So you have an immigration issue. And you want to move forward to reach your goal. You can choose to handle the case yourself or hire an attorney. But how do you know when you should hire an immigration attorney?

The answer is there is no standard answer.

Many cases, if they are simple and don’t have any additional complexity, can be handled individually. You will need to be very diligent, monitor all of your communications with the various parties that are involved, gather the information required, and research the appropriate forms and actions, along with the required timeline. You will also need to monitor ongoing immigration policy changes. Lately, policy changes are happening with a high degree of regularity. If you have time and are very well organized, it can certainly be done successfully.

However, if your case has any complexity to it at all or you don’t have the time to monitor and research, hiring an immigration attorney is a great idea. The benefits include:

• Expertise – A deep knowledge of immigration law is beneficial to every case.
• Experience – Resolving many different cases gives a great deal of insight.
• Current and even anticipatory knowledge – Immigration policy can change but prior policies and how they relate to each other also impacts legal outcomes.
• Time savings – Attorneys already know the ins and outs of each process and the timeline, easing your need to research and track information.
• Support – Resolving your immigration issue can be a bit overwhelming. Knowing you have someone on your side that is solely there to represent you and your needs greatly eases your concern.

The immigration process can be quite complicated. Knowing where the possible issues are and how to navigate around them not only gives you peace of mind, but can also lead to a higher level of success. If you are concerned about fees, be sure to ask your attorney about what to expect for your case. And then decide if you want to hire an attorney or not.