Meeting with an immigration attorney can feel intimidating. You may be worried about your status, your family, your business, or what the immigration process could mean for your future. You may also be wondering whether the attorney will understand what you are going through. You might fear someone will simply explain the law and send you on your way.
When you have a consultation with me, you are not meeting with someone who only knows the immigration process as a lawyer. I am an immigrant, too. I have been through this process myself.
I came to the United States from Poland. I started with a tourist visa, became a student, received a green card through marriage, extended my green card, and eventually became a U.S. citizen. Then I attended law school here and built my own business. I understand the uncertainty, the delays, the paperwork. I’ve struggled with the language barriers. I understand the fear of not knowing what will happen next because I have experienced all of this myself.
That does not mean your situation will be exactly like mine. Every immigration case is different. But it does mean that when you tell me you are frustrated, overwhelmed, or confused, I really do understand how you are feeling.
Before We Meet
Our work begins before the consultation.
You will first need to provide me with some basic information through my website intake form or by email. Depending on your situation, I may ask where you are currently living, what your immigration status is, and whether you have had previous filings or denials. I may have other questions that will help me understand your case.
For a marriage-based case, for example, there are several questions to ask. I may ask how long you have been together and when you began living together. I need to know whether either person has been married before and whether there are any criminal or immigration issues that need to be discussed.
I am not asking these questions to make the process difficult. I am asking because I want to be prepared when we meet. Immigration cases often turn on details that may not seem important at first. The more I understand beforehand, the more useful our consultation can be.
You should also come prepared. Make a list of the questions you want to ask. Also, please be sure to gather any documents I have requested, and be ready to talk honestly about your situation.
Our consultation is focused time, and I want you to get as much value from it as possible.
We Will Talk About Your Real Options
During the consultation, I will explain the immigration options that may be available in your specific situation. When more than one path exists, we will discuss the advantages, disadvantages, risks, and practical realities of each one.
I am not going to give you a vague explanation and send you off to think about it. I will tell you what I see, what concerns me, and what I would recommend based on the information available.
Sometimes the answer is straightforward. Other times a case has complications that need to be addressed. Sometimes immigration rules or policies are unsettled, and the honest answer is that we do not yet know exactly how the government will handle something.
When that happens, I will tell you that, too.
I will never pretend to have certainty when certainty does not exist. I would rather give you an honest explanation of the situation than make promises no attorney can guarantee.
You Can Ask Questions
Your consultation is your opportunity to ask any questions you may have about your eligibility, your possible immigration path, the general process, and what working together would involve.
However, the initial consultation is not a do-it-yourself immigration lesson. We will not go line by line through forms, discuss exactly what to enter in a particular box, or build your petition during the free consultation. That detailed work is part of the legal representation I provide to clients who hire me as their immigration attorney.
I am also not a form-review attorney who looks over paperwork you prepare and sends you off to file it by yourself. When I accept a case, I handle everything – the full petition and all the paperwork. My approach is it to guide you through the process from beginning to end.
I also understand that you will remember the question you forgot to ask five minutes after you leave our consultation. For this reason, you may send one follow-up email with those questions, and I will answer them.
I Will Be Honest With You
I care deeply about all of my clients, and for that reason, I am always straightforward about the situation. Everything will be explained to you clearly and honestly, even when the answer may not be what you hoped to hear. My goal is always to help you understand your situation, your options, and any possible concerns before you move forward.
When I see a potential problem, I will ask about it. Some situations look questionable on paper, but make complete sense once I hear the full story. My job is to understand your explanation and determine whether the case is legitimate. From there I will figure out how to present it clearly to an immigration officer.
At the same time, I will not accept a case I do not believe in, and I will not take your money when I think there is very little chance of success. If I believe you need to wait a little longer, make changes, invest more money in a business, or take another step before filing, I will tell you.
You deserve an honest answer – and a clear understanding of your options.
The Consultation Works Both Ways
A consultation helps us determine whether you have a case, and whether I am the right attorney to handle it. It also helps us decide whether we are a good fit for one another.
Immigration cases can be extremely personal. I may need to learn about your marriage, your family, your finances, your business, your immigration history, and other parts of your life you do not normally discuss with a stranger. You need to feel comfortable talking to me and asking questions when something is unclear.
You will also work directly with me. I do not hand your case to a paralegal who was not part of the original conversation. I take a limited number of cases so I can know my clients, understand their families, and remain involved throughout the process.
For many clients, our relationship continues long after the case is finished. I receive holiday cards and updates about children and families I have come to know well. Years later, clients often return when another family member needs help. Immigration is deeply personal, and when you guide someone through such an important process, you often become more than simply their attorney.
I Have Been Where You Are
I know what it is like to arrive in a new country and realize that the English you learned in a classroom does not sound anything like the English people are speaking around you. I know what it is like to learn unfamiliar systems, make mistakes, build a career, and try to create a secure future.
I cannot remove every uncertainty from the immigration process. No attorney can. But I can make sure you understand your options, know what may be ahead, and receive straightforward guidance from someone who has experienced the process from both sides and has the expertise to help you through it.
That is what you can expect when you have a consultation with me: a real conversation, honest answers, practical guidance, and an attorney who truly understands why the outcome matters so much.
If this sounds like I can help you – please CONTACT ME – I look forward to speaking with you.