Is the consultation really with the attorney?
Yes. Winston or a case manager will usually take your first call to gather the basics in your language, and Scott Basham reviews every case and joins the consultation to explain your options and quote the fee.
K-1 fiancé visa or marriage green card: which should we choose?
If your partner is abroad and you are not yet married, a K-1 lets them enter the U.S. to marry within 90 days, then adjust status. If you are already married, you file an I-130; your spouse adjusts status if already in the U.S. lawfully, or goes through consular processing abroad. Which is faster changes with USCIS backlogs, so we compare current timelines at your consultation.
How much do I need to invest for an EB-5 or E-2 visa?
EB-5 requires $1,050,000, or $800,000 in a targeted employment area or infrastructure project, and the creation of ten full-time U.S. jobs. E-2 has no statutory minimum but requires a substantial investment in a real, operating business and citizenship of a treaty country, which includes South Korea, Taiwan, Japan, France and Spain. Mainland China is not an E-2 treaty country, so Chinese nationals usually look at EB-5 or L-1.
Can I apply for asylum if I entered without a visa?
In most cases yes, if you apply within one year of arrival or qualify for an exception. Asylum is based on persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a particular social group. The strength of your declaration and evidence matters more than how you entered.
Do you handle cases outside Georgia and California?
Yes. Immigration law is federal, so we represent clients before USCIS, consulates and immigration courts anywhere in the United States. Most of the work is done by phone, video and secure document upload, with office visits available in Marietta and San Francisco. When a case needs us in person, such as a detention, a consular interview or a matter abroad, our attorney travels to you anywhere in the United States or the world within 48 to 72 hours of receiving a deposit.
A family member has been detained by ICE. What should I do?
Call us immediately, at any hour. We locate the detainee through the ICE detainee locator, get their A-number, contact the facility, and file the G-28 so the attorney can speak with them. We then request a bond hearing before the immigration judge as quickly as the court allows. Do not sign anything from ICE, including a stipulated removal or voluntary departure, before speaking with an attorney.
What happens if I get a Request for Evidence (RFE)?
Responding to RFEs on cases we filed is included in the flat fee. We review the notice with you, gather the additional evidence, and submit a response before the deadline.