What You Need to Know Before You Call an Immigration Attorney

If you’ve looked into hiring an immigration attorney to help you come to, or remain in, the United States, you’ve probably noticed that most require consultations, including our McEntee Law Group team.While we love talking to new people, we DO require a consultation to see if we would be a good fit for you.Our team loves talking to new people and making genuine connections. However, we don’t require a consultation just for our own personal enjoyment. It might feel like just another extra step in an already tedious process, but it allows the attorney to contextualize your needs in relation to your immigration history. If you're trying to enter or remain in the U.S., the first step will always be to book a consultation.Every immigrant has a different past and will have a different future. It’s an immigration attorney’s job to use those to their client’s advantage to produce a visa. That being said, here are a few things to consider before you pick up the phone...Go in with a goal…but also with an open mindUsually, if you’ve gotten to the point of paying for a consultation, you have some idea of what you’d like to get out of it. Just don’t let that stop you from hearing other options!Chances are, there may be immigration options you haven’t heard of and ones you never thought you’d qualify for. Your attorney is here to help you recognize your full immigration potential and to make sure that you go through the process correctly.On the other hand, we can’t make decisions for you. You should know ahead of time how long you’d like to be in the United States for and what you’d like to do there. Even a three-day stay could have different visa requirements depending on the reason you’re here. You don’t need to have your entire life planned out, but having an end goal in mind means your attorney can make the most of your time.You may be more extraordinary than you think!30 minutes is a short consultationA 30-minute consultation can be tempting. It takes less time out of your day, it costs half as much, and besides, how long could it possibly take to determine your eligibility for a certain visa?A long time, as it turns out.U.S. immigration law is in near-constant flux, and each visa or green card comes with its own limitations. It is your attorney’s responsibility to communicate this to you and ensure that you understand the pros and cons of a given visa or green card. You need to be aware of the requirements, the associated costs, and the limitations. A 30-minute consultation is usually the bare minimum of time needed to accomplish this effectively. If you have a complicated immigration history, any criminal background, or just a lot of questions, invest in an hour-long consultation.You might be referred out afterwardsThere are a multitude of options available for those seeking U.S. visas. This is largely positive; different needs will have different criteria. One of the drawbacks, however, is that even an immigration attorney at the top of their field won’t necessarily have a comprehensive understanding of every visa that exists. Some immigration attorneys are experts in artist and entertainer visas, some dedicate themselves to asylum and deportation cases, and some are committed advocates for startups and entrepreneurs (and McEntee Law has all the above!).Immigration attorneys generally have systems in place designed to catch people who need to be referred out before the consultation. As discussed above, though, sometimes you don’t know your options until afterwards. You might want to try to work with a specific attorney anyways because of their pricing, because they have every award and accolade there is, or just because you like them. If you trust them to handle your visa, though, you should trust their recommendation, whether it’s for an attorney they work with or another firm entirely. Above all else, immigration attorneys want you to have an approved visa!ConclusionTaking the first step and picking up the phone to call an immigration attorney can be scary, but hopefully the information we have shared here makes it a little easier to make that call. Just remember, if you go in with both a plan AND the expectation that your plan may need to be altered, you're starting off on the right foot. Hopefully we talk to you soon!