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USCIS Immigration Interview Lawyers
Have you been scheduled for an interview with the US Citizenship and Immigration Services? Worried about going alone? You don’t have to! You have the right to have a licensed and experienced immigration lawyer attend your interview with you. Our lawyers attend USCIS Immigration Interviews with applicants and their families, regardless of whether you filed your paperwork yourself or if you already have a lawyer who is unable to attend the day of your interview.
Why bring a lawyer to your immigration interview?
First and foremost, it is always best to start working with a lawyer prior to submitting anything to USCIS and all the way through completion of your case. Hiring a lawyer last minute to attend your interview with you is not ideal but we do understand that there is a demand for this type of help. Some people choose to submit their documents themselves without the help of a lawyer. And some people do use a lawyer but their lawyer may be busy the day of the interview and unable to attend. We can help in either of these situations.
So do you really need an immigration lawyer to attend your USCIS interview with you? As is often the case in the law, it depends. If you have a case with complicating factors then yes you should strongly consider bringing a lawyer to assist you. If you have a very straight-forward case you may not need a lawyer but it doesn’t hurt to have one for the reasons below.
The truth is that lawyers cannot change the facts of your case nor can they change the law so it is up to you to decide if the benefits are worth the cost. Similarly, USCIS Officers are typically not “out to get you” – they are trained professionals whose job is to vet all applicants and obtain information on whether or not the applicant qualifies for the immigration benefit being sought. Once the Officer obtains the necessary information they can adjudicate (i.e., decide) whether to grant or deny the case. That said, Officers are still human beings that have their good days and bad days just like everyone else. Officers are also typically doing multiple interviews per day and may be seeing your case for the first time the day of your interview.
We have had situations where we told clients that they do not need a lawyer in very easy cases but they still insisted that we attend. And we’ve had difficult cases where we tried our best to present the client’s case and circumstances but the Officer had already made up their mind to issue a denial. There is never a guarantee that a lawyer will be able to help the outcome of your case. But below are some of the benefits that we think a lawyer at your interview can provide:
Starting at just $650 we offer a consultation on your case, preparation for your interview, and, of course, a licensed and experienced lawyer that will accompany you to your USCIS immigration interview.
Frequently Asked Question: If I bring a lawyer with me doesn't that show the USCIS Officer that there are problems with my case?
Answer: No, this is a common misconception. First, in our experience and informal discussions with USCIS Officers, we estimate approximately half of all immigration interviews are conducted with a lawyer present in the NYC USCIS offices. So there's certainly nothing unusual about attending your interview with a lawyer. Second, we believe USCIS Officers welcome lawyers as they can help move the interview along smoothly, efficiently, and without bringing in emotions into the equation.
- prepare the Applicant on what to expect at the interview and answer any questions the Applicant may have about the process;
- review which documents will be important in the case and which should be brought to the interview;
- help the Applicant navigate the USCIS facility and check-in procedures;
- provide peace of mind for the Applicant, reduce fear and promote a sense of calm;
- extra layer of protection that interview is conducted professionally;
- extra layer of protection from an arbitrary denial;
- help detect and correct mistakes by translators;
- facilitate exchange of documents with Officers in what can be a fast-paced interview with a lot of simultaneous moving parts (e.g., Officer is asking questions quickly and at the same time demanding very specific documents from the Applicant);
- prepare the Applicant on what to expect at the interview and answer any questions the Applicant may have about the process;
- review which documents will be important in the case and which should be brought to the interview;
- help the Applicant navigate the USCIS facility and check-in procedures;
- provide peace of mind for the Applicant, reduce fear and promote a sense of calm;
- extra layer of protection that interview is conducted professionally;
- extra layer of protection from an arbitrary denial;
- help detect and correct mistakes by translators;
- facilitate exchange of documents with Officers in what can be a fast-paced interview with a lot of simultaneous moving parts (e.g., Officer is asking questions quickly and at the same time demanding very specific documents from the Applicant);
- help to detect and correct misunderstandings between the Applicant and Officer;
- help to detect and correct errors in documentation or the application;
- help provide clarity on specific points that may be confusing;
- provide general monitoring and oversight of the interview;
- clarify and interpret the law if necessary;
- extra layer of protection against overly aggressive or irrelevant questioning;
- talk to Officer and handle administrative matters directly with Officer so Applicant can focus on answering questions;
- anticipate the potential for a future Request for Evidence (“RFE”) and determine what exactly the Officer is seeking;
- provide case background to Officer if they’re not deeply familiar with the matter or recently assigned to the Applicant’s case.
- help to detect and correct misunderstandings between the Applicant and Officer;
- help to detect and correct errors in documentation or the application;
- help provide clarity on specific points that may be confusing;
- provide general monitoring and oversight of the interview;
- clarify and interpret the law if necessary;
- extra layer of protection against overly aggressive or irrelevant questioning;
- talk to Officer and handle administrative matters directly with Officer so Applicant can focus on answering questions;
- anticipate the potential for a future Request for Evidence (“RFE”) and determine what exactly the Officer is seeking;
- provide case background to Officer if they’re not deeply familiar with the matter or recently assigned to the Applicant’s case;
In summary, these benefits can help increase your chances of success and facilitate a smoother interview process for both the Applicant and Officer!
Likewise it is important for clients to understand the limitations of representation. What your lawyer can NOT do:
- we cannot answer the questions that Officer directs to the Applicant;
- we cannot prevent Officer from asking certain questions (unless they are clearly becoming hostile, inappropriate and unprofessional, in which case a supervisor can be requested to intervene);
- we cannot lie for you or help you hide certain facts or evidence;
- we cannot change the facts of your case;
- we cannot change the immigration laws of the United States;
- we cannot guarantee any particular outcome.
Frequently Asked Question: If I bring a lawyer with me doesn't that show the USCIS Officer that there are problems with my case?
Answer: No, this is a common misconception. First, in our experience and informal discussions with USCIS Officers, we estimate approximately half of all immigration interviews are conducted with a lawyer present in the NYC USCIS offices. So there's certainly nothing unusual about attending your interview with a lawyer. Second, we believe USCIS Officers welcome lawyers as they can help move the interview along smoothly, efficiently, and without bringing in emotions into the equation.
We are very proud to be able to provide clients with access to affordable legal services. However, clients should also understand that in order to provide such services the representation is limited to the interview.
Unless otherwise agreed to by the lawyer and client, the representation ends when the interview ends. If you receive a Request for Evidence (“RFE”), help for that is not included. If you are called back for another interview, that is not included. If you wish to appeal a denial, that is not included.
We are committed to being fair and honest with clients and so that is why we want to be sure that clients understand where representation ends.
Extra Safeguard with a Lawyer By Your Side
Increase Your Chances of Success
Experienced Professionals Who Understand the Law
Working Together for a Better Interview
How Does it Work?
It's easy!
1. Call or email us for a free consultation to determine if your case is eligible.
2. Schedule a review of your case where we prepare you for the questions to expect at your interview from the USCIS Officer, go over the documents you will need to bring with you, and answer any of your questions about the interview process.
3. On the day of your interview we will meet you in-person at your assigned USCIS facility and are by your side throughout the entire interview process.
Most NYC immigration interviews can be handled for only $650!
No hourly bills! No hidden fees!
Contact Us
718-288-8799
2765 Coney Island Avenue, 2nd Fl.
Brooklyn, New York 11235
