Greencard lawyer with track record?

May 5, 2006 8:40 AM

Green Card Filter - Affordable immigration lawyer who specializes in National Interest Waiver (NIW - EB2) category preferably with a track record?

I'm about to start applying for my green card. I'm a scientist going through the National Interest Waiver (NIW/EB2) process.

Does anyone know any proven lawyers with a good track record in NIW/EB2 permanent residency applications? Preferably who have worked with scientists? Or a place where I can find such data/recommendations?

I'm not interested in one-off anecdotal results: I have several friends who went through cheaper lawyers for EB-1/2 processes (NIW, Outstanding Prof/Researcher etc), with varying results from great to meh.

I was going to use these guys. One of their partners sits on an immigration subcomittee, they write analyses of decisions and and post them on their website.

I've been very impressed with what they have to offer in terms of their professionalism, knowledge and and resources. My question is: am I paying too much: NIW can be a simple process (but the lawyer has to know how to craft the application) and with these guys its $8k from start to finish - $6k up to the filing then about another $2k after NIW is granted to the 'green card' itself.

This may be a case of getting what you're paying for. I just want to know if there are other immigration lawyers with as good a record that I can hire for less money

Bonus points: Anyone who has any advice over and beyond this (I've had lots) is welcome to add their 0.2c.

posted by lalochezia to Law & Government (4 answers total)

Best answer: These numbers sound about right for a good immigration lawyer backed up by extensive experience and a good firm. I successfully applied for and was awarded an EB1 Green Card recently and will happily recommend my lawyer in NYC. The whole process was about a year in the making, and even that was quick apparently.

Feel free to email me (address in profile) and I will happily tell you about the specifics.
posted by DannyUKNYC at 9:18 AM on May 5, 2006

Do you definitely need a lawyer? I know nothing about NIW visas but FWIW I immigrated last year to the US on a K1 visa from Europe - my wife is a US citizen. Lawyers are fairly commonly used in this case but I opted to do without and it was pretty easy to manage. In family immigration cases at least lawyers strike me as being helpful but they can make mistakes too and they have no means of speeding up the process over the average Joe. (Probably isn't relevant in your case but I thought I'd throw it in anyway.)
posted by NailsTheCat at 9:21 AM on May 5, 2006

I don't know if this is helpful, but it's a data point:
for H-1B visa -> permanent resident, the lawyer's fees are about $10k (if there are no issues).
posted by j at 10:34 AM on May 5, 2006

Do you definitely need a lawyer? I know nothing about NIW visas but FWIW I immigrated last year to the US on a K1 visa from Europe - my wife is a US citizen. Lawyers are fairly commonly used in this case but I opted to do without and it was pretty easy to manage.

Consider yourself among the extremely lucky few who this is the case for. The immigration law system is about as easy to naviagate as the tax code, and is only eclipsed by it in that if you f*ck up immigration, all you get is deported.

We're totally derailing this, but, make no bones - lawyers in the immigration system are standard issue if you've got anything that isn't by the book - and that's an insanely tight standard that most individuals can't live up to.

Sorry I can't tell you that my attorney would be good - he's in Memphis, but maybe not exactly what you need. He did 12 years with the INS, though, so he's experienced. Send me an email if you're close and want info.
posted by plaidrabbit at 5:42 PM on May 5, 2006