5 Things Your Immigration Lawyer Should Know to Help Your Case

Author: Gabriella Manolache, Esq.

5 Things Your Immigration Lawyer Should Know To Help Your Case

Introduction

Planning for immigration to the United States can be a complex process requiring careful consideration and strategic decision-making. To ensure the best outcome for your case, it is crucial to work closely with an immigration lawyer who understands your unique circumstances. In this blog post, we will discuss five essential pieces of information that your immigration lawyer needs to know to help you effectively plan for your immigration journey. Let’s dive in!

1. Status

The first crucial factor your immigration lawyer needs to know is your current immigration status. Are you currently in the United States, or are you outside the country? If you are in the U.S., did you enter with a visa, under some type of parole, or without inspection? It is important to determine whether you are currently in valid status and when your status will expire. To help with this assessment, you may want to download your latest I-94 record from the CBP website at i94.cbp.dhs.gov, along with your travel history. This information will help your lawyer strategize the available options for extending your stay and developing the best plan to achieve your immigration goals.

2. Immigration Issues

Any immigration issues encountered in the past play a significant role in determining the types of immigration benefits for which you may be eligible. Your lawyer should be aware of any visa denials, revocations, past denials of immigration benefits, placement into secondary inspection at ports of entry, and even lengthy visa stamp delays. It is also crucial to disclose if you have ever been refused entry to the United States, overstayed a visa, or have had any involvement in immigration court or removal proceedings. Understanding these issues allows your lawyer to develop appropriate strategies based on your current circumstances.

3. Crimes

‘Crimmigration’ is a term that describes the intersection of federal immigration law with state criminal law. Prior and current criminal issues can have a significant impact on your eligibility for various immigration benefits. It is essential for your immigration lawyer to be aware of any previous criminal matters or pending charges you may be facing, along with the jurisdiction where the charge(s) occurred. Providing this information enables your lawyer to assess likely implications, devise appropriate legal strategies, and potentially consult with a criminal defense attorney in the state where the charge occurred to assess whether the crime is classified as one involving moral turpitude.

4. Children

If you have children who will be included in your immigration case, your lawyer needs to be informed. In many cases, unmarried children under the age of 21 can be included as derivative beneficiaries. For instance, when applying for an E2 investor visa, you can include your spouse and unmarried children under the age of 21 as part of the application. By knowing about your children’s inclusion and future plans, your lawyer can address their long-term immigration needs and help structure a comprehensive strategy.

5. Other Applications

Informing your immigration lawyer about any other immigration applications that you have filed or that have been filed on your behalf is crucial. This information is especially important when applying for nonimmigrant visas that require demonstrating strict nonimmigrant intent. If you have a pending immigrant petition, your lawyer can strategize the most appropriate nonimmigrant visa for you, considering the dual intent or nonimmigrant intent requirements. Being aware of past immigration filings may also help your lawyer move you along faster in the green card queue especially if you obtained an earlier priority date from a past filing and would like to port that date into a new filing.

Conclusion

Collaborating with an immigration lawyer is essential for effectively planning your immigration to the United States. By providing your lawyer with accurate and comprehensive information about your status, immigration issues, criminal history, children, and other applications, you can ensure they have the necessary details to devise a tailored strategy for your case. Remember, transparency and open communication with your immigration lawyer will contribute to a smoother and more successful immigration process.

Share this post...

Posted in , ,
Search
REQUEST A CONSULTATION
Ashoori Law
Based on 987 reviews
See all reviews
Loida O. Rivera de L.
estoy muy satisfecha como clienta de esta firma de abogados , ellos estan siempre diapuestos a respoder cualquier inquietud q yo tenga , yo los recomiendo al 100%.
Tarek E.
I had an excellent experience with Ashoori Law Firm, and I highly recommend their services. From start to finish, the team demonstrated a high level of professionalism, expertise, and dedication. They were extremely responsive, clear in their communication, and provided me with full support throughout the entire process, which gave me great confidence and peace of mind.
I would also like to give a special shout-out to Andreas Soto for his outstanding support from day one. His guidance, continuous follow-ups, and thoughtful recommendation of the right attorney for my case made a significant difference. Andreas was always available, attentive, and genuinely invested in ensuring everything went smoothly.
Thank you to the entire Ashoori Law team for your professionalism and commitment. I truly appreciate all the help and support, and I would not hesitate to recommend your firm to anyone seeking reliable and high-quality legal services.
swapna N.
Working with Ashoori Law was the best decision I made. Their attention to detail and diligence at every step of the GC process was remarkable. It is rare to find a firm that provides such frequent check-ins while also ensuring you get a quick response every single time you call or email. They treated my case with urgency and care, and I am very happy working with them. I felt confident and informed throughout. I highly recommend them and will be working with them in future.
Josh H.
My family and I had the pleasure of working with Michael's team in order to process our E2 visa. They were extremely professional, knowledgable and helpful in ultimately getting our Visa. Will use them in the future again!
Sajid I.
I used services of Ashoori Law for my L-1A petition. I started the process in Oct 24 by talking to eleven immigration law firms, of which Ashoori Law was the 8th. During my initial free consultation, I waited on the call for 10 minutes and when no one joined, I wrote to Michael and informed him of the situation. It was late in the evening in CA but Michael replied back immediately, apologised and assured me that someone would be in touch. The next morning, Ehsan got in touch, walked me through the process in detail and explained exactly how things would work. Later Ehsan arranged a call with the immigration Cristina Casabianca, who walked me through the specifics of the petition and give a clear an honest picture of the work involved, the challenges and chances of success. I selected Ashoori Law because of these three interactions with Michael, Ehsan and Cristina. Their professionalism, sincerity, honesty and enthusiasm impressed me above all the other firms that I had spoken to.
Over the next 10 months, Ashoori Law followed through progress of the case at every stage and were quick to respond to all my queries. Their teams and partners guided me smoothly through all the requirements of the petition and stepped in wherever it was necessary to address any of my concerns.
Thanks to their team and partners, I had a successful outcome to my petition. Cristina then guided me throughout the visa application and interview process and gave me advice on the things that I should bear in mind during my move.
I highly recommended the services of Ashoori Law and their partners.
Nazanin Ale H.
I had a great experience with Ashoori Law office, specifically with Geo Davidson. He helped arrange a consultation with an amazing attorney and made the entire process smooth and stress-free. What really stood out was his follow-up—he genuinely cared about making sure all my questions were answered and that I felt supported throughout the process. His professionalism, responsiveness, and attention to detail made a big difference.
I highly recommend working the Ashoory Law Office team.
Elvis R.
After approaching multiple lawyers, I came across Ashoori law. Michael and his team were very professional, helpful and understanding. We went through a less painstaking, systematic approach. Even though we were miles apart we got our work done through Ashoori law. Will definitely recommend this place and will go here for all our further immigration and other lawful needs. Thank you Michael and team. Was a pleasure dealing with you.
Tolulope E.
Worked with Andres Soto of Ashoori and he was excellent in understanding my needs, understanding the relevant laws and guidelines and providing guidance on how best to achieve my goals. I recommend both Andres Soto and the firm Ashoori Law to all
Ramchandra V.
I had an excellent experience working with Ashoori Law on my E-3 visa renewal. The entire process was handled very efficiently and on time. The application package was prepared professionally and thoroughly, with great attention to detail. What really stood out was how clearly the lawyer explained the entire E-3 renewal process, walking me through each step and setting expectations upfront. I always felt informed and confident throughout. I highly recommend their services to anyone looking for a knowledgeable and reliable immigration attorney for E-3 visas.
REQUEST A CONSULTATION
Michael Ashoori Headshot

Michael Ashoori, Esq.

President of Ashoori Law

I’m a U.S. immigration lawyer and I help families, professionals, investors, and entrepreneurs get visas, green cards, and citizenship to the United States.

Since starting my law firm, I’ve helped thousands of people from all over the world with their immigration needs. I’m very passionate, hard-working, and committed to my clients.

Got a question? Send me an email.

REQUEST A CONSULTATION