Lake City, Florida Immigration Attorney
What Questions Should You Ask an Immigration Lawyer?
Choosing the right immigration attorney for your case can make all the difference. An immigration attorney’s experience handling your type of case, especially if an unforeseen problem arises, can be the determining factor for whether your request is approved or denied. With the new immigration policy requiring the referral of many denied applicants to removal (deportation) proceedings, selecting the best immigration attorney for your case is a critical decision.
While some immigration attorneys offer free consultations, others charge for their time and expertise. To make the most of your consultation, it is best to attend the appointment prepared with questions. Below are some examples of questions to ask an immigration attorney during your first consultation with them to help you determine if that lawyer is the right one for you. If you don’t feel comfortable with the attorney during the consultation, or feel like you are being rushed, chances are that is likely how you may feel throughout the duration of your case. It’s important that you feel comfortable, respected, and listened to as your relationship with your immigration attorney will often last for a very long time.
- How many years have you been practicing immigration law? While everyone must start somewhere, experience counts. An immigration attorney with several years of experience in immigration law will be much more familiar with nuances in the law and common pitfalls to avoid. A seasoned immigration practitioner will also more likely be familiar with the local U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office and/or the local Immigration Court, regarding how to best present a client’s case before those agencies, invaluable knowledge only gained through actual experience.
- Have you handled my type of case frequently before? Don’t assume that just because an attorney calls themselves an immigration attorney, or because their website advertises that they practice immigration law, they have ever filed your type of case before. It’s a good idea to ask your potential representative specifically if they have worked on your type of case in the past, how frequently, and whether they have been successful with your type of case.
- What are your specific payment terms? Unfortunately, we often hear stories from clients previously represented by another attorney who say that the attorney never took the time to fully explain their fee structure to them, or refused to proceed with representation at various points in their case unless a lump sum was paid. During your initial consultation ask the attorney up front what are their payment terms, do they offer payment plans, what steps are involved in the case and does their fee cover all those costs, are the filing fees included, and will the attorney charge separately for answering calls, attending your interview, or responding to more requests for information by the government? While they may sometimes be unable to provide you with an exact cost in a complicated case, they should at least be able to tell you the anticipated likely costs going forward so that you can plan accordingly and know what to expect from each other.
Get started with our experienced and compassionate immigration team today. Call us at (904) 590-2689 or contact us online today.
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"My family and I are finally together!"
Karen and her team were extremely professional and a miracle worker! After so many years of separation, my family and I are finally together! What many other lawyers could not do, Karen and Florencia Ibarra made possible. To God be the glory. I will ALWAYS recommend their services!- Jes O. -
"We are extremely satisfied and grateful"
I highly recommend Karen Winston's office because thanks to their excellent work, my husband and I are finally at peace after a long immigration process. We have been with this office since 2020, and although my case was not easy, Karen and our assigned paralegal Florencia were always there to help us and answer all our questions. Thanks to their effort and professionalism, I was able to obtain my green card after a long wait, but Karen was always there to provide us with the best solution. She fought for our case, and thanks to her, I feel relieved to have successfully completed my immigration process and to know that I can be here with my husband and start building a family without worrying about the uncertainty of my pending process. We are extremely satisfied and grateful. I also recommend Florencia because her attention was incredible; we felt like she was a friend throughout this process. She was always there with us, letting us know every step of our process, providing us with the tools, and gathering all our information to strengthen our case. Thank you, Karen, thank you, Florencia, and thank you to the entire team for making us feel like family. We felt supported at all times, and we are very happy to have gone through this with you.
- Natalia V. -
"Esta es la mejor abogada que pueden tener!"
Para cualquier caso de immigracion, esta es la mejor abogada que pueden tener! Karen Winston y todos los Paralegales en su oficina nos dieron un excelente trato antes, durante y después del proceso. Para nosotros fue un proceso largo y aveces estresante pero gracias a Elizabeth quien llevó nuestro caso desde el principio con mucha disponibilidad nos guió y nos llevo por el mismo hasta que por fin ganamos el caso! No hay palabras suficientes Para expresar lo agradecidos que estamos!- Cecilia C. -
Karen and her staff are absolutely incredible. They were able to secure my green card even though my case was very complicated. Their preparation was immaculate and I avoided a face-to-face interview with INS.- Vincent W.
Meet Our Dedicated Team
Experienced and Compassionate Advocates On Your Side
What Sets Us Apart
Ethical and Trusted Representation
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High Success Rate
Over almost 15 years of service, Karen Winston has an impressive record of keeping families together.
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Reputation for Excellence
As an attorney and former law professor, Karen Winston is well-respected before USCIS, courts, and judges.
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Immigration Is All We Do
We focus exclusively on Immigration services and are fully prepared for whatever your case may need.
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Trustworthy Representation
Our dedicated team truly cares about each client, and we hold ourselves to the highest ethical standards.