Glinsmann & Glinsmann
Chartered
Immigration Lawyers
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Consultation FAQ's |
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Frequently Asked Questions: Why does G&G require a consultation? Immigration law is a complex and changing areas of law. A consultation ensures that we provide you with reliable advice. Your case is uniquely personal and important. At the conclusion of the consultation, we hope that you will also leave with a clear understanding of your options, the immigration process and how to achieve your immigration objectives. In most cases, the Attorney will provide you a fee for recommended services at the conclusion of the consultation. Who Should Attend the Consultation. Many immigration visa petitions and applications require a "Petitioner" or a "Sponsor". You will get more out of your consultation if everyone who will be involved in the petition/application can participate in the consultation. Although not required, we highly recommend that all parties i.e. Sponsor, outside advisor, translator, and the foreign national be available during the consultation, either in person or by telephone. Who is the Client? In some cases, clients may wish to have an individual consultation first to discuss sensitive issues or make initial decisions prior to having all involved parties participate. Please note that whenever two clients participate in a meeting together, the Attorney owes a duty to each client (dual representation) and must be free to discuss potentially sensitive issues (e.g. unauthorized work status, prior fraud, crimes, relationships, etc.). In the event of a dual representation, there is no confidentiality between the two clients. The attorney client privilege of Confidentiality of the communication to all other third parties is retained. An exceptions to this arrangement must be agreed to in writing before the disclosures are made. For instance, company financial information is often not disclosed to employees provided the employee agrees in writing ahead of time. What should I bring to the Initial Consultation? A consultation will be most productive when the client comes prepared with all prior immigration documentation. Being prepared will reduce the need for additional meetings and additional costs. New clients should come prepared with a completed intake form (see below) and any applicable documents from the Consultation Document Checklist (PDF). What is the cost of an INITIAL CONSULTATION? Initial consultations with new clients are scheduled for 30 minutes. Initial consultations with new clients are free of charge provided the new client comes into the office. Initial consultations that are scheduled by telephone are charged at the rate of $120 per 30 minutes. We encourage new clients to come to the office to build a strong relationship with us early on. The goal of the consultation is to determine possible solutions for the new client and provide expected processing times, legal fees, USCIS fees and other expenses that may be incurred during the representation. To get the most out of the initial consultation, new clients should bring copies of all prior applications to this first meeting together with any correspondence received from 1) the US Citizenship and Immigration Service, 2) Department of Labor, 3) National Visa Center and/or 4) a US Consul. What is a CASE START Consultation? During your Initial Consultation, the attorney will provide you with a written fee agreement and a list of "homework"; homework is information and/or documents that you need to start your case. Once you have collected your homework, call us and schedule a Case Start meeting. During the meeting you will sign your fee agreement, deposit legal and USCIS fees and the attorney will collect all of the information and documentation necessary to successfully file your application or petition. What if I am not ready for a Case Start Meeting? Can I schedule a a Follow Up Consultation? Of course! Immigration cases can often be quite complex. You can choose the length of your meeting. We will charge a flat fee of $120.00 (30 minute time slot), $240.00 (one-hour timeslot) or $480.00 (two-hour timeslot) for follow up consultations if required before the client signs a fee agreement for services. You select the length of the meeting. You can schedule your appointment online at your convenience using our convenient online appointment system. How Much Time Should I Allot to a Case Start Meeting or Follow Up Consultation? Consultations are scheduled for 30 minutes, one-hour or two-hour timeslots, depending upon the type of case. Applicant's with no prior applications typically need one hour or less. Applicant's with one or more prior applications, typically require at least 1 hour and often times 2 hours to adequately review their immigration history. The actual meeting (or teleconference) may take less than the allotted meeting time. What forms of payment are accepted by G&G? G&G accepts payments for legal services in the form of
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