It should be stated that an immigration lawyer cannot necessarily expedite your immigration process. There is no secret “fast-track “. It is more correctly stated that if you hire a Tampa area immigration lawyer to help you, the process of obtaining a green card – or U.S. Citizenship – can be streamlined and made to go more smoothly.
The path to citizenship is complicated, and involves a lot of intensive paperwork. A simple mistake can derail your application and send you to the back of the line. Therefore, hiring someone who is familiar with the process can help substantially in making sure it all goes as planned.
How An Immigration Attorney is Beneficial
- Help with Paperwork: As noted, there are piles of paperwork to be filled out when you are applying to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for a change in status. If you struggle with the language or don’t understand the process, the assistance of an immigration attorney may be critical to your success. If one question is filled out incorrectly, it may cause your application to be delayed or even rejected. Having a professional immigration attorney to review your application paperwork before you send it in may save you months, if not years or delays.
- Knowledge of the Law: Immigration law is constantly changing. A loophole which existed last year may no longer exist, while a new provision which benefits you may have been implemented. With their up-to-date knowledge of immigration law, attorneys can help you to understand the best way to approach your application and how to best frame your request. Time frames, eligibility requirements, and necessary documents are all variables which may change. Here’s a Hint: Be sure to ask your immigration attorney if you are using the most up-to-date version of the application. Using an old form may delay your application.
- Save You Time: You may spend hours on hold with USCIS, or be shifted from person to person in order to get the answer you are seeking. An immigration attorney very often has the expertise and knowledge to make the call unnecessary – or if the call must be made, may have contacts within the agency who can help without working through the information line. We work in immigration all day, every day, and have access to the contacts and information which you may not have on your own.
- Peace of Mind: The immigration process is often emotional and stressful, and not knowing how your application is progressing can be unnerving. Working with an immigration attorney will give you peace of mind, knowing that your paperwork was filled out properly, the best approach was utilized, and no line item was inadvertently missed.
- Special Exemptions: There are some special cases where expedition of your application may be approved. While an immigration attorney cannot make your application proceed more rapidly, they do have the knowledge of special circumstances which may help you to get on a faster path.
USCIS offers a premium processing service for employment-based applications. Ask the expert team at Probinsky & Cole if your specific case fits the criteria. We will work alongside your sponsor employer to ensure that the premium processing service handled correctly. USCIS will charge an additional $1,225.00 (currently) for this service.
Expediting your application may not be possible. However, hiring an immigration attorney can ensure that all the paperwork is filed properly the first time, that you are using every advantage that the system allows, and that you are represented should anything go wrong. There is no need to face this complicated process alone – the immigration attorneys of Probinsky & Cole are here to assist.
