If you have been struggling with your visa renewals, if you have had nightmares about your green card application, if you are unsure as to how to proceed to get your US citizenship, if you have concerns as to how to go about bringing your family over to join you in America, you are not alone. Hundreds of thousands of people battle on a daily basis with a wide variety of immigration issues and many of them have doubts as to their future permanence in this country.
And there is a good reason why so many people worry so much about this: the immigration system in the United States is complex, complicated and in many instances, infuriatingly slow in providing answers or solving cases. But there is no reason why you should go through this process alone, an immigration lawyer by your side can provide the guidance and support that you have been looking for. Here are five reasons why:
- By doing it on your own, you might mess up your application process and, along the way, commit an act of fraud. These actions may result in a lifetime ban that will prevent you from ever returning to the United States, even as a tourist. Hire a lawyer at the beginning and avoid all these potential headaches.
- You need someone you can trust. Whatever visa or immigration status you might be looking for, there may be several viable options to go about getting it. Don’t risk taking the wrong road in order to save a little money and endanger your future.
- Your lawyer has a fiduciary duty towards you. This means they will always put your interests ahead of their own. They will spend as much time as necessary to ensure that all their clients have the best outcome possible.
- You don’t need to be the one to figure it all out. You lead a hectic life, with work and family responsibilities. Are you sure you have the time and resources necessary to understand the particulars of the visa you are applying for? Can you feel at ease knowing you have absolutely filled out all the necessary forms and turned them in in a timely manner? This is not a game that can be started over. In most cases, you get only one chance to apply. Are you sure you want to imperil it? Talk to an immigration lawyer before even starting and have someone figure things out for you.
- Are you applying as a refugee in order to seek asylum in this country? The legal ramifications of these cases are able to baffle even the most experienced legal counsel. You know you are unable to return to your native country due to threats to you, your family members and your lives. Don’t jeopardize your opportunity to create a better life for you and your loved ones. And asylum visas are not the only complicated ones. Bringing over a loved one or applying for citizenship also require the input of someone with more experience than you.
You should know that every year many people are successful in traversing the immigration landscape on their own. Thousands are able to immigrate to the United States without legal help. However, you most certainly would not want to undertake this difficult journey without the expertise of an immigration lawyer.
