Immigration Law Lawyers

Immigration Law Lawyers Across the United States

The U.S. immigration system processes over 6 million applications each year through various visa categories, green card petitions, and citizenship requests. A single mistake on a form or a missed deadline can result in denial, deportation proceedings, or years of delays. Immigration lawyers help individuals and families move through this system with accurate filings and informed strategy.

What Immigration Law Covers

Immigration law governs how foreign nationals enter, stay, and gain permanent status in the United States. This includes family-based petitions, employment-based visas, asylum and refugee claims, and naturalization. It also covers removal defense, visa renewals, and status adjustments for people already in the country.

The field extends to business immigration as well. Employers seeking to hire foreign workers must comply with labor certification requirements and sponsor specific visa types like H-1B, L-1, or O-1 visas. Students, investors, and religious workers each have separate pathways with their own documentation demands.

When to Hire an Immigration Lawyer

• You've received a Notice to Appear in immigration court or face removal proceedings
• You're filing a family-based or employment-based green card petition and want to avoid costly errors
• You need to apply for asylum, withholding of removal, or protection under the Convention Against Torture
• Your visa application was denied and you want to file an appeal or motion to reopen
• You're an employer sponsoring a foreign worker and need help with labor certification or compliance

How the Immigration Process Works

Most immigration cases begin with filing a petition or application with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Processing times vary widely — some applications resolve in months while others take several years depending on the category and country of origin.

After filing, applicants may attend biometrics appointments, interviews, or hearings. Denied cases can sometimes be appealed to the Board of Immigration Appeals or federal courts. Cases in immigration court follow a separate track with their own judges and timelines. The average pending immigration court case now takes over four years to resolve.

How Immigration Outcomes Are Determined

• Eligibility category determines which benefits you can receive — lawful permanent residence, work authorization, or temporary protected status each carry different rights
• Per-country visa caps affect wait times, with applicants from high-demand countries sometimes waiting a decade or more for priority dates to become current
• Discretionary relief like cancellation of removal depends on factors such as length of U.S. residence, family ties, and hardship to qualifying relatives
• Asylum grants depend on documented evidence of persecution based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the green card process take?

It depends on the category. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens often receive green cards within 12 to 18 months. Employment-based and family preference categories can take anywhere from two to over ten years, depending on your priority date and country of birth.

Can I work while my immigration case is pending?

Some visa categories include automatic work authorization. Others require a separate Employment Authorization Document (EAD) application. Asylum applicants, for example, can apply for work permits 150 days after filing a complete asylum application. Working without proper authorization can jeopardize your case.