Navigating through the immigration process can be complex. As such, finding a competent immigration lawyer in Minneapolis is crucial to gaining a sense of security and learning your rights while living in the United States with your family. Immigration lawyers committed to their clients’ well-being work tirelessly to stay up to date on every new immigration law. If you are applying for permanent residency or citizenship, an immigration lawyer can make or break your chances.
However, legal services come with a fee. This article will go through the typical costs of consulting and hiring an immigration lawyer to give you a better idea of what to expect.
The Typical Cost of Hiring an Immigration Lawyer
Every lawyer has a unique pricing structure and approach in place. Some immigration lawyers charge an hourly rate, while others charge a flat fee. When you pay a flat fee, you agree to pay a certain amount of money to have a lawyer represent you on a specific immigration issue, such as a naturalization application or a cancellation of removal.
Here are some of the different fees that an immigration lawyer may charge:
Consultation Fees
Free initial consultations are offered by some immigration lawyers, while some may charge you for the initial consultation if you decide not to hire their services subsequently. In some cases, a lawyer will bill you for both.
During your initial consultation, you can determine whether or not the lawyer is a good match for you and your case’s chances of success. For the most part, initial consultations last between 30 minutes and an hour and cost between $100 and $400, but this might vary widely.
Legal Services Fees
After your lawyer has determined the extent of work and what they can do to help you, you will be charged an extra fee for such services. Costs can vary depending on the level of experience of your lawyer and the state of the market. The following are some typical price ranges for various immigration services:
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Application for citizenship or naturalization: $500 to $2,500
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Green card petition for a family member: $1,000 to $3,500
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Green card renewal: $300 to $700
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Application for asylum: $1,000 to $7,000
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Deportation defense: $4,000 to $12,000
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Application for adjustment of status: $2,000 to $5,000
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Hourly rate: $150 to $300
How Are Immigration Lawyer’s Fees Determined?
When it comes to the cost of hiring an immigration lawyer in Minneapolis, there are several variables to consider. As a rule of thumb, the following elements will influence the price you pay:
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The application you will be submitting: Depending on the intricacy or amount of work required, immigration lawyers charge a varying price for each application. For example, an EB-5 application will be one of the priciest, whereas a basic reentry permit might cost only a quarter of the fee.
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The complexity of the immigration issue: They will charge you based on the type of task you need them to do, whether it’s assisting you in filling out documents accurately and promptly or supporting you in court with a deportation case.
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Their level of experience: Even though it may not always be the case, immigration attorneys with more expertise are more likely to charge a higher rate.
Why Hire an Immigration Lawyer?
In some cases, you can easily handle the immigration process on your own, if it isn’t too complicated. However, if you’re immigrating to the United States, you’re more likely to run into legal issues. Here are a few scenarios in which hiring an immigration lawyer will be wise.
Previous Rejections
If you’ve been denied a visa or permanent residency, it’s not a good idea to try again on your own. Your application might be incorrectly filled out or missing crucial information. Immigration appeals and reapplications will be more likely to succeed with the assistance of a skilled immigration lawyer.
Uncertain Eligibility
The eligibility criteria for obtaining a green card, a visa, or becoming a legal resident of the United States are very specific. If you try applying but don’t meet the criteria, the process takes twice as long. Make sure you’re eligible for the immigration benefit you’re trying to apply for by consulting with an immigration lawyer in Minneapolis.
Immigration Violations
Hiring an immigration lawyer is an excellent idea if you’ve already violated any laws regarding immigration. Instances of immigration violations involve marriage fraud, visa overstays, and misrepresentation on prior applications. Deportation from the United States is possible if the infraction is particularly serious. As a result, getting the services of an immigration lawyer is often a good investment.
Criminal Offenses
Non-citizens can be deported or barred from reentering the country for committing certain offenses, such as prostitution or drug trafficking. Green card-holders and other visa holders are subject to this consequence no matter how long they have been in the United States. Even if you’ve never been convicted of a crime, you may still face substantial immigration ramifications, including deportation.
The Bottomline
The American immigration process is infamously lengthy and complex. Regardless of whether it’s consular processing, adjusting immigrant status, or filing for citizenship, a single error can reset the whole process, becoming a drain on your resources. At the very worst, it could result in a rejection.
Getting an immigration lawyer in Minneapolis is far less expensive than starting over. Immigration to the United States can be made a lot easier with the help of our immigration lawyers at Osterbauer Law Firm. We specialize in handling immigration cases, so you can rest assured that you are in good hands.
