Immigration Law | JacksonWhite Law (2024)

FAQs

How do I ask questions about immigration for free? ›

If Emma cannot answer your question, she may connect you to live chat with an agent. Automated Help—Our new speech-enabled phone system answers general questions 24 hours a day. Dial 800-375-5283 (TTY 800-767-1833, VRS 877-709-5797) and ask your question in English or Spanish.

The best place to search for a pro bono immigration attorney is on the U.S. Department of Justice, Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) website, at the page called Find Legal Representation. There, you will be able to access a list of free or low-cost legal service providers, sorted by state.

VAWA (Violence Against Women Act) immigration petitions take two years and two months to process on average. Sometimes, it takes up to two years and six months to process. If you file a green card application at the same time as the VAWA petition, the processing time can take an additional 12 months.

Consider expedited processing, if available: For certain categories and under specific circ*mstances, USCIS offers premium processing for an additional fee, potentially expediting adjudication within 15 calendar days. However, this option is not available for all green card categories and does not guarantee approval.

Call the USCIS Contact Center at 1-800-375-5283.

4. You do not have to answer any questions – including questions about who you are, who else is in the home, or your immigration status. You have the right to remain silent.

The total fee in a simple case could be as low as $1,500, or in a complex case could climb higher than $15,000. If you need to appeal your case, expect to pay even more. If the lawyer quotes an hourly rate instead, expect to pay between $150 and $600 per hour.

This is the case because immigration law is a field where experience counts. Immigration law, practice, and policy can be so complex that it can take many years to understand all the ins and outs fully.

Many people choose to work with an attorney to get a green card in the United States. That's often because the application process is lengthy – and it can be complicated.

To qualify for VAWA, you must show that you suffered abuse at the hands of the U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident spouse or parent. Or if you are the parent of an abusive U.S. citizen child, you must show abuse at the hands of the U.S. citizen child.

How much evidence is needed for VAWA? ›

At the very least, this evidence should include: your written, personal declaration describing your relationship with the abuser and the abuse you suffered. police clearance records and/or other evidence to show you are a person of "good moral character" a copy of your passport or birth certificate.

Is it Easy to Get Approved for VAWA: How an Immigration Attorney can Help? After reading this article, you should have learned that only 25 percent of VAWA cases are approved. The odds are even worse if you do-it-yourself.

First, an easy answer: an immigration lawyer cannot speed up the green card process beyond what's allowed by law or regulation. However, an experienced immigration attorney can do a lot to make sure your interests and rights are defended in your legal proceedings.

What is the fastest you can get a green card? The Diversity Immigrant Visa Program offers one of the quickest routes to obtain a green card. But it's based on luck. Family-based visas for immediate relatives also offer faster paths, typically within 1-2 years.

Green Card Opportunities in Family-Sponsored Visa Categories

For the family-based side of immigration, the absolute fastest way to qualify is as either the spouse, unmarried child under 21 years of age, or parent of a U.S. citizen who's over age 21.

The toll-free phone number for the USCIS Contact Center is 1-800-375-5283 (TTY for the deaf, hard of hearing, or person with a speech disability: 1-800-767-1833).

Dial 1 888-242-2100.

Build empathy:

If you talk about immigration and immigrants, be sure to frame the conversation in terms of shared values – like diversity, inclusive communities, and keeping families together. Avoid phrases and language that cue “us versus them” thinking. Remember that we are all in this together.