Questions
Plain answers to hard questions.
Respuestas claras a preguntas difíciles.
If your question is not here, call us. A real person answers during office hours, and the 24-hour line is there for detentions and court emergencies.
Right now
My family member was just detained. What do I do first?
Call our 24-hour line at (704) 555-0119. Have their full name, date of birth and country ready, and their A-number if you know it. Do not pay anyone who promises a release. Then start gathering IDs, proof of address and letters of support.
I have a hearing next week and no lawyer. Is it too late?
No. Call us today. If we cannot be ready in time, we can often ask the judge for more time to prepare, and we will tell you honestly whether that is likely.
I missed my hearing. What happens now?
The judge may have ordered you removed without you there. Some of these orders can be reopened, especially if you never got the notice. Deadlines are short, so call the same day you find out.
Trust and notarios
What is a notario, and why does it matter?
In many countries a notario público is a lawyer. In the United States, a notary public is not a lawyer and cannot give legal advice or file your case. Some notarios and "immigration consultants" take money and file wrong or false papers. Only a licensed attorney, or an accredited representative at a recognized nonprofit, can represent you.
How can I check that a lawyer is real?
Ask for their bar number and the state where they are licensed. Look them up on that state bar's website. You can also check the list of lawyers who are barred from practicing before immigration courts.
Can you guarantee I will win?
No, and no honest lawyer can. We can promise to tell you the truth about your case, prepare it well, and be there at every hearing.
Cost and payment
Is the first evaluation really free?
Yes. The first 30-minute case evaluation is free, in English or Spanish, by phone, video or in person.
Do you offer payment plans?
Yes. Most of our clients pay over time. We put the fee, the payment schedule and what each stage includes in writing before we start.
Are government fees included?
No. Where the government charges a filing fee, it is paid directly to the government. We tell you the current amount before anything is filed.
Language and privacy
Will you report me to immigration?
No. What you tell us is protected by attorney-client confidentiality. We are here to defend you, not to report you.
Can we do everything in Spanish?
Yes. Every member of our staff speaks Spanish, and so do two of our three attorneys. For other languages we bring interpreters to every important meeting at no extra cost.
Can I meet by video if I live far away or my family member is detained in another state?
Yes. Many of our evaluations and client meetings happen by phone or video, and immigration courts often hold hearings by video too.
Questions by case type
Answers here are general information, not legal advice. Immigration law changes often, and small facts can change the answer. Talk to a lawyer about your own situation.
Free case evaluation
Still have a question? Ask a lawyer, free.
The first 30-minute case evaluation is free, by phone, video or in person, in English or Spanish.
Urgent
Someone detained, or a court date soon?
(704) 555-0119Answered 24 hours a day, in English and Spanish.
What to do right now