Finding the best immigration lawyers in Chicago, Illinois can be a challenging task. Ask yourself: what are my needs? What area of law do I need help with? How big is your budget for legal services? You'll want to make sure that you find an immigration law firm that specializes in the type of work that you need help with and someone who is qualified to provide it. We provides tips on what questions to ask an immigration attorney as well as how an immigration law firm can help clients in Chicago, IL. Most importantly, we have created a select list of the top immigration attorneys in Chicago, IL based on client reviews.
How Do I Choose A Good Immigration Lawyer?
Ask around. Chicago is a huge city and there's a great chance your friends or family might know a good immigration lawyer in the area who they can refer you to, or at the very least, provide some helpful advice on how to choose one.
Look for attorneys with specialist knowledge of your immigration needs - find someone whose expertise is in what you need help with (e.g., visas, naturalization, USCIS, etc).
A few other considerations: price range, years of experience, language skills, familiarity with local laws/regulations related to your issue(s), etc.
Use online directories such as TopLocals to get more information on immigration attorneys in the Chicago area and learn about their reviews with previous clients, as well as how long they have been in business.
Ask the attorney about their experience with cases similar to yours: how many have they handled? Is it one of their primary practice areas? What was the result of those cases? How long will it take for them to review your documents/situation before providing you an estimated quote or price range?
You should always ask a potential immigration lawyer questions related to what you need help with. This is important because different areas of law require specialized knowledge that not all immigration lawyers might be qualified for (e.g., federal vs state). You'll also want someone who can speak both English and Spanish fluently if possible, since some clientele prefer these languages. Finally, make sure you're comfortable speaking with the immigration attorney on the matter at hand.
Questions To Ask Your Chicago, IL Lawyer About Immigration Law
What type of cases does the lawyer specialize in?
How many cases similar to mine have you handled?
Does their fee include all costs associated with my case like travel expenses or filing fees where applicable?
How long would it take for them to review my documents/situation and provide an estimate quote or price range?
What is the difference between federal and state law?
How can an immigration lawyer help me with my problem?
How experienced are they with the type of cases that you have?
Do you offer a free initial consultation?
Is An Immigration Lawyer Worth The Money?
There are many benefits to hiring a lawyer for your immigration case. They can provide you with advice on the best way to proceed, help you navigate governmental bureaucracy and documentation requirements, represent you in court if need be (or negotiate out of court), draft documents that will make it easier for their client to obtain legal status or citizenship, and more. Plus they know how to find public resources like workshops and seminars related to your issue(s). The cost is higher than going it alone but the difference in quality of service may outweigh this factor when considering what type of assistance someone needs - especially if there's a high risk associated with not getting things right from the start.
The decision is up to each individual person whether an immigration attorney is worth the money, but we would recommend at least speaking one to hear of the benefits you may have from hiring one. An experienced immigration lawyer can help expedite a plethora of services, such as getting a green card, employment based immigration services, visa requirements, USCIS, and even naturalization.
What Can Immigration Lawyers Help Me With?
Immigration law covers a broad range of topics and areas. These include: visas (student or work), permanent residency status (green card), citizenship applications, waivers for past transgressions like deportation/removal orders, other crimes committed in the US, etc. Some attorneys specialize solely on certain types of cases while others might be more generalists in this field who handle these matters as well as many other legal issues that are related to nationality and migration patterns. You want someone with experience handling what type of case you're in, but a generalist immigration lawyer may still be able to provide the assistance that's needed.
Court Locations in Chicago, IL
Federal Court Locations:
The United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois is located at 219 South Dearborn Street, Chicago, IL 60604. This court handles immigration cases that involve federal law only such as asylum claims or orders to deport someone who's in the country legally but has committed a crime. It also works on deportation proceedings and visa applications (including those from overseas). The US Citizenship and Immigration Services have an office here too which processes various types of citizenship/immigration forms submitted by individuals or attorneys.
State Court Locations:
There are about 20 Circuit Courts around Chicago where judges hear appeals involving state laws like divorce, child custody etc., including some with divisions that are dedicated to family law. Judges in these courts also hear immigration cases that fall under state laws such as unlawful detention, deportation of someone who's a resident alien but has broken the law etc.