Practice area
Immigration
Immigration law decides whether a family can stay together and whether a person can work, travel and plan a future here. We prepare each application carefully, explain every step, and represent you before the agencies and the immigration court.
Overview
Immigration cases are decided on paper before anyone hears you in person. A missing document or an answer that does not match an earlier filing can cause months of delay or a denial. Much of our work is making sure that what is filed is complete, consistent and supported by evidence.
We begin by reviewing your full history: every entry, every prior application and any contact with the police or the immigration authorities. That review tells us which options are open to you and which carry risk.
Immigration law is federal, so we can assist people anywhere in the United States, though most of our clients live in central Ohio. Removal cases for Ohio residents are heard by the immigration court in Cleveland, and many hearings are now held by video.
Matters we handle
Family-based petitions
Petitions for spouses, parents, children and siblings of U.S. citizens and permanent residents.
Green cards
Adjustment of status inside the United States and consular processing abroad.
Citizenship and naturalization
Applications for citizenship, including preparation for the interview and the civics test.
Fiancé and marriage cases
Fiancé visas, marriage-based green cards and removing the conditions on a two-year card.
Removal defense
Representation in immigration court, including bond hearings and applications for relief.
Work permits and renewals
Employment authorization, DACA renewals and replacement of lost or expired documents.
Waivers
Applications to forgive unlawful presence and other grounds that would otherwise bar a case.
Who this is for
- You want to sponsor a husband, wife, parent or child.
- You are eligible, or think you may be eligible, to apply for citizenship.
- You or a family member has received a notice to appear in immigration court.
- A past application was denied and you want to know whether to try again.
What to do now
- Gather every immigration document you have ever received, including old and expired ones.
- Do not sign or file anything prepared by a notary or a consultant who is not a lawyer or an accredited representative.
- Keep your address up to date with the immigration authorities. Missed mail leads to missed hearings.
- If you have a hearing date, write it down and attend. Missing it can lead to an order of removal.
- Do not travel outside the United States with a pending case before you have had advice.
- Tell your lawyer about any arrest, however old or minor. It matters, and it is confidential.
How the fee works
Flat fee per application
Most immigration work is done for a flat fee per application, quoted in writing after the consultation, so the cost is known before you commit. Payment can usually be spread over the months it takes to prepare the case.
Filing fees charged by the government are separate and are paid directly to the agency. Removal defense in immigration court is quoted by stage, because the amount of work depends on the relief being sought.
What to bring to the consultation
- Passports, current and expired, for everyone involved
- Visas, entry stamps and any I-94 record
- Every notice or letter from the immigration authorities
- Copies of any applications filed in the past
- Birth and marriage certificates, and any divorce decrees
- Court records for any arrest or charge, in any country
- Recent tax returns, if you are sponsoring a relative
Common questions
Do you offer consultations in Spanish?
Yes. Sofia Reyes conducts consultations in Spanish, and all of our immigration documents and updates can be explained in Spanish.
How long will my case take?
It depends on the type of application and the office handling it, and processing times change often. At the consultation we will show you the current published times for your type of case and explain what could shorten or lengthen them.
Is what I tell you confidential?
Yes. What you tell us in order to get legal advice is confidential. We do not share information about clients or people who consult us with the immigration authorities.
Can a notary or consultant handle my application instead?
In the United States a notary public is not a lawyer and may not give immigration advice. Only a licensed attorney or an accredited representative may do so. Mistakes made on an application by someone unqualified can be very hard to undo.
Attorneys who handle this
Related practice areas
- Family lawDivorce, dissolution, custody, child support and protection orders, handled with care for the people involved.
- Criminal defenseOVI and traffic charges, misdemeanors, felonies and record sealing in central Ohio courts.
- Employment lawUnpaid wages, discrimination, retaliation, dismissal and review of severance and non-compete agreements.
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