Before you hire an immigration lawyer

Do I have to use a lawyer for my immigration case?

You aren’t required to hire an immigration lawyer to represent you for an immigration case, but it can be helpful to hire a lawyer because immigration laws, procedures, and timelines are complex and hard to do by yourself.

Only a lawyer can give legal advice. Legal advice means applying the facts of your unique situation to interpret the law, such as an giving an opinion on your legal options.

Hiring an immigration lawyer can cost a lot of money. There are scams that try to take advantage of people who need help with legal immigration issues. If you pay someone to represent you for your immigration case and that person isn’t actually a lawyer, there could be negative consequences. You could lose money or be delayed in your immigration legal process. It could result in negative consequences for your immigration status. The information in this guide can help you avoid immigration legal help scams.

Who is allowed to practice U.S. immigration law? 

Often the term “lawyer” and “attorney” are used interchangeably. A lawyer is anyone with a law degree. An attorney is licensed to practice law in court. We use the term “lawyer” here as it is the word most people are familiar with. 

Immigration law in the U.S. is federal law (nationwide). Because of this, lawyers must be admitted to the bar (licensed) in any state within the U.S. to practice immigration law.

To practice law in a Washington state court, a lawyer must be licensed by the Washington State Bar Administration.

A lawyer must be registered with the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) (Immigration Court) to represent someone in immigration court. 

Can an immigration lawyer guarantee outcomes?

No. Generally, lawyers can’t guarantee whether you will win or lose a case. A lawyer may offer an opinion on your chances of success given your situation but can’t guarantee a particular outcome.

Case outcomes depend on each person’s individual situation. Even if you have similar circumstances to someone else, your case may turn out differently based on the facts of your case, evidence, and the person who makes the decision in your case ( the “adjudicator”).