorney Richard W. Moore,Jr. Towson, Maryland charged $2,500.00 to process my Asylum claim.
Attorney Jay S. Marks of Marks And Katz, Silver Spring was replaced in the above matter, and work authorization filings for more than $7,800.00, responds only 2 out of ten times. No relief. |
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