If you are working on immigrating to the United States or need papers to work here legally, one of your best assets is going to be a nowledgeable immigration attorney. Once you find one you feel you can trust, there are steps you can take to make your working relationship as mutually beneficial as possible. By focusing on honesty, preparation and consideration, you will reach a successful conclusion far more quickly.
Be Honest
At all times, be honest with your immigration attorney. Remember, your attorney is on your side, and you both have the same goal – to make sure that you can successfully receive the documentation you need to live here legally. If you keep information from your lawyer, such as times that you worked without permission for example, it will hurt the attorney’s ability to help you. This is an important point, because many people seeking to immigrate have something in their past that they think might hurt their chances of successfully immigrating. If your lawyer does not have this information, then your legal team cannot help you prepare for the roadblocks it could bring. If you have something negative that you need to share with your lawyer, rest assured that your information is protected. The things you share with an attorney are confidential, and the firm will not use them against you. Your attorney will, however, be in a better position to help you with full access to your information.
Be Prepared
Know what documentation you need, and have it all ready when you come to your appointments. It wastes both your time and your lawyer’s time, which in turn can cost you more money, if you have to make multiple appointments because you are missing paperwork. Call the office before you visit to find out what you need to bring, and do everything in your power to collect that paperwork before the appointment.
Be Considerate
Your attorney works for you, but all good lawyers also have other clients. When you need to talk to the attorney, be courteous. Make one phone call, and then wait patiently for the response. You would not want the attorney to leave your appointment to return a phone call, so it is unfair to expect this type of service yourself. Most attorneys have scheduled periods of the day in which they return calls, and calling 10 times in one day is not going to improve your chances of talking to your lawyer. Be courteous when you make attempts to talk with your attorney.
If you can be considerate, be prepared and be honest, you will be able to build a strong working relationship with your immigration attorney. In return, your attorney and the firm’s staff will do all they can to help you get the paperwork you need to live and work in this country legally.
Where to Find an Immigration Attorney Who Believes in Treating Clients the Way He Wants to be Treated
Immigration is a very specialized area of law; so, be sure your attorney focuses his practice on immigration and protecting your legal rights. We focus our practice on immigration law and you can reach us at 513-793-6555 or Thomasjr@geygan.com. We’d be honored to show you how we treat our clients and all those we deal with.