Immigration lawyers work with people from all walks of life, helping them achieve their immigration goals. Whether they’re seeking a green card, or a family member’s status to stay in the country, their clients have unique needs.
Immigration law can be an incredibly rewarding career for those with a diverse skill set. It also allows you to learn about a variety of cultures and broaden your worldview.
Helping Clients Identify a Type of Visa
One of the most satisfying aspects of assisting clients with their immigration challenges is figuring out which visa they have and what type of document to file for it. For most people, this means a good old-fashioned phone call or two to the friendly neighborhood consulate. Your local consulate may have their own website and will provide you with a list of available applications, but you can also consult an experienced immigration attorney for a more thorough review.
To keep your sanity intact, it is important to know what kind of document you need and to have a complete understanding of the types of applications that are most likely to work for you and your family. This will save you the headache of arguing with an unsympathetic officer and potentially get you a better deal in the Mexican consulate Dallas process.
Helping Clients Apply for a Green Card
Green cards are the keys to lawful permanent residence in the United States. They allow green card holders to live and work in the country, study at a lower cost, and apply for a variety of other benefits.
Immigration laws offer several ways to apply for a green card, including through family, employment, or refugee status. This process can be complex and expensive, but it is usually worth the effort to become a legal permanent resident.
A green card can also be obtained through consular processing at the United States embassy in your home country. This is particularly helpful for applicants who have difficulty proving that they are in a familial relationship with a U.S. citizen or who have trouble establishing employment in the U.S.
The green card process can be lengthy, however, and there are yearly caps on green cards for specific countries. For this reason, many people have difficulty obtaining a green card.
Helping Clients Apply for Asylum
Every year, millions of people seek asylum in the United States. They do so because they fear persecution based on their race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a particular social group.
If you feel that you may be eligible to apply for asylum, your best bet is to seek a skilled immigration lawyer who has experience in this area of law. They will be able to file your application, review your supporting evidence, and represent you during your interview.
During your interview, you will be asked to testify about the reasons for your claim of asylum. It is important to have a well-written statement that you can review before the interview, so that you can answer all of the questions and describe the details of your persecution in detail.
It is also helpful to have a mental health professional who understands refugee trauma and asylum law on your side. Applicants often have memory issues or other psychological problems that make it difficult for them to testify, so this is an area where mental health support can be invaluable.
Helping Clients Apply for Refugee Status
Refugee status is available to people who have been displaced due to war, civil strife or other similar circumstances in their home country. It is also available to those who have a well-founded fear of persecution in their home countries on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a particular social group.
The United States government offers assistance to refugees by way of its Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORS). These programs are designed to help clients adjust to life in the U.S. and become self-sufficient in their new home.
A good immigration lawyer will understand the complexities of the refugee process and work to protect their client from any possible missteps. This can involve educating them on the application process, building their confidence and openness and helping them prepare for interviews.