What Do Immigration Attorneys Do?

Immigration Legal Services, Generally

Immigration attorneys assist individuals, families, and businesses in navigating our immigration laws, regulations, and process.  These are the laws that impact who can live, work, and study in the United States.  There are specific immigration laws and regulations.  

Immigration issues often involve other types of legal issues.  Immigration attorneys often must deal with criminal laws given laws that make it illegal to live, work, or study in the United States.  International law, human rights law, and commercial legal issues are also common.  This work can include issues that involve family law and even tax law.  Immigration attorneys are often called on to advise clients on these related areas of law as well.

Immigration attorneys’ primary work includes submitting paperwork and representing clients before administrative tribunals, providing legal advice, and, in some cases, representing clients in court.  

Example of Immigration Services

Immigration attorneys may, for instance, guide foreign nationals through the process for obtaining legal status to work in the United States.  There are multiple visas under the employment category. 

Many times, it depends on what type of occupation you will perform in the US that decides which visa is best for you. Some other factors that make this decision can include whether you have a relationship with an employer, how long you’ll be employed in the United States, and what degree of skill it takes to perform the job.

Where Immigration Attorneys Work

Immigration attorneys are often employed by small law practices that focus on immigration law, government agencies, and nonprofit groups. Some immigration attorneys provide services through nonprofit organizations, such as local legal aid services.  Immigration attorneys may also work in-house for large corporations or non-profit organizations, such as universities, to provide advice to employees, students, or others.  

Some immigration attorneys also find work as immigration judges, legislative assistants (each member of Congress has an immigration advisor on staff), or as elected or appointed officials.