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Your first meeting with an immigration attorney is an opportunity for you to:

• get to know the attorney and determine if the firm is a good fit for your goals;
• share your goals with the attorney: for example, avoiding deportation, gaining legal status, applying for citizenship, or bringing a family member to the US;
• receive a thorough analysis and explanation of your options;
• learn about how the immigration process will work for you;
• understand legal fees, what they include, and how you will make payments.

Sometimes at the consultation appointment, it doesn’t take long to determine what your best option is. When this happens, the attorney can quickly move on to explaining the process, answering your questions, quoting a fee, and sending you a contract to get started.

Some consultation appointments are more complex, and the attorney will ask many questions about your family, employment, and any criminal history. We may also need to review your immigration records – if you already have them, great. Please send them before the appointment so we can make the most of our time. If not, we can help you obtain them.

The more information you share with us in advance, the better we can help you!

If you go to a doctor, she can assess your needs more quickly if she has your past medical records. She may need to run test to diagnose your problem and recommend the best solution.  It’s the same with an attorney. We can analyze your problem and find a solution quicker if you:

• Answer our screening questions completely and honestly. If it turns out that we don’t handle your type of case, we can quickly refer you to another attorney who would be a better fit, and refund your fee.
• Provide copies of all your records in advance, if you have them. This includes:
  • Any previous immigration records (for example, copies of an application you already filed and any receipts or notices, a judge’s decision on your case, a request for evidence you received from USCIS)
  • Any criminal records (for example, police reports, charging documents, and final dispositions for any case where you have had to go to court or where you were the victim of a crime, EVEN if the case was dismissed / expunged / sealed).
  • If you don’t already have these records, we can help you get them – but you can save yourself time and money if you give them to us before your appointment. Call your previous attorneys and request a full copy of your file.  Call any court where you have had a case, and request a copy of any available records.
• Know your history. For example, we will always ask for a list of times you have come to the US, how you arrived, when you left, and how you returned. We will also ask you if anyone has ever filed paperwork for you, your parents, or your spouse. If you don’t know, ask your family before the consultation.
• Answer the team’s questions fully and honestly. The more information you share with us, the better we can analyze your situation and avoid surprises in the future.
• Ask questions.  Don’t be shy if you want to bring a list or take notes!

• Answer our screening questions completely and honestly. If it turns out that we don’t handle your type of case, we can quickly refer you to another attorney who would be a better fit, and refund your fee.
• Provide copies of all your records in advance, if you have them. This includes:
  • Any previous immigration records (for example, copies of an application you already filed and any receipts or notices, a judge’s decision on your case, a request for evidence you received from USCIS)
  • Any criminal records (for example, police reports, charging documents, and final dispositions for any case where you have had to go to court or where you were the victim of a crime, EVEN if the case was dismissed / expunged / sealed).
  • If you don’t already have these records, we can help you get them – but you can save yourself time and money if you give them to us before your appointment. Call your previous attorneys and request a full copy of your file.  Call any court where you have had a case, and request a copy of any available records.
• Know your history. For example, we will always ask for a list of times you have come to the US, how you arrived, when you left, and how you returned. We will also ask you if anyone has ever filed paperwork for you, your parents, or your spouse. If you don’t know, ask your family before the consultation.
• Answer the team’s questions fully and honestly. The more information you share with us, the better we can analyze your situation and avoid surprises in the future.
• Ask questions.  Don’t be shy if you want to bring a list or take notes!

You’ll notice during your consultation that the attorney will not answer other calls or work on other cases. You will have her full attention.  The fee ensures that the attorney and her team are compensated fairly for their time and expertise.

If you hire Attorney Axelrod for your case within 30 days of the consultation appointment, she will credit the consultation fee toward your initial payment (for cases with a legal fee of over $2500).

A “quick question” often has a complex answer, or requires complex analysis to get to a simple answer.  An hour consultation ensures that we have enough time to properly analyze your case, answer your follow-up questions, explain the process, and quote a fair legal fee.

Yes, if we offer you a contract and you sign up within 30 days. This offer is valid for cases with legal fees of at least $2500.  

At this time our consultation appointments are by phone or Zoom (videocall).  Our team often works remotely, and we value the safety of our clients and staff during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. We do meet with our clients in person for court hearings, interviews, and other sensitive conversations as needed.

Our system accepts credit cards and debit cards for the consultation fee. If you do not have one available, you may buy a prepaid VISA card at a local store. Once you are an Axelrod Immigration Law client, we are also able to accept bank transfer, checks, and money orders, as well as cash from local clients.