Thinking About Hiring an Immigration Attorney?

U.S. immigration law is complex, constantly changing, and unforgiving when mistakes are made. Whether you’re a founder, executive, or employer/company representative, having the right immigration attorney can make the difference between approval and denial.

What Does an Immigration Attorney Do?

An immigration attorney guides individuals, families, and companies through the immigration process, including the maze of the federal bureaucracy by:

• Developing strategy, offering visa solutions, and bespoke advice for a seamless immigration process.
• Preparing and reviewing applications for immigration benefits filed with USCIS and/or visa applications with the Department of State, knowing what is needed for case approval.
• Managing, facilitating, gathering and recommending persuasive supporting documentation. 
• Handling RFEs, appeals, and potentially, litigation.

Why Hire an Immigration Attorney?

🔹 Navigate Complex Laws & Ensure Compliance

Immigration law isn’t intuitive. An attorney stays current on U.S. immigration law and procedure as well as policy changes, and helps you understand your options and risks.

🔹 Customized Strategy, Not One-Size-Fits-All or AI Generated Batch Documents

A good immigration attorney evaluates all potential pathways, explains the pros and cons, and recommends the option with the highest likelihood of success.

🔹 Avoid Delays & Costly Mistakes

One missing document or incorrect answer can lead to delays or denials. Experience matters. Working with an experienced immigration attorney can keep you ahead of deadlines, avoid delays, and mistakes.  

🔹 Increase Your Chances of Approval

Experienced immigration attorneys have handled hundreds of cases. Legal representation significantly improves outcomes. You have not done the process before, so work with an immigration attorney who has already worked through the process hundreds of times. 

🔹 Reduce Stress

Immigration processing can be overwhelming. Having a trusted advocate allows you to focus on your business, career, or family, and can provide you with support and handle all the intricate legal details.  

How to Choose the Right Immigration Attorney

There are many options when it comes to hiring the right immigration attorney. To find an immigration attorney, you can ask for a referral from a friend or family member, search for a local immigration attorney, or visit a lawyer directory such as AILA’s: (View Find an Immigration Lawyer).

Once you have identified a potential immigration attorney, a few key considerations include:

🔹 Firm Size & Access

Large firms offer brand recognition, but often less personal attention. Boutique firms provide direct access, flexibility, and niche expertise.
At Principe Immigration Law, we combine big-firm experience with boutique-level personalization.

🔹 Experience & Specialty

Immigration law is not one-size-fits-all. Make sure your attorney specializes in your type of immigration matter and has a record of approved cases in the particular visa category.  

At Principe Immigration Law, our specialty is business immigration for business owners, executives, founders, and companies of all sizes seeking to establish or expand operations in the United States. 

🔹 Reviews & Testimonials

Past client experiences speak volumes. Review the attorney’s testimonials and review to see what their previous clients say. Many have a Google Business profile where you can read reviews. 

🔹 Credentials & Active Bar Association Membership

Confirm the attorney is licensed to practice law, and is in good standing with the state bar where the immigration attorney is licensed. You can visit the state bar website and use their lawyer search to verify (e.g.: Wisconsin State Bar Lawyer Search).  

Licensed as a U.S. attorney in both Wisconsin and Illinois, Shelly Principe is also a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA).

🔹 Consultation Fit

Your consultation should leave you feeling informed, confident, and supported, not confused or unsure of next steps.  

An initial consultation is a great opportunity to ask questions including:

• What are my immigration options?
• Have you worked on similar cases before? 
• Are there any risks or challenges in my case? 
• What is the process? How long will it take? What are the USCIS/DOS filing fees?
• What is your fee structure? 
• What bureaucratic roadblocks have you helped others overcome?
• How will we work together? Will I primarily work with you or your paralegal? What is the best way to communicate? 
• What are the next steps?

About Principe Immigration Law

We specialize in business immigration, focusing on employment-based visas and working with founders, executives, and companies expanding into the U.S. We also help clients with family-based immigration as well as citizenship and naturalization cases. Principe Immigration Law delivers a seamless and efficient immigration processing experience helping you start your journey to the United States.

Why Clients Work With Us:

✦Experienced: With over 20 of experience, Principe Immigration Law understands the complexities of the immigration process and has the expertise to guide you along the way.

✦Tailored: As your dedicated immigration attorney, we will be your advocate and tailor the experience to your needs.

✦Streamlined Process: Principe Immigration Law uses the latest technology to streamline the process and make it as efficient as possible.

✦ Principe Immigration Law provides guidance throughout the process by setting expectations, clearly outlining the next steps, and explaining in straightforward terms.

Thinking about your immigration options?

Schedule a consultation to start your journey with clarity and confidence.