What does an Immigration Attorney do?
Published 3 min read
An immigration attorney is a lawyer who specializes in helping people with their immigration status. They can help with things like getting a green card, becoming a naturalized citizen, and dealing with deportation.
Immigration Attorney job duties include:
- Advise clients on their rights and responsibilities under immigration law
- Interpret and explain immigration laws, regulations, and procedures to clients
- Assist clients with completing and filing various immigration forms and applications
- Gather evidence and supporting documentation to be used in client’s immigration case
- Represent clients in removal proceedings before an immigration judge
- Advocate on behalf of clients in front of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
- Work with clients to develop strategies for achieving their desired immigration outcomes
- Stay up-to-date on changes in immigration law and keep abreast of new developments
- Collaborate with other attorneys, paralegals, and support staff as needed to provide quality legal services to clients
- Keep detailed records and files on all active cases
Immigration Attorney Job Requirements
An Immigration Attorney must have a Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school and must be licensed to practice law in the United States. Immigration Attorneys must also have experience in immigration law. Many Immigration Attorneys are members of the American Immigration Lawyers Association.
Immigration Attorney Skills
- Immigration law
- Visa applications
- Green cards
- Citizenship
- Deportation
- Asylum
- Refugee status
- Employment-based immigration
- Family-based immigration
- Immigration court proceedings
- Removal proceedings
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How to become an Immigration Attorney
There is no one specific path to becoming an immigration attorney. However, there are a few things that will help you on the way. First, it is important to get a degree from an accredited law school. Secondly, you must pass the bar exam in the state in which you wish to practice. After that, you need to gain experience working with immigration law. This can be done by working at an immigration law firm, or by volunteering with organizations that help immigrants. Once you have gained some experience, you can then take the steps to start your own immigration law practice, or join an existing one.
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