How much are immigration lawyer fees?

Getting the best legal help you can when facing an immigration issue is a must. But cost is also a factor. If you are facing an immigration problem, you are most likely wondering how much immigration lawyer fees can run. The best answer is it depends. Every immigration lawyer has their own way of setting fees and expenses associated with their representation.

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What is a “credible fear interview” with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection?

A credible fear interview is an expedited screening that is conducted after a foreign national informs a Customs and Border Protection officer at a port of entry that he or she has a fear of returning to their native country. The credible fear interview with Customs and Border Protection focuses on three main areas: fear of persecution, fear of torture, and fear of return. As the name implies, these fears must meet a “credible” standard.

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What is temporary protected status (TPS)?

Temporary protected status (TPS) is an immigration status for foreign nationals residing in the United States whose home countries are temporarily unsafe or overly dangerous. Situations that can make a country unsafe and lead to temporary protected status include wars, political turmoil, and earthquakes, floods, or other natural disasters.

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Flaws in Family-Based Immigration Laws Causing Prolonged Separations

The Legal Immigration Family Equity Act, or the LIFE Act, established a new non-immigrant category, or V-visa, within family immigration law that allowed the spouse or child of a U.S. lawful permanent resident (LPR) to live and work in the United States in a non-immigrant category. The spouse or child could remain in the United States while they waited until they were able to apply for lawful permanent residence status (also known as adjusting status), or for an immigrant visa.

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The Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act of 1997 (NACARA)

The Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act of 1997 (NACARA) implemented provisions suspending or canceling the deportation of eligible nationals of El Salvador, Guatemala, and former Soviet-Bloc countries as well as their spouses and children. In order to be eligible to apply for NACARA, you must be a Guatemalan or Salvadoran national who entered the United States by the fall of 1990 and registered for benefits under the settlement agreement in American Baptist Churches v. Thornburgh (ABC).

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How does a foreign national obtain a student visa in the United States?

There are two main types of student visas are used by colleges and universities. Some colleges focus on F-1 or M-1 student visas; here, college’s requirements for admission are a factor. A particular university may require a certain grade point average and three letters of recommendation. Before you can receive the application for an F-1 visa or M-1 visa, you must satisfy that institution’s requirements. Other colleges focus on J-1 student visas.

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What is expedited removal?

Expedited removal is the process by which the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) quickly deports inadmissible aliens from the United States. Under the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, aliens that are “inadmissible” or unable to be lawfully admitted may be deported. An alien is “admissible” when he or she presents valid documents allowing entry into the United States.

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What is a J-1 visa?

The J-1 visa category is typically used by foreign students, medical interns and residents, business trainees, scholars and experts. The J-1 visa is the predominant visa category among temporary student visas as it offers a wider variety of educational options; however, the program is not restricted to students. The J-1 visa came out of the intention to promote exchange of information between countries.

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